In Praise of Allies: A Tribute to John Magagna
My first acquaintance with John Magagna was his booming voice, calling me at my home in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the spring of 1989. He was calling from Indonesia. Remember those days when we actually had land lines and didn’t have email? (Later, emails from him were something like his booming voice: much of the text in ALL CAPS.)
I was a recent college grad, feeling a bit unclear which direction to take my life. I knew I was interested in the field of education. I knew I was passionate about all things ‘international.’ I knew I was an adventurer at my core. What an amazing discovery that I could combine these essential ‘me’ elements by entering the world of international schools!
I was also, I admit, more than a bit naïve. I’d done research the old-fashioned way and discovered there was an international school in Jakarta, Indonesia, a part of the world I knew next to nothing about so … perfect for adventure! I figured that few other people were keenly interested in teaching in such a ‘far-flung’ place. How hard could it be to talk my way into a teaching gig there, sans credential but full of raw talent and eagerness to learn?
“Oh, Bridget!” (As a non-fan of mine once exclaimed with a tone of not-so-slight incredulity.) What was I thinking? By then, JIS had earned a reputation of excellence among the international school set. This was in no small part thanks to John Magagna’s leadership. The school was staffed by immensely talented, highly-sought-after educators and leaders, a hallmark of John’s leadership legacy (which he would carry into his work as founder of Search Associates). And here I was, no experience in schools at all, knowing nothing about international schools and thinking I’d be a shoo-in.
As luck would have it, John was starting an intern program at JIS, to bring young would-be teachers into the pipeline. That phone call, which was to change the trajectory of my life, was an invitation to me to apply for the program. He’d be in New York City the next week. Could I come down and meet him to discuss the opportunity?
The rest, as they say, is history. I spent three years in Indonesia, teaching and counseling and learning from amazing colleagues and mentors – John being chief among them - and exploring the wonders of Southeast Asia. I loved teaching. I also had an itch to pursue other avenues that combined my intersecting passions around education/ international/ adventure. I ultimately pursued a career in international philanthropy with a focus on education, though kept a toe in the world of international schools through occasional project work for Search Associates, which John had by then gotten off the ground.
Once again, I found myself strongly influenced by John. I observed the joy and fascination and struggles and setbacks as he got his passion project – Search Associates -- off and running, all of which I now experience as I pursue my own passion project of Sidecar Counsel. That he grew Search Associates into the leading international school recruitment agency remains an inspiration to this day. One of John’s favorite exhortations to me was: “You’ve got to have the sta-MEE-na for this!” John had plenty of sta-MEE-na, which was on full display whether in growing Search Associates, seeking out the most talented educators for schools he led, managing the big and little details of recruitment fairs, or being the last to leave a party.
Fast forward to 2013, where once again I found myself at a career crossroads, unclear which direction to take my life. Another fateful phone call from John, whose voice was a little less booming though still persuasive. An opportunity had opened up at Search Associates for someone who was an ‘outside the box’ thinker. Would I be interested?
My 7 years with Search Associates were transformative for me. John gave me lots of room to ask ‘naïve’ questions of the organization, suggest new ways of doing things, put my own stamp on my role as consultant to teachers seeking positions and schools seeking talent. We didn’t always see eye to eye, though we maintained a strong respect for one another’s differing viewpoints.
Perhaps it’s no surprise that, like John, I ultimately opted to pursue my own passion project, borne of insights gleaned from my work and life until then. Sidecar Counsel embodies those parts of me that got me started in this world of international schools in the first place: education/ international/ adventure. Sidecar Counsel allows me to double down on that latter part. As John would be the first to say, it takes an adventurous spirit to pursue an entrepreneurial venture. Because I focus on adventurous leaders, mostly women, I continue to challenge myself to keep my ‘adventure credentials’ sharp – by taking the road less traveled, not being afraid to try new things, sharing my viewpoints even when they don’t comport with conventional wisdom. I try to embody what I most hope for my coaching clients.
Though we didn’t talk much in his final years, I have a feeling that John would approve of Sidecar Counsel’s trajectory. After all, his ally-ship, mentorship, and example are infused into its DNA.
Thank you, John, for seeing the spark in me, and for nurturing that. I wouldn’t be where I am without you. Because of you, I have extra fuel - nay, the sta-MEE-na — to support the amazing leaders that are transforming international education.
