Discover how creative intelligence and emotional learning shape impactful thought leadership in education. Louise Sommer explores the value of art in education, symbolic communication, and cross-cultural clarity—featuring insights from Isabel Allende and academic research. For educators, creatives, and changemakers building meaningful digital presence and leadership.

Everyone carries a story behind their eyes. A moment that closed something down. Or moment that made something possible. A memory of feeling stupid, or a memory of feeling seen. These stories are not always visible. But they’re present; in how we speak, how we learn, how we show up. And that means teaching is never just about content. It’s about creating the conditions where someone can unfold again.

I remember the moment clearly. I was standing in front of my very first class in Australia. In front of me sat a group of adults from six different countries and vastly different cultural backgrounds. There were 20-year-old backpackers from France and South America, published authors and artists from all over Australia, emerging entrepreneurs, and even two senior scholars who wanted to learn how to communicate their field to 'outsiders.' No pressure, right?

There is so much performance in education today; teachers performing knowledge, students performing achievement, institutions performing innovation. But real learning is quiet, relational, and deeply human. My blog became a place where I could share what that looks like. Not for the sake of branding or self-promotion, but because I believe that reflective storytelling is essential for leadership.

Education as leadership: In the 21st century, education is no longer defined by the four walls of a classroom, or even by static curricula. It is shaped by visionaries who can navigate complexity, inspire innovation, and re-imagine what learning can be. At the heart of this transformation lies a powerful concept: thought leadership in digital education.

Creative Innovation & Cultural Identity: 1980s NYC. A professional exploration of how 1980s New York shaped global identity, media, and creative leadership through icons like Madonna, MTV, and subcultural movements.

Watching foreign films, TV shows, and reading books from other cultures is a way to train, expand and broaden our cultural intelligence.

Culture is a powerful lens through which we view the world. It shapes our language, values, even how we communicate and understand others.