Global School Leaders

What Global School Leaders does

Global School Leaders (GSL) is a US-headquartered, fully remote non-profit organization founded in 2016/2017 that strengthens school leadership in low- and middle-income countries to improve student learning outcomes. The organization operates through a partner-channel model, working with 37+ local NGOs, government systems, and coalitions across 17 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. Its core outputs are evidence-based training programs, an open-source resource library (400+ tools accessed by organizations in 35 countries), a longitudinal research platform (the PULS Survey, now in its fifth wave with 12,453 school leaders across 16 countries), and a multilingual storytelling platform (Principals Speak, 5 languages, 30 countries). It maintains two regional hubs: the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Hub, now in Phase 2 implementation, and the Southeast Asia (SEA) Hub launched in July 2025 in partnership with SEAMEO across 11 countries.

The underlying technology is centered on digital knowledge management and research rather than proprietary software. Core platforms include the GSL Resource Portal (open-source curriculum and case studies), the Lead FLN Portal (Foundational Literacy and Numeracy instructional leadership content), Principals Speak (digital storytelling), and the PULS Survey (mixed-methods data collection from school leaders). The organization publishes research frameworks, including the ECED Research Framework for early childhood pilots, and conducts RCTs and longitudinal studies to validate program impact.

GSL is funded primarily by philanthropic foundations and development agencies, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Jacobs Foundation, Vitol Foundation, UBS Optimus Foundation, Echidna Giving, Tinker Foundation, Lemann Foundation, and the Asian Development Bank. Programs and resources are provided free of charge; revenue is generated through grants, donations, and limited strategic consultancy services to governments and coalitions. Customer segments are school leaders (principals), local NGOs and civil society partners, government education systems, and institutional funders, served through a hybrid of direct delivery, regional hub platforms, and self-serve open-source access. The lean 18-person team operates across 10 countries, speaking 11 native languages.

Name

Global School Leaders

Legal name

Global School Leaders

Website

https://globalschoolleaders.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Global School Leaders is a US-based non-profit founded in 2016/2017 that partners with 37+ local organizations across 17 Global South countries to train school principals, conduct education research, and operate open-source leadership resources. The 18-person remote team supports regional hubs in Latin America/Caribbean and Southeast Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Non-Profit Services / School Leadership Development

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Teacher Training, Professional Development & Education Leadership (BPADAKAC)

Keywords

• School leadership development
• Education consulting services
• Instructional leadership training
• Foundational learning programs
• Education research services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Philanthropic Funding: Global School Leaders is a non-profit organization primarily funded by foundations, philanthropists, and development agencies. Major funders include Jacobs Foundation, Vitol Foundation, UBS Optimus Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Echidna Giving, Tinker Foundation, and others. The organization publishes financial statements and 990 forms publicly.
2. Strategic Consultancy Services: Provides high-level strategic counsel to governments and NGOs, translating complex data into actionable policies. Technical partner to coalitions working to strengthen school leadership at national levels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Global School Leaders is a global non-profit that builds the capacity of school principals and education systems in the Global South through evidence-based leadership training, open-source content and toolkits, large-scale research (PULS Survey), and direct technical consultancy to governments and NGOs. It delivers these offerings via a partner network of 37+ local organizations across 17 countries, supported by regional Hubs in Latin America and Southeast Asia. Programs cover instructional leadership, foundational literacy and numeracy, gender-equitable leadership, and early childhood education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Principals Speak: A digital storytelling platform to amplify the voices of school leaders across the Global South, enabling them to share real-world challenges and promising practices.
• ECED Research Agency
• Lead FLN

Products and services

• GSL Resource Portal
• Lead FLN Portal
• Principals Speak Platform
• PULS Survey (Promoting Understanding of Leadership in Schools)
• Strategic Consultancy Services
• ECED Research Agency A dedicated research agency under Global School Leaders focused on Early Childhood Education and Development, conducting mixed-methods research (phone surveys, classroom observations, qualitative interviews, student assessments) and piloting school leadership and play-based learning programs such as the Indonesia ECED Pilot across 200 preschools.
• SheLeads Fellowship A fellowship program specifically designed to empower women in school leadership roles. The first cohort graduated in 2025 with 20 participants from 11 countries.
• Gender-Equitable Schools Alliance (GESL) A three-year initiative launching in Ghana and Kenya that partners with 10 locally grounded organizations to pilot the Alliance model for gender-equitable school leadership, supported by Echidna Giving.

