The Directors Academy
A systems-led leadership academy for Early Childhood Centre Directors ready to lead with clarity, confidence and calm - without carrying it all alone.
Built on tried and tested systems from real Exceeding early learning services, the Academy focuses on how the role is actually done - not theory, not trends, not fluff.
Practical systems. Real implementation. Smarter leadership.
JOIN THE DIRECTORS ACADEMYBeing a Director is big.
Bigger than anyone prepared you for.
You hold responsibility for children, families, educators, compliance, culture, decisions, and expectations, often all at once.
We find most Directors step into this role because they care deeply about children and quality practice.
What they’re rarely given are the tools and systems required to lead a role of this size well.
Instead, you’re expected to figure it out as you go.
To lead people, manage systems, hold boundaries, navigate compliance, and make decisions, often without clear tools, frameworks, or proven processes to lean on.
If leadership has felt heavy at times, it’s not because you’re doing it wrong.
It’s because you were given the responsibility, but not the tools, to lead at this level.
You are effectively the CEO of your service — yet most Directors are never taught how to lead with CEO-level tools and systems.
Why the Academy Exists
Leadership should never be a guessing game
Most Directors lead with heart, not formal training.
You stepped into this role because you care.
Because you wanted to make a difference.
Because someone trusted you.
But very few Directors are given the tools and systems to:
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lead a team with clarity manage conflict confidently
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regulate emotions under pressure
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build culture intentionally
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run systems that actually work
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guide families with confidence
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set clear boundaries
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lead with calm and consistency
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sustain the role long term
You were given the responsibility...but not a clear way of doing the role.
The Directors Academy exists to change that.
To provide practical tools, proven systems, and clear leadership frameworks, so leading a service feels structured, calm and sustainable.
WHAT THE ACADEMY FEELS LIKE
Not another PD. A safe home for your leadership.
It feels like breathing again.
Like clarity after chaos.
Like being understood, deeply, for the first time in years.
It feels warm.
It feels grounding.
It feels like having someone in your corner who actually gets it.
Directors say:
“It feels like the support I’ve been craving for my entire career.”
And that’s exactly how it’s meant to feel.
APPLY NOW
why I built the Academy
My two decade journey
There was a time I questioned myself constantly.
Am I doing enough?
Am I doing too much?
There has to be a better way than this.
I loved early childhood and cared deeply about quality, children, families, and my team, but the Director role relied far too much on instinct, pressure, and holding everything together alone.
I searched for a clear, practical way to lead the Director role, something early childhood specific, grounded in real services, and built for the reality of the work.
It didn’t exist.
So I built it.
The Directors Academy brings together the systems I’ve developed over two decades as an educator, Director, service owner, and mentor, tested in real services and refined through real challenges.
Shared openly.
Without fluff.
Without gatekeeping.
So you don’t have to guess, carry everything alone, or learn the hard way.
This Academy is led by Leeza Browne, founder of Platinum Education Group, who has walked this path herself.
The foundations of strong, heart-first leadership
THE FOUR PILLARS OF TRANSFORMATION
These aren’t lessons. They’re the four parts of leadership that change absolutely everything.
1. Confident, Capable Leader
Clarity, boundaries, decision-making
When everything feels urgent, it’s hard to know what matters most.
Inside this pillar, you will:
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gain clarity on what your role actually requires and what it doesn’t
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make decisions without people-pleasing or second-guessing yourself
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set stronger boundaries with staff, families, and management
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respond calmly under pressure instead of reacting
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prioritise your time so everything doesn’t feel equally urgent
Outcome:
You know what to do, when to do it, and you trust yourself to lead.
2. Operational Excellence
Systems, compliance, structure
Holding everything in your head is not a system.
Inside this pillar, you will:
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put clear systems in place for compliance, staffing, documentation, and QIP
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move from firefighting to predictable ways of working
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prepare for Assessment & Rating with confidence, not panic
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create structure for new centres, transitions, and growth
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step out of ratio so you can actually lead the service
Outcome:
Your service runs because systems are in place, not because you’re constantly surviving.
3. People & Culture
Staffing, accountability, morale
Leading humans is hard — until you know how.
Inside this pillar, you will:
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communicate expectations so your team truly understands them
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manage conflict, grievances, and difficult conversations with confidence
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hold accountability without damaging relationships
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strengthen morale, motivation, and team alignment
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mentor and grow educators without carrying it all yourself
Outcome:
Your team functions better and leadership feels lighter.
