Strategy and vision for education’s next era.
What We Do
ISA is a principal-led strategy firm with more than two decades of experience guiding thousands of institutions globally to lead the next era of education.
Why We Do It
We envision a future where strong, mission-driven institutions choose courageous leadership — shaping lives, strengthening communities, and advancing society.
Our Areas of Expertise & Leadership
Strategy
Strategic Planning
Visioning
Positioning & Growth
Research
Market Intelligence
Demand & Stakeholder Analysis
Perception & Insight
Marketing
Brand & Identity
Marketing Communications
Enrollment Management
Leadership
Capacity Building
Generative Governance
Executive Advisory
The new ISA Strategy Studio is a board and senior-leader strategic advisory experience for the next era of education. It is not a strategic plan. It is not a retreat. It is not a one-time presentation followed by a binder no one opens again.
ISA's newest offering, the Strategy Studio is a sustained, principal-led engagement designed to do something plans cannot do on their own: build the internal, generative and strategic capacity of the people responsible for the institution's future.
The purpose of the ISA Strategy Studio is to help senior executive teams and boards both develop and integrate the pattern recognition, strategic discourse, and generative thinking required to sustain and thrive in a new era of education.
IAN SYMMONDS
ISA Founder, Chief Strategist
Founded in 2003, ISA is a principal-anchored strategy firm led by its founder, Ian Symmonds. We advise a limited number of institutions each year, prioritizing depth, trust, and long-term relevance over scale.
Experience matters -- and Ian has seen it all. For more than 20 years, thousands of clients, and five million air miles later, Ian has likely seen more independent schools and colleges firsthand than any other consultant.
In a world obsessed with milestones and endpoints, Ian's first book — The Journey Matters — invites you to slow down and find meaning in the experiences that shape our perspective.
Through personal reflections from the tennis court to the boardroom, Ian shares a grounded look at how noticing the people and places along the way builds a life — and a legacy — of true depth.
It is a reminder for leaders and seekers alike that the value of our work isn’t just where we arrive, but how we are transformed by the path we take.
With 20+ years and thousands of clients under our belt, we’ve seen it all.
academy-of-the-sacred-heart
augusta-prep
barton-college
baylor
BGA
Brenau
carolina-friends-school
catlin-gabel
chadwick-school
crossroads-sfas
duke-school
dundalk-renaissance
Durham Academy
epilepsy-foundation
episcopal-collegiate-school
flagler-college
foote-school
foothill-country-day-school
francis-parker-school
french-american-school-of-puget-sound
george-fox-university
hackley-school
harker
holton-arms-school
international-school-of-boston
jesuit-high-school
king
kingswood-oxford
lake-highland-prep-school
maine-media
mississippi-childrens-museum
new-canaan-country-school
new-roads-school
nols
oregon-episcopal-school
oregon-health&science-university
parker
portland-community-college
ravenscroft
ridley-college
seattle-university
sidewell-friends
tampa-prep
the-blake-school
the-haverford-school
the-sage-school
think-global-school
trinity-episcopal-school
valparaiso-university
walnut-hill-school-for-the-arts
westminster-college
Thought Leadership
We’ve been writing, speaking and forecasting trends for over 20 years, amassing literally thousands of entries since 2010. Our content is shared only on this site to our ISA subscribers, clients and visitors.
