Episode 62: Leadership Spotlight with Wendy Keiver
Episode 52
Leadership Spotlight with Wendy Keiver
Episode Summary
Wendy Keiver, Executive Director of Alberta School Councils Association, shares how understanding different communication styles and leading with "benign interpretation" has transformed her leadership approach. She emphasizes the importance of staying flexible ("bring your dancing shoes"), being intentional about commitments, and gathering multiple perspectives before making decisions. Wendy describes ASCA's mission to empower parents as effective advocates by channeling their voices into education at school, division, and provincial levels.
Key Points:
Lead with benign interpretation: Don't read negative intent into how people communicate. Recognize that people give and receive information differently than you do, and seek to understand their communication style first.
Stay flexible and adaptive: Bring your "dancing shoes" to leadership—be willing to adjust direction based on what your audience or group actually needs, not just what you think they need. Ask yourself "if I say yes to this, what am I saying no to?" before making commitments.
Value preparation and collaboration: Show up prepared with everything in order, but gather multiple perspectives and feedback from those who will be impacted before making final decisions. You can hold accountability while still honoring others' input.
Resources
DISC Resources
Related Episodes
Wendy’s Bio
Former Director of Client Services for Alberta School Councils’ Association (ASCA) for seven years, and a workshop instructor prior to that, Wendy brings a vast background of school council, community, and education service to her role as Executive Director, which commenced in 2017.
School Board Trustee for Edmonton Public Schools from 2004 to 2007, Wendy was School Council Chair and Fundraising Association President for multiple school communities over 15 years. She also held executive positions with her Community League for 10 years, President of the Literacy and Learning Day Society of Edmonton for seven years - co-founding the Literacy and Learning Day Conference in 2003, and the Organizing Committee Chair until 2017.
Wendy is married with adult children, and grandchildren ranging in age from 9 to 22 years old.
A passion for inspiring parents to be true partners in their child’s education, Wendy believes respecting parents as informed and knowledgeable partners in the education of children, and engaging community collaboration will lead to student success, and success for the province.
School councils in their legislated role are an effective means to accomplish this goal, and “A respected and empowered school council in every Alberta school” is a vision that Wendy is dedicated to see realized.
Learn more about Alberta School Councils’ Association.
Listen
Listen on Sound Sugar Radio Monday to Friday at 11:00 am and approximately every 75-90 minutes.
About Jacquie:
Jacquie is the founder of Leadership and Life by Kayric Inc, where she blends the best of teaching, leadership, and the occasional The West Wing reference to help non-profits and small business build strong leaders and healthy teams. Utilizing DISC and The Five Behaviours of a Cohesive team, combined with teaching knowledge and experience, Jacquie strives to empower leaders with the skills no one taught them and to create teams who want to work together.
Formerly a junior high teacher (who loves teenagers), Jacquie brings a decade of classroom wisdom, ten years corporate training experience, a growth mindset, and a sprinkle of mild rebellion to her dynamic approach.
In her free time, Jacquie channels her passion for community improvement by volunteering with school councils, serving on non-profit boards, and generally finding ways to make her corner of the world a better place. You can also find her on the side of a soccer pitch, at Remedy Café or in her scrapbook room.
