Leadership Profiles – Jenny King
Growing Others, Leading Change
What inspired Jenny to step into leadership in education? For her, it began with a strong sense that things could be done better — that there was an opportunity to create richer, more meaningful experiences for children. Over time, she was fortunate to be surrounded by capable and confident leaders who trusted her with space to grow. That trust, coupled with her own observations of what could be improved, sparked a leadership journey grounded in purpose, growth, and positive influence.
Jenny’s leadership approach has been shaped by both inspiration and reflection — learning from outstanding role models and also recognising when things could be done differently. This balance helped her develop a leadership style that is confident yet humble, always focused on empowering others to thrive.
One of Jenny’s greatest joys in leadership is witnessing the growth of others. She speaks passionately about supporting provisionally certificated teachers as they develop confidence and capability, and about the excitement she sees when teachers experience success and can articulate it clearly. Being a sounding board, a supporter, and an encourager brings her deep fulfilment. Whether working with colleagues or students, Jenny finds real meaning in helping others realise their potential.
Two quotes beautifully capture her leadership philosophy: “The greatest contribution of a leader is to make others leaders.” – Simon Sinek “Mā te huruhuru, ka rere te manu” – Adorn the bird with feathers, and it will fly.” These sayings speak to Jenny’s commitment to building others up and creating the conditions that allow people to flourish.
Jenny also believes that educational leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand is uniquely shaped by the pathways into it. Many leaders here, like Jenny herself, begin without formal training — she first stepped into a leadership role while working as a fourth year teacher. In New Zealand, leadership often grows from within the school environment, fuelled by passion and the willingness to serve. While the pathway isn’t always linear or clear, it offers rich opportunities for those ready to step into the challenge.
Through her leadership journey, Jenny has learned a great deal about leading change. One key insight is that even when a team appears to be on board, there ca still be gaps in knowledge, confidence, or skills that need to be addressed. She has learned to keep circling back, checking in, and supporting people to see the value in the change and feel equipped to contribute. As Jenny says, “People never cease to surprise me — just when you think something’s sorted, you realise there’s more to learn and more to do.”
One of Jenny’s most valuable leadership tools — both for group work and personal resilience — is Stephen Covey’s Circles of Influence. This tool has helped her clarify thinking, focus on what truly matters, and remain grounded through challenging moments.
At the moment, Jenny is also drawing inspiration from Digby Scott, whose work on the people side of leadership and change resonates deeply with her. His ideas affirm what Jenny already knows: that effective leadership is not just about strategy, but about empathy, relationships, and helping others to rise.
At the heart of Jenny’s leadership is a powerful vision — that leadership is not about standing above others, but beside them. Her strength lies in recognising the potential in those around her and helping them take flight.