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Sabine Mathilde Maiberger Ed.D., is a 2025 graduate of the Ed.D. program in Educational and Professional Practice at Antioch University.

Dissertation Committee:

Ashley Nielsen, PhD, Committee Chair

Laurel Tien, PhD Committee Member

Michael Maser, PhD Committee Member

Keywords

Autoethnography, Leadership, Inspiration, Transformational Leadership, Holistic Education, Servant-Leadership, Justice-driven leadership, Purpose

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

Leadership is a complex construct shaped by the interplay of theoretical knowledge and meaningful personal experiences that define us as people. This autoethnographic exploration investigates the question: How have inspirational moments shaped the leader I am today? Understanding how personal experiences influence leaders’ development is critical to leadership studies. To address this, nine of my pivotal life moments were selected and validated through personal artifacts, such as journals and letters, ensuring analytical depth. These moments were analyzed through servant, justice-oriented, and transformational leadership theoretical lenses. The findings revealed eight key lessons: embracing vulnerability, reflective practice, trust-based leadership, advocacy, curiosity, adaptability, valuing humble beginnings, and centering leadership on faith and purpose. These lessons highlight the deeply personal nature of leadership, emphasizing reflection and inspirational experiences as catalysts for growth and transformation. By connecting inspirational moments with leadership identity and practice, this research advances the study of personal growth and authentic leadership development. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Comments

ORCID ID:0009-0001-4139-3037

Bio:

"Exercising leadership is a way of giving meaning to your life by contributing to the lives of others. At its best, leadership is a labor of love." — Heifetz & Linsky (2002, p. 223).

Dr. Sabine M. Maiberger is an educator, researcher, and leader with over 25 years of experience in international education, holistic learning, and leadership development. Her work focuses on transformational leadership, inquiry-based education, and the role of inspiration in shaping learning communities.

She has worked in Germany, Finland, Canada, China, and the United States, gaining extensive cross-cultural leadership experience in international schools, educational organizations, and holistic learning initiatives. Sabine has held leadership positions as Head of School at the Swiss International School (SIS, Berlin) and CEO of the Early Years Division at Huijia Education Group (Beijing). As the co-founder and former CEO of WonderTree Community of Co-Learners in Beijing, China, she developed the I.N.S.P.I.R.E.D. Approach, a holistic learning framework that integrates Innovation, Sustainability, and Integral Education.

She is currently the Head of Lower School at the German International School New York, where she oversees a nature-based Pre-K through Grade 4 program that integrates social-emotional learning with academic excellence.

Sabine holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Antioch University, along with degrees in Educational Science from Goethe University (Frankfurt) and Religious Pedagogy from the University of Eichstätt. She is a certified German State-Approved Educator and has completed several certifications in education, leadership, and organizational development, including the Leaders of Learning program at Harvard University. Her research examines leadership as a relational and evolving practice that promotes innovation and meaningful change.

A frequent speaker, writer, and consultant, Sabine has presented at international conferences and contributed to publications on leadership, inquiry-based learning, and integral education. Her book, Inspired Living – A Way of Life, invites you to shed light on the meaning, nature, and process of your inner workings and inner development.

Visit sabine-maiberger.com or connect with her on LinkedIn to explore her research, publications, and speaking engagements.

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