I know how you feel.

For years, I let the tyranny of the urgent and the daily grind of parent complaints and student discipline issues and teacher drama keep me from leading my school proactively and strategically.

I felt so frustrated (and a little ashamed) because I knew that I should have been leading my school, but I was just running my school.

If you feel this way too, you are NOT alone. 

I have coached nearly 100 private school leaders and I have asked every one of them to finish the following sentence: "I really wish that I had more time to......"

95% of my coaching clients said the SAME two things:

• "I wish that I could get into classrooms more often."
• "I wish that I could spend more time on planning and thinking strategically."

You’re not alone and you’re not doing anything wrong.

You just haven’t been given the right type of professional development...yet.

Why Traditional PD Isn’t Working

More information isn’t the answer.

• Conferences inspire, but the inspiration fades.
• Books educate, but they don’t implement themselves.
• Podcasts motivate, but motivation doesn’t equal change. (Yes, I just said that!) 

You don’t need:

• Another webinar
• Another book
• Another binder
• Another framework

You need:

• A structured, facilitated space where you can think like a leader
• A cohort of other private school leaders who understand you
• A place where you can get real help with the dilemmas you are facing
• A support system of other private school leaders who "get it"
• Accountability that leads to action

You don't need more information.

You need a transformation.

That’s why I created The Proactive Leader Mastermind.

What a Mastermind Really Is (And Why It Works)

A Mastermind IS NOT:

• A webinar
• A course
• Another piece of content to consume

A Mastermind IS a structured, facilitated space where:

• Leaders slow down
• Think clearly

• Learn from each other

• And make better decisions together

Leadership is supposed to be a team sport, not an individual sport.

What is The Proactive Leader Mastermind?

The Proactive Leader Mastermind is a cohort of 12 private school leaders, who meet twice monthly (starting January 21), for 5 months, to do two things exceptionally well:

1. Build proactive leadership habits
2. Solve real leadership dilemmas in real time

How Does The Proactive Leader Mastermind Actually Work?

The 12 leader cohort will have two, monthly meetings (starting January 21):

• The Leadership Lab
• The Dilemma Lab

The Leadership Lab (Monthly: 90 Minutes)

• 10 Minute Check-In
• 40 minutes of focused teaching from me
• 40 minutes of guided breakout discussion and application
• Teaching topics include: “How To Go From Reactive Manager To Proactive Leader”, “Be The Architect Of Your School’s Future”, “The Secret To Getting Into Classrooms More Often”, “Strategic Thinking 101”, “How To Optimize Your Team” and more. 

The Dilemma Lab (Monthly: 90 Minutes)

• 10 Minute Check-In
• 35 Minutes of Dilemma Lab #1
• 35 Minutes of Dilemma Lab #2
• 10 Minutes of discussion and application

What is a “Dilemma Lab?”

• A leader presents a real dilemma from their school
• The cohort members ask clarifying questions
• Assumptions and blind spots are revealed
• Options are explored and the group’s wisdom is applied
• A clear, actionable plan is created in real time

This isn’t chaotic advice-giving.

The Dilemma Lab is collective wisdom of the cohort applied with discipline.

(Brief sidebar: I know what you are thinking. "There's no way that I can meet twice a month for 90 minutes." I just need you to stay with me and keep reading and suspend your disbelief for a few more minutes. Trust me.)

The Transformation Promise

If you join this cohort of The Proactive Leader Mastermind:

1. You will go from being a Reactive Manager to being a Proactive Leader.

2. People that know you will start saying this about you:

“She is a proactive, strategic leader.” “He is a proactive, strategic leader.”

What will be the evidence of this transformation?

You will go:

• From letting the school year happen to you, to being the architect of your school year
• From putting out fires, to preventing them
• From being the default problem solver, to optimizing your team
• From doing it alone, to having a cohort of like-minded leaders in your corner
• From running your school, to leading your school

"Prior to working with Mark, I felt reactive more than proactive, but as he continued to walk alongside me on the adventure, I welcomed new moments of contentment, self-affirmation, and validation. My work has become intentional.

Leadership requires continued reflection, development, education, and in all honesty, transparency and hard truths. Mark's coaching sessions provide these things and more. 

