Elevate your impact and master the art of leadership with the McCoy Leadership Podcast. Join insightful conversations with global leadership experts as we explore strategies to empower executives, entrepreneurs, and team leaders alike. Whether you’re navigating the shift from manager to leader or seeking to refine your skills, our episodes offer actionable advice, inspiring stories, and expert insights to help you drive success in your business, team, or organization. Perfect for those who aspire to lead with confidence, authenticity, and purpose.
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Elevate your impact and master the art of leadership with the McCoy Leadership Podcast. Join insightful conversations with global leadership experts as we explore strategies to empower executives, entrepreneurs, and team leaders alike. Whether you’re navigating the shift from manager to leader or seeking to refine your skills, our episodes offer actionable advice, inspiring stories, and expert insights to help you drive success in your business, team, or organization. Perfect for those who aspire to lead with confidence, authenticity, and purpose.
Bridging School and Industry: Preparing Students for Success with Dr. Cynthia Rapaido
McCoy Leadership
37 minutes
3 weeks ago
Bridging School and Industry: Preparing Students for Success with Dr. Cynthia Rapaido
On today’s episode of the McCoy Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Cynthia Rapaido, a powerhouse in K-12 education and leadership. We talked about the challenges of transitioning from teaching students to leading adults, the game-changing role of mentorship, and how to define—and redefine—your personal “why” as you climb the ladder. Dr. Cynthia dropped insights on building inclusive, thriving school cultures and preparing students for real-world success, plus she shared wisdom from her new book, “Step Up Your School Leadership Game.” If you want actionable strategies to elevate your impact as a leader, this episode is packed with gold.
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Download your free episode guide here!
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00:00 "From Struggle to Teaching Passion"
05:12 Universal Value of Apprenticeships
08:50 Mentorship Toward Principalship Journey
11:16 "Discovering and Evolving Your Why"
17:16 Creating a Positive School Environment
18:58 Bridging Schools and Industry Needs
23:51 "Preparing Students for Opportunities"
28:07 "Should Everyone Be a Principal?"
29:33 "Choosing Leadership in Education"
33:23 "Rapid Fire Leadership Questions"
36:46 AI Advancements and Future Connections
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Here are my top 3 takeaways:
💡 Mentorship is Essential: Dr. Rapaido emphasized that real growth happens with strong mentorship—both from within your school and across your professional network. Don’t wait to be assigned a mentor; proactively seek out guidance to expand your perspective.
🧭 Your “Why” Will Evolve: Your motivation for leading will shift over time. Dr. Rapaido encourages leaders to regularly reassess their ‘why’—it’s not just about personal growth or compensation. Staying grounded in your purpose is key to navigating challenges and inspiring those you lead.
🚀 Hands-On Learning Trumps Theory: There’s no substitute for real-world experience. Whether it’s “student principling” or shadowing others, Dr. Rapaido recommends practical learning opportunities to bridge the gap between theory and day-to-day leadership realities.
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Links
Cynthia's LinkedIn
Cynthia's Book
Book Recommendation
McCoy Leadership
Elevate your impact and master the art of leadership with the McCoy Leadership Podcast. Join insightful conversations with global leadership experts as we explore strategies to empower executives, entrepreneurs, and team leaders alike. Whether you’re navigating the shift from manager to leader or seeking to refine your skills, our episodes offer actionable advice, inspiring stories, and expert insights to help you drive success in your business, team, or organization. Perfect for those who aspire to lead with confidence, authenticity, and purpose.
