The Bold Women Collective is founded on a powerful truth: women are transforming the education space every day—sparking ideas, developing solutions, connecting communities, envisioning the future, and championing change. Whether she is rising, leading or just beginning her journey, her influence shapes how the world learns.
This year, that influence grows as the Collective brings its signature Backstory Podcast to the FETC Conference, sharing authentic stories from women across the industry.
Powered by EDmarket, the Bold Women Collective celebrates women’s leadership through six distinct leaders who represent the diverse ways women shape the education landscape:
- The Trailblazer, who pushes boundaries
- The Builder, who turns ideas into reality
- The Connector, who strengthens networks
- The Visionary, who looks ahead
- The Advocate, who champions equity
- The Up-and-Coming Leader, who is discovering her potential
Together, these leaders showcase the wide range of strengths and perspectives women bring to the education marketplace.
Platform for real leadership conversations
The Backstory Podcast has become a powerful space for women to share the moments that have shaped their leadership—the challenges overcome, sparks of creativity and lessons learned along the way. Through honest, unfiltered conversations, Backstory illuminates the lived experiences that fuel innovation across the learning ecosystem.
Its collaboration with the Future of Education Technology Conference—one of education’s leading events for innovation and technology—broadens this mission. Throughout the conference, the Backstory team will meet with women from across the field to capture their insights and leadership journeys.
These conversations will highlight how women at every stage of their careers are influencing the evolution of teaching, learning, and educational design.
Where innovation meets representation
Backstory’s presence at FETC deepens the Collective’s core mission: elevating women’s voices to promote equity and opportunity. This mission is rooted in the belief that storytelling and visibility are crucial to meaningful progress.
As Dr. Deb Kerr, superintendent of St. Francis School District, states: “The Bold Women Collective was inspired by the idea that women can rise when they elevate each other. Our girls and young women must see leaders who not only hold key positions but also reflect their own backgrounds. Coming together to share our stories provides leadership for learning and leading together. Bold women leaders matter.”
Her words resonate with the core of this movement. When women share their stories, they not only reflect on their own leadership—they create paths for others to follow.
Capturing these voices in a space dedicated to forward-thinking practices ensures that women’s contributions remain central to the future of education.
This collaboration brings together two aligned forces: FETC’s commitment to innovation and the Bold Women Collective’s focus on highlighting the women driving that innovation. Together, they foster an environment where ideas intersect, where diverse perspectives spark new connections, and where women’s impact is recognized and celebrated.
Significant moment for the movement
As the Bold Women Collective continues to grow its community and influence, bringing the Backstory Podcast at FETC marks an important milestone. It reinforces the belief that leadership is shaped not just by achievements but by the stories that reveal how women think, grow, and lead.
Gathering these stories at one of the industry’s most influential events ensures that women’s voices help shape the future of learning—today and beyond.