The intangible part of his coaching comes in the form of intentional conversations reassuring you that you are not alone in this difficult, but important work. 

What we do is hard, but it's made possible with mentors like Mark. I encourage you to say, yes."

Sarah, Head of School, Lafayette, Louisiana

"In addition to all of the brainwork and helpful strategies within the program itself, the time you meet with other administrators is invaluable.

Once I spoke with others who had similar experiences and challenges, I was able to know that the difficulty of the job was not due to my deficiency."

Noelle, Head of Lower School, Elgin, IL

"Working with Mark has truly transformed my approach to leadership. His guidance has not only streamlined my responsibilities but has also boosted my confidence and helped me recognize my own value. I now feel like a stronger and more capable leader, all thanks to Mark's support. 

Mark has helped me refine my daily approach, from prioritizing tasks to managing my time more effectively through email scheduling. As a result, I feel more focused and productive than ever before.

This positive change hasn't just impacted my professional life; it has also spilled over into my personal life, making me a happier and more balanced individual. I now realize that I can excel as a leader while also being my best self in all aspects of my life. Working with Mark has been a game changer, and I'm incredibly grateful for his guidance."

Steve Springer, Head of School, Ellicott City, MD

What's included in The Proactive Leader Mastermind?

How much is it worth?

Mastermind Community (Priceless)

LIVE Monthly Leadership Lab ($1800)

LIVE Monthly Dilemma Lab ($1500)

Encouragement and accountability from other leaders (Priceless)

Leadership 101 (online Course) ($595)

"On Call Coaching" ($400)

Getting The Transformation You Want (Priceless)

TOTAL VALUE                   ($4295)

$4295

Total Investment For The Proactive Leader Mastermind: $1750 or 5 monthly payments of $350

The Proactive Leader Mastermind Is NOT for everyone...

The Proactive Leader Mastermind IS for you if:

• You’re tired of living in reaction mode and want to think more strategically
• You want an intentional, hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves, practical and immediately actionable growth opportunity
• You want a confidential space to talk honestly about real leadership challenges
• You’re ready to invest time and energy into becoming a better version of yourself as a leader
• You’re open to feedback, insight, and learning from other strong leaders

This Proactive Leader Mastermind IS NOT for you if:

• You’re not ready to protect time for intentional leadership work
• You’re looking for quick hacks, tips, or silver bullets
• You’re unwilling to slow down and reflect before acting
• You’re not open to hearing perspectives from other private school leaders
• You want someone else to “fix” your school for you
• You are still in Survival Mode (You can CLICK HERE if you would like some help with that)
• You are happy with the quality of your current professional development

"Before I even met Mark, I felt like he was already a mentor and friend. I had been an avid listener of his podcast for years, and when I stepped into a new leadership role, I knew I needed guidance. That’s when I decided to pursue coaching with Mark—and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Every leader needs a coach, and Mark is truly exceptional. What sets him apart is how he blends research-backed strategies with practical, real-world advice. Each session is filled with actionable insights that leave me feeling energized, confident, and ready to tackle any challenge.

Working with Mark has been a transformative experience for my leadership journey. He’s not just my coach—he’s my secret superpower!"

Margaret, Head of School, Nashville, TN

"Before working with Mark I felt good enough to get the job done.  I knew how to build relationships and support faculty and students.  What I didn’t know was how to not have it consume my life. I struggled with boundaries and wanting to be available for anyone and everyone at any hour of the day.  I took care of everyone but myself and my family.

Working with Mark has allowed me to be the best version of myself at school and at home, something that I believe all administrators struggle to admit.  Creating healthy boundaries, focusing on myself and family, have allowed me to be even more productive at school."  

Paul, Principal, Missouri

"I LOVE being a private school leader. I knew that I could not maintain the crazy long work hours trying to complete an exhaustive to-do list while feeling like I was accomplishing nothing on time.

That's where Mark came in! He has helped me learn to be much more strategic with a must do list, to take control of my calendar, and to claim time for working towards future goals for our campus! 

This is my third year as a private school leader, and I felt more relaxed at the start of the year than ever before. My daughter recently commented to me that she has been so excited to see me be more present with family,"

Michelle, High School Principal, Arkansas

Let's make sure that you get answers to all of your questions! 

