About this episode

This episode features a conversation with Melati Wijsen about fostering student passion and leadership in schools.

Melati Wijsen started Bye Bye Plastic Bags at age 12, spoke at the UN as a teenager, and never went to university, yet she is now teaching at three universities and shaping how a generation thinks about leadership and change. This episode is a conversation about what happens when a school genuinely creates space for a student's passion, and what school leaders can learn from one of the most compelling young voices in global education. Melati's journey through the Green School Bali, international advocacy, and her new book Change Starts Now offers a rare window into what education looks like when curiosity is treated as a core subject.   You'll hear why Melati believes clarity beats inspiration when building a movement ("Bye bye plastic bags" mobilised an island; "let's change the world" mobilises confusion), and why she burnt out at 16 after saying yes to too many causes. She and Shane discuss the real tension between academic accountability and changemaking and why she argues it doesn't have to be binary. Her practical answer for any leader with a passionate 14-year-old in their school is specific, actionable, and completely free. If you've ever wondered whether your…

People in this episode

Host: Shane Leaning

Guest: Melati Wijsen

Topics covered

• young changemakers
• leadership
• education
• student passion
• changemaking
• academic accountability

Keywords

• changemakers
• leadership
• education
• student engagement
• Green School Bali
• Bye Bye Plastic Bags
• Melati Wijsen
• Change Starts Now

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Bye Bye Plastic Bags, Green School Bali, Harper Collins, YOUTHTOPIA

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