David Willows

Dr. David Willows is Co-founder and Strategic Director at [YELLOW CAR], a training and consulting firm designed to help schools stand out. Between 2005 and 2022, he was Director of Advancement at the International School of Brussels, Belgium. David is widely regarded as one of the most innovative practitioners in the field, helping to shape and define the future of Advancement in schools. He was recently listed as one of the world's Top 10 Global Education Influencers. An author and regular keynote speaker & trainer at international events around the world, David is passionate about helping schools advance in ways that are relevant for today’s educational landscape.

This is David’s sixth year as a Brilliance Awards judge.

David Quoted

“If someone asks you to be a judge, you first feel honored. And then, I have to confess that there was something about it which I was intellectually and professionally curious, maybe you could say nosy.”

“These categories allow us to have a real interesting perspective on some of the best work that schools are doing around the world, and some of that is coming from an international context, and some from North America.”

“When I was working at the International School of Brussels, whenever the [Brilliance Awards] winners were published, I used to say, now it's time to go and look at all of these winners because these winners are teaching us something about the future of our industry.”

“One of the things that I used to say to my team was, ‘If we have not done something this year that is worth entering, then we need to ask ourselves, why?’”

“...Sometimes our work isn't understood by people around us....we're not always encouraged in the way that we'd hoped to be. If a peer can recognize our work, the impact on the morale of the team is huge. It’s literally whoops of joy. It also inspires us to go even further the following year.”

Enter the Brilliance Awards

Be sure to listen to our previous podcast with David Willows as well as with David and Suzette Parlevliet.

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Rob Norman

Best Boy, InspirED School Marketers

Rob has 25 years of independent school marketing experience as principal of Turnaround Marketing Communications, a branding and marketing firm specializing in independent schools. Rob shares his experience on InspirED School Marketers by blogging, editing the Daily Jolt, and by podcasting with fascinating independent school movers and shakers. As InspirED's Best Boy — a term borrowed from theater, Rob's longtime passion — Rob loves to be out and about, meeting with school marketers, learning their needs, and helping them overcome challenges. Be sure to ask Rob about his golf game.

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Discussing the "Independent School Cost-Per-Enrollment Study"

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Short Boost Episode: Deb Baum, Brilliance Awards Judge

With Deb Baum, Senior Director of Communications and Strategic Institutional Marketing, The Bryn Mawr School

Short Boost Episode: Jan Abernathy, Brilliance Awards Judge

With Jan Abernathy, Chief Communications Officer at The Browning School. This is Jan's third year as a Brilliance Awards judge.

Short Boost Episode: David Willows, Brilliance Awards Judge

With Dr. David Willows, Co-founder and Strategic Director at [YELLOW CAR], and an InspirED Brilliance Awards judge for six years.

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WHY.os: Increased Communication, Connection, and Unification

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Assistant Professor of the Practice, Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations
Director, Vanderbilt University, Peabody College, Independent School Leadership Program (M.Ed.)