EMA, E3n, Embracing Change in Austin

Seth Godin writes his blog posts to read like fortune cookies—short, memorable, packed with meaning. Today’s insight from his post “Chasing the Snipe” hit me like a fiery hot sauce coming off this year’s EMA conference in Austin:

“A useful north star: Work that matters for people who care.”

That’s what schools do. That’s what StoryScape does for schools. And that’s exactly what EMA delivered last week for everyone who chose this labor of love as their career.

The Magic of Just Showing Up

I love scrolling through LinkedIn after a conference, reading everyone’s excited posts. We all experienced our own version of the magic—incredible sessions, amazing clients (shout out to Torsie Judkins and Johanna Schmidt from Wingra School), reunions with old friends, new connections made in person.

The truth about EMA’s annual conference, year after year: Just show up and magic happens.

I tell schools all the time to use their moments wisely when sharing what makes them special. You have about 30 seconds. Here are the guardrails I use:

• Articulate the top 3 things that resonate about the lived experience
• Choose interesting over obvious
• Remember the 3 R’s: Reflect, Refresh, Radiate

Time to eat our own cooking and boil it down. Here’s my 30-second “Embracing Change” story:

The EMA conference creates an inspired experience where high standards and high support leave everyone with an overwhelming sense of possibility and optimism for the stories ahead.

Reflect: High Standards, High Support

Nearly a week later, David Yeager’s keynote theme still echoes: High Standards, High Support. His “mentor mindset” for education has legs that extend far beyond campus. It’s how EMA created the conditions for our best learning in Austin. It’s how educators change lives. It’s how effective leaders set their teams up for success.

HSHS—a perfect reminder throughout the school year.

Refresh: The Energy After Learning

Professional development matters. But feeling energized after learning? That’s something else entirely. Whether I heard reminders of familiar concepts or discovered entirely new insights, the future now feels full of possibility and optimism.

Radiate: The Power of Story

Dr. Bertice Berry. WOW.

“Effective storytelling gives an account of the past that has a purpose for the present and provides hope for a better future.”

Her message was powerful—her delivery, unforgettable. I always tell people, “There will be stories.” As the storyteller, connect them to why they matter to your audience, the “story holder.” That story holder shares what they learned and how you made them feel. Watch connections happen and curiosity grow.

Reflect on your why. Refresh your stories regularly. Radiate them out. This practice becomes a daily gratitude moment. And radiating? That’s exactly what it sounds like—light spreading outward.

The Bottom Line

EMA energized, empowered, and engaged me. The conference exemplified what it feels like to be inspired by work that matters for people who care.

A different set of E’s than originally intended by the new E3n, but for now, that’s what matters to me as we support those who enroll, educate, and excel.

P.S. Respect for the new logo.