Rochelle Borton is the owner and founder of EduInfluencers, and has 15 years’ experience in education and works alongside hundreds of educators each year.
She has a Master’s degree and is trained in behavioural intelligence and loves partnering with school leaders to unlock individual and team potential.
Rochelle is also a mum to six kids (four biological and two bonus babies), a doting wife and an active volunteer.
She has also spent time supporting young people to develop leadership capability both in Australia and internationally as part of the Junior Chamber International, a not-for-profit in more than 100 countries across the world.
Rochelle started the organisation almost five years ago, after being involved in another education startup. They had/have a great technology tool; however, she noticed an opportunity to provide professional learning to greatly enhance behaviour change and self-reflection. She started with one, four-part workshop series partnering with one school and the team now runs over 30 workshops and partner with more than 30 schools a year.
Was there a significant turning point when you decided to become an entrepreneur?
I had worked at the University of Wollongong in several roles across many years. There was a period of change and many restructures and I felt that I had been overlooked for roles that I would have been suitable for. I began looking for a change and ended up at an education startup. The startup had and still has a fantastic technology tool; however, I figured out pretty quickly that it wasn’t for me.
My work with school leaders during that time had me reflecting on their needs regarding professional learning and how I might be able to support them.
I left the organisation after a short six months and alongside another former employee started EduInfluencers. Within six months, my business partner decided this wasn’t for them and they moved on.
It was at that point I realised, as scared as I was, that I could make it work – it was the greatest opportunity I’d ever had.
Steering my own ship has been the most rewarding experience I have ever had and I cannot ever imagine working for anyone else now.
What’s your favourite part about what you do?
I love spending time with school leaders and their teams helping them unlock their collective genius and their personal and team goals.
Taking a team from dysfunction to cohesiveness and watching team members flourish and take on big ideas never ceases to make me smile.
I love getting feedback from my partner schools, letting me know what worked and what didn’t. Being an accountability partner means you get to share in their success. Best feeling in the world when someone achieves their goals and you have been a small part of the journey.
What’s a quote you live by?
If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough
Who do you look up to in business? Who inspires you?
My education superstars are classroom teachers and school leaders. I have the privilege of spending a lot of time in schools and often observe classroom and leadership practice. I am always amazed at how educators build relationships with young people and differentiate their instruction to make sure everyone has the opportunity to learn, regardless of ability.
In business, I am always eager to follow female entrepreneurs and business owner stories. I love to support women who have started and are growing their empires however I can. I have always found the inspiration comes from the (extra) ordinary – perhaps it’s because I can relate. I love to see people having a go.
What was the best advice that you have been given?
The best piece of advice I was given was from a senior female leader. She said, if you’re not getting a “seat at the table” then you’re in the wrong place.
A few years later I had set up EduInfluencers and when I met her at a networking event, I told her she was part of my inspiration to move on.
EduInfluencers helps leadership teams in schools across Australia build cohesion, high performance and shift culture. The team provides professional learning workshops, 1:1 and team coaching and 360 feedback tools. She started with one, four-part workshop series partnering with one school and the team now runs over 30 workshops and partner with more than 30 schools a year.
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