2024 Wrapped: A Year of Growth, Innovation, and Impact

As 2024 draws to a close, we at Ian Symmonds & Associates (ISA) are hitting rewind on a year filled with growth, collaboration, and boundary-breaking moments. This year was one for the books, and we couldn’t have done it without our incredible partners around the world. Let’s hit play on the highlights of 2024—Spotify Wrapped style.

 

Top Collaborations: Where We Made an Impact

This year, ISA hit the global stage, partnering with schools and organizations from coast to coast and beyond. From the streets of London to the hills of Canada, our global reach expanded like never before. Notable highlights include:

• UK: Our strategic work with the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) included Ian’s keynote at their annual conference, sparking fresh conversations about AI in education.
• Canada: Ian keynoted CAIS’ annual Heads and Chairs conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We continue to support CAIS with strategic planning, helping independent schools across the country shape their futures.
• Chile: We booked Ian’s flight to Santiago, Chile, after securing his keynote spot at the ABSCH Educational Conference in 2025, where he’ll address the future of education in South America.

 

Most Streamed Themes: What We Talked About

Our thought leadership hit all the right notes this year. These were the topics that got the most plays:

• Innovation vs. Stagnation: Why some organizations thrive while others fade.
• Financial Resiliency: The unsung hero of long-term success.
• The Future of Education: Exploring the “Three Paths” that will define how schools evolve in the coming decades.
• Economic Models of Hope: Forget the doom and gloom—we’re rethinking sustainability and possibility.

 

Strategic Hits: Plans That Made Waves

2024 saw chart-topping strategic plans take center stage. Schools like Vail Mountain School and Waterford School debuted bold visions—“Learning Elevated” and “Waterford Rising”—proving that big ideas lead to big impact. Meanwhile, Lake Highland Prep in Orlando launched their “The Future Is Here” plan, setting a new bar for ambition and execution.

On the association front, our partnership with CAIS marked a significant milestone, helping independent schools across Canada build resilience and adaptability.

 

New Releases: Fresh Faces and Formats

This year, ISA dropped some exciting new tracks of our own:

• New Team Members: This year, we welcomed Jules Symmonds as our new managing consultant, and Alli McCauley, who heads the creative capabilities of our team.
• Creative Expansion: This year, we launched our creative division, focusing on delivering thoughtful and innovative visual solutions to support our clients’ missions and goals.
• EdVentures Podcast: Our debut podcast series opened up a new way to connect, share, and explore big ideas in education strategy. (If you haven’t streamed it yet, you’re missing out!)

 

Looking Ahead: 2025 Is the Next Big Thing

As we fast-forward into 2025, we’re ready to turn up the volume on innovation, collaboration, and bold leadership. From new partnerships to even bigger global initiatives, we’re just getting started. To all our clients, collaborators, and friends: thank you for hitting play with us this year.

Here’s to making 2025 a chart-topper—together.