Quantifiable outcome

• Training school leaders adds just 5% to school budget and increases student learning by 30%
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SEAMEO (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025In July 2025, Global School Leaders partnered with SEAMEO to establish the Southeast Asia School Leadership Hub (SEA Hub). The Hub is the first regional platform dedicated to elevating school leadership across Southeast Asia, with partners from 11 countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
• EducAidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplemented Lead FLN pilot in Sierra Leone with blended learning model. Research focus was to pilot Lead FLN content in a low-resource context and understand implementation effectiveness.
• National Youth Awareness Forum (NYAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implemented Lead FLN pilot with EducAid in Sierra Leone.
• Luis von Ahn FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSL began collaborating with Luis von Ahn Foundation and five of its grantees in Guatemala to co-design and embed a new leadership component within their existing programs focusing on literacy, mathematics, and socio-emotional learning.
• Lemann CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner to coalition led by Lemann Center—alongside Instituto Unibanco, Motriz, Todos pela Educação, and Instituto Natura—working to ensure every school in Brazil has an excellent leader by 2035.
• UNESCO GEM ReportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal School Leaders partnered with UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report to bring perspectives of school leaders into global conversations on education. GEM Report team served as jurors for Principals Speak Awards 2025.
• FirkiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivered training session on Six High-Leverage Actions, equipping educators with practical frameworks.
• AEIOTUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization displayed in partners section.
• AlokitominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization displayed in partners section.
• Centro LemanncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Brazilian Coalition for School Leadership and LAC Hub activities.
• Dignitas ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUsed GSL resources for gender work and learning sessions.
• Ishk Peduli Anak Indonesia (IPAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ECED Indonesia Pilot - IPAI-trained teachers being assessed for school leader training effectiveness.
• Enseñá por ArgentinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUsed GSL Portal to co-design contextualized training for Conectá x Argentina program (33 schools).
• ConnectEd - GuatemalaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with rural school leaders in Guatemala to develop gender-focused curriculum using Brave Leadership, Safe Schools resources.
• Fundación VarkeyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Principals Speak Awards 2025. Pablo Sánchez from Fundación Varkey Argentina served as jury member.
• Ensina BrasilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Principals Speak Awards 2025. Raianny Araújo from Ensina Brasil served as jury member.
• Impulso Docente - ChileminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Principals Speak Awards 2025. Florencia Mingo from Impulso Docente served as jury member.
• PURSUE - KenyaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Principals Speak Awards 2025. Harriet Bell from PURSUE served as jury member.
• Teach For All NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple Teach For All country organizations (Teach For India, Teach For Nigeria, Teach For Bangladesh) are partners or board member connections.
• Teach For NigeriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFolawe Omikunle, CEO of Teach For Nigeria, serves on GSL Board of Directors.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IDinsight: Global impact evaluation and evidence advisory organization working with social sector leaders in Africa and Asia. Comparable to GSL in evidence generation, RCT/mixed-methods research approach, and target funder base.
• Teach For All: Global network of independent partner organizations that recruit and develop leaders to expand educational opportunity. GSL's partner-network delivery model and shared presence across Latin America, Africa, and Asia make it a directly comparable global education intermediary.
• New Leaders: U.S.-based non-profit that develops school leaders (principals) as a lever for student achievement. Direct peer in mission and theory of change; GSL's Chief of Strategy & Operations is a former New Leaders Executive Director.

Emerging players

• HundrED: Finland-based non-profit curating and sharing innovative K-12 education practices globally. Comparable to GSL's open-source content library and network model, but with a broader innovation-curation focus rather than leadership training specifically.
• NewGlobe: Education delivery organization supporting government school systems in Africa and Asia. GSL has NewGlobe alumni on its team (Abraham Okumba); partial overlap in mission and partner-country footprint, but focused on direct delivery rather than intermediary convening.

Broad incumbents

• Education Development Center (EDC): Large global non-profit designing, implementing, and evaluating education programs worldwide. Overlaps with GSL in K-12 leadership training, gender equity programming, and government technical advisory across the Global South.
• FHI 360: Large international development non-profit with deep education programming across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Comparable in scale of geographic footprint, donor-funded model, and government technical advisory work.
• RTI International: Large research institute with global education research, evaluation, and capacity-building programs. Comparable to GSL in research-driven education services and donor/government contracting.
• UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report: UN-mandated global education research and policy monitoring initiative. Overlaps with GSL's PULS survey data positioning and convening role, and serves as a jury/credibility partner for GSL's Principals Speak Awards.

Others

• Lemann Foundation: Major Brazilian education philanthropy that funds the Brazilian Coalition for School Leadership alongside GSL. While a funder/partner rather than a competitor, Lemann's vertical integration (own programs plus grantmaking) places it in an adjacent, enabling ecosystem position relative to GSL.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gschoolleaders
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJsi5uFWcLDc_egM0WpmZUg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/global-school-leaders/?originalSubdomain=in
• Instagraminstagram.com/gschoolleaders

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Global School Leaders