From Complexity to Clarity: Strategy at ASFM

American School Foundation of Monterrey, Mexico

A New Director, A Fresh Start

How do you lead a school community of 2,500 students and hundreds of staff into a new era—especially after years of disruption?

At the American School Foundation of Monterrey, Mexico, a change in leadership became the perfect moment to rethink direction and reconnect people. With a new Director and Deputy at the helm, the school wanted more than a handover—they needed a deep dive. Into their data, yes. But more importantly, into their people, their purpose, and what mattered most going forward.

The Challenge: Rebuilding Cohesion Post-Pandemic

The outgoing Director had steered the school through a global crisis. But now, the new leadership team needed to shape a vision that would help their community move forward—not just bounce back.

The difficulty? Competing priorities, mixed messages, and a set of guiding statements overloaded with over 30 different ambitions. The school needed alignment. Not more input—more insight.

Our Approach: Uniting Voices, Shaping Vision

Rather than arrive with ready-made answers, we started with curiosity. Through interviews, workshops and careful listening, we surfaced what had become blurred: a mix of overlapping values and strategic aims that left staff unsure where to focus their energy.

Working closely with the Board and Leadership Team, we distilled this noisy picture into a clear, shared story. One uniting vision. Three strategic objectives. Each with measurable key results, not just good intentions.

Instead of locking the school into a rigid action plan, we left the ‘how’ open for autonomous teams to shape. This wasn’t about top-down control. It was about creating clarity at the top, and space for creativity everywhere else.

The Impact: A Community Pointing in the Same Direction

What the ASFM leadership team walked away with wasn’t just a strategy on paper. It was a foundation for real conversations, real decisions, and real progress. They had a way to explain the future that made sense to everyone—from Board members to classroom teachers.

Why It Matters

When you’re stepping into a leadership role, clarity is your best ally. But it can’t come from a spreadsheet. It has to come from people.

And that’s what made this project different. Not a strategy done to a school. A strategy made with them.