Click on the most frequently asked questions below. If you have additional questions, please email me at [email protected]

"I am profoundly grateful for the transformative impact Mark has had on my professional journey. With his unwavering support, I've experienced a remarkable shift in my work-life balance, approaches to leadership, and overall wellbeing as a school leader.

Mark helped me cultivate a deeper understanding of my priorities and boundaries, empowering me to reclaim control over my schedule and prioritize self-care without compromising my effectiveness as a leader.  By challenging me to explore new perspectives and approaches, Mark has empowered me to unlock my full potential and lead with clarity, purpose, and authenticity.

I wholeheartedly recommend Mark to anyone seeking to elevate their leadership journey and cultivate a more fulfilling and balanced life as a school leader."

Chandini, Head of School, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

"Working with Mark, I learned that it is OK to open up about my needs and frustrations. School leaders hear a lot of vents, it is good to be able to vent yourself sometimes! I also picked up some powerful tools that make a huge difference for managing small “rocks.” Small adjustments in scheduling my day, managing personalities, and thinking forward can have exponential returns when consistently applied.

My school is doing more “leading itself” as I have started to implement needed processes. Mark’s coaching helped provide perspective on those processes and instilled the confidence to then step back and let them work."

Mark, Principal, Monclova, OH

"The main challenge I had when I started coaching was a feeling of not quite knowing how to prioritize ALL of the elements of this very demanding job. 

Taking back my “white space” and being a visible and active leader were my two biggest lightbulb moments in coaching with Mark. I feel like Mark gave me the tools and the permission to get out from behind my desk and be on the campus and in the classroom.

I'm feeling confident that our school year is starting in a good place. I have excited teachers and happy families."

Sarah, Head of School, Ojai, CA

“As a first-year Head of School, I had no idea what I was doing and quickly felt overwhelmed by the weight of my new responsibilities. Before I started working with Mark Minkus, I struggled with setting boundaries and found myself letting work consume all my time. 

Mark gave me the tools I needed to succeed quickly. He helped me establish healthy boundaries, prioritize effectively, and identify my "why" so I could align it with my daily work. With his guidance, I’ve learned how to keep my priorities straight, which has allowed me to live with much more freedom and much less stress. Thanks to Mark, I’m now able to lead with confidence and clarity, knowing how to balance work and life more effectively.

Mark gave me the recipe to be successful. The boundaries that I have put in place have given me the margin to be fully present, whether at work or at home.”

Casey, Head of School, Lake Jackson, TX

"I've learned a lot during my time working with Mark, from hacks for scheduling my calendar to systematically setting priorities.

More than anything, though, Mark has been a productive, positive, and powerful sounding board for me. Mark has the intimate experience and understanding of how schools work, but the critical distance from my school and my colleagues to reframe specific school issues in a way that clarifies my thinking.

I started this program with the ten session coaching package, but intend to continue our regular meetings because his coaching is improving my performance."

Ryan, President, Medford, OR

“Mark has been a tremendous resource to me since I began working with him. He was able to meet me where I was and build from there. My primary issue was prioritizing competing demands and managing work-life balance. 

He provided practical strategies along with the encouragement I needed so that now I am far more productive and rarely frazzled. I was so impressed that I set up coaching for a few members of my leadership team, as well.”

Barbara, Interim Head of School, Portland, OR

"Mark has given me the invaluable gift of seeing myself through his eyes as a mentor, a coach, and a leader. His practical strategies, delivered through compelling storytelling, make him a truly rare combination of business coach, life mentor, and, at times, spiritual guide.

Mark provided me with the framework and language to clearly define my mission: Servant Leadership. He reminded me that while the work can be challenging, establishing and honoring the right boundaries is deeply rewarding.

It takes time, but I’m on a meaningful path. I’ve read the two most impactful books he recommended, I listen to his podcast weekly, and I am gradually implementing his strategies, one step at a time. While I don’t always succeed, I keep trying, and that perseverance has been transformative. Mark has helped me rediscover the deep value in what I do, bringing a unique sense of joy and purpose to my daily work as an independent school leader."

María José, MS Dean of Students, New York City