4. Identity & Vision
Philosophy, quality, reputation
Quality doesn’t happen by accident — it happens with clarity.
Inside this pillar, you will:
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clarify what your service stands for and how that shows up in practice
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embed quality intentionally, not just tick boxes
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align your values with daily decisions and leadership actions
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feel confident representing your service with families and the community
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build momentum toward Exceeding quality in a sustainable way
Outcome:
You lead with purpose and direction, not reactivity or doubt.
(the hidden fifth pillar)
THE COMMUNITY
This is the part Directors say changes everything.
You’re surrounded by others who genuinely understand the role you’re in.
You have a place to share perspective, sense-check decisions, and learn alongside people who get it.
You don’t walk alone anymore.
JOIN THE DIRECTORS ACADEMYSupportive. Doable. Built for the real world of a Director.
HOW THE JOURNEY UNFOLDS
This isn’t extra work. It's where your real work becomes lighter.
Real Director Systems — No add ons
We strengthen the systems you already use, in your real service, with your real challenges.
Each month, you implement or refine core leadership work you’re already responsible for (such as QIP, philosophy, and leadership routines), with guidance and feedback to ensure it actually supports you and your team.
Nothing is theoretical.
This is practical, real-world leadership; done properly.
Six Core Modules Across Six Months
Each module focuses on a core area of leadership you are already responsible for.
Each module is:
- short and digestible
- practical and implementation focused
- designed for directors with full plates
You' re learning while you lead; not on top of everything else.
Weekly Q&A Sessions
You’re supported every single week.
These live sessions give you space to:
- ask questions related to the current module
- bring real-time challenges from your service
- get guidance on staffing, compliance, families and leadership decisions
You don't carry questions alone.
Your Leadership Toolkit
You are given the tools to lead - not just the ideas.
Inside each module you will receive:
- Scripts
- templates,
- checklists
- frameworks
- ready to use resources
These are the systems I've developed and refined over years in real exceeding services, all ready for you to implement with confidence .
Our Academy
Community
You are learning alongside directors who understand the role.
This is professional space to:
- share perspective
- learn from others at different stages
- sense check decisions
- feel less isolated in leadership
Over time, shared challenges and wins build trust trusted connections that extend well beyond the Academy.
You are no longer doing this alone.
Mentor Support
You are guided by experienced leadership, not left to figure it our alone.
The Directors Academy is led by Leeza Browne, founder of Platinum Education Group, with over two decades of experience as an educator, director, service owner and now mentor to hundreds of early learning services across Australia.
You will receive practical guidance, honest perspective, and real world insight to support confidence decision making and steady leadership.
We've helped hundreds of Early Childhood Directors to lead with confidence and build services that run well - without everything resting on them.
Mamta
"As a new Director, the Academy gave me the confidence and clarity I needed to understand my role properly. The practical tools, checklists, and clear guidance around compliance made a real difference. I felt supported every step of the way."
Claire
"The Academy gave me clear direction on compliance and practical strategies I could implement straight away. I felt prepared, confident, and calm in my role, and supported through real situations as they came up."
Katie
"The Directors Academy gave me clarity, confidence, and practical ways to manage my workload without burning out. The resources, discussions, and support helped me lead my team more effectively and feel more grounded in my role."
Six Core Modules Across Six Months
Module 1 — The Director
Understanding and mastering your role with clarity and confidence.
Module 2 — Play by the Rules
Practical compliance systems so you lead without fear or guesswork.
Module 3 — Dream Big
Clarifying your philosophy, values, and vision — and embedding them in practice.
Module 4 — On the Road to Success
Building a Quality Improvement Plan that actually works in real services.
Module 5 — Managing to Motivate
Leading people with confidence, accountability, and care.
Module 6 — Amplifying Your Voice
Strengthening connection, reputation, and confidence in representing your service.
Each module includes practical implementation, real systems, and weekly support
WHO THIS ACADEMY IS FOR
You will feel at home in this Academy if you:
- are a centre director (or stepping into leadership) carrying all the responsibility
- lead with heart, but want clearer structure and systems around you
- feel stretched by the role and want a steadier way of leading
- want clarity around what to focus on, and what can wait
- value practical system over theory or trends
- are you open to refining how you lead, no just working harder
- want leadership to feel confidence, calm and sustainable
If reading this feels like a quiet "yes" you are in the right place.
APPLY TO JOIN