Category: #wapisasa

Social Purpose

With the genesis of the Wapisasa concept in my head, I was keen to use a different model. A people-first model. A social business. I wanted to pin the social purpose to our foreheads, so that profit never became our top priority. I wanted to run Wapisasa as a business, but never wanted to lose […]
Learning to Credential

Due to the nature of the system, we start with the Credential and work backwards. Ah. This is further illustrated by this graphic, highlighting the massive difference between prescriptive and descriptive pathways.
Catalyst of change

I had a very enjoyable conversation with Giles Anderton before Christmas, and this thought appeared. I see myself as a catalyst for change. But if I’m being honest, I realise that in the past I’ve been as resistant to change as the next guy – and not even for reasons I can clearly articulate. I once heard […]
So… how’s it going? (growing a social business)

I wrote this visual poem in 2014 when the social business I had founded (wapisasa) and its vision were struggling – I had completely forgotten about it until I found it in an old sketchbook, and thought I might turn it into something to encourage others. If it resonates with you, let me know!
Planning Buckets for Scope

I created this image to go with Doug Belshaw’s blogpost on “Setting an Agile School Rhythm” …
Confidence and Perspective

When we took on our first young people at wapisasa last year, I really didn’t appreciate how important self-confidence in the Rookie’s outlook and enjoyment of their job. On reflection, I see that I’m no different. A lack of confidence makes you blind to the options and opportunity that surrounds you.
It’s all about people

Having sold a couple of businesses, I’m often asked about the ingredients of running a successful start-up. Well, this may be obvious, but it’s top of my list every time. People. But not just your immediate team (which is of course critical), but those who you sell to, those who support what you’re selling, those […]
You have a gift…

Here’s another thought from Angela Maiers‘ “You Matter Manifesto”. In my experience of working with young people, I’ve been amazed at how warped a view of themselves they can often have. This view is where the seed of self-confidence is rooted – and seeing evidence of your own hands having made a difference in someone […]
Your Experiences have value

I now realise that we are our experiences, and due to having associative brains, the product of our individual experiences means that we each have a unique angle on life. I suppose it then depends on whether we see this as an advantage or not…
What’s the big idea?

Mr Rocketship-of-an-idea. What’s not to like?
We teach Maths like a dead language

I’ve come across too many people who shudder at the thought of maths. The damage has already been done. To contrast, at my school I had a Maths teacher who was so passionate about Maths, we all got A’s. This thought came from an interview of Conrad Wolfram by Graham Brown-Martin in his most excellent […]
wapisasa overview (v2)

After being in business for a 6 months or so, I held a vision day with the team, and out of that day this was created. it aims to support a wapisasa elevator pitch, and enable anyone to talk though the story.