Leadership Profiles – Urs Cunningham
Urs Cunningham’s entry into leadership was anything but conventional. One evening, her current school leader knocked on her door with news of an unexpected leadership emergency— and by the next morning, Urs was at the helm embroiled in senior leadership of a school. It was a leap into the unknown,but one that revealed her innate capacity to lead with presence, humility and strength. Since then, her leadership journey has been shaped by the guidance of several inspiring mentors. She describes her style as an amalgam of all the best things she’s learned from those who have gone before her — a blend of wisdom, generosity, and grounded purpose.
Over time, Urs’s leadership style has evolved profoundly. She reflects openly on the impact of her own mistakes and the deep learning they’ve offered. From theemotional intelligence needed to navigate generational differences, to the powerfullessons of the COVID era, Urs has come to understand that strong leadership doesn’t have to be hard-edged. “Kindness and care,” she says, “can be a real strength in a leadership role.”
One of the accomplishments she is most proud of isn’t a singular event, but a personal ethos — the ability to face up to her own mistakes, own them, andtransform them into growth. It’s this courageous self reflection that allows Urs to lead with authenticity, and to model the kind of integrity she hopes to cultivate in others.
What brings Urs joy in leadership is watching others grow. She lights up when talking about those moments when someone steps into a space she once held and doessomething incredible. “It’s when you see their spark — when they find their joy — that’s what fills me up.”
Having come to Aotearoa New Zealand from another country, Urs sees theuniqueness of our educational leadership landscape with fresh eyes. She values the space given here for schools and communities to shape their own identities — to lead in a way that honours context, voice, and belonging. The connections acrosssectors, the honouring of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the strong sense of biculturalresponsibility all make leadership in New Zealand something truly special. “It’s not aclick-and-play system,” she explains. “There’s space to find your own flavour.”
Through her experience leading change, Urs has learned never to take anything for granted. Change, she says, is dynamic and unpredictable — “you’re constantly winning hearts and minds.” Even when things appear to be going well, the work of connection and commitment never ends. That ongoing attention to people, purpose \and pace is what makes change not just effective, but enduring.
A quote that resonates deeply with her is from Maya Angelou: “Do the best you can until you know better. When you know better, do better.”
When it comes to professional reading, Urs keeps returning to Belonging by Owen Eastwood — a powerful exploration of whakapapa and team culture that continues to shape her thinking. She also recommends Chatter by Ethan Kross, a book that explores the power of the internal voice and how learning to navigate it has positively impacted not just her, but also those she leads.
Her advice to aspiring leaders? “Don’t wait until you feel ready. You learn by doing — and sometimes leaping is how you become ready.”