Educational leaders today must navigate an environment that demands not only agility and inclusivity but also bold innovation to address complex, interconnected challenges. Cross-sector leadership offers a transformative approach by fostering partnerships that harness diverse perspectives, pool resources, and leverage expertise often untapped outside traditional silos. In education, this horizontal approach to leadership redefines effectiveness by bringing together a range of stakeholders—educators, industries, policymakers, and community organizations—to co-create solutions for critical issues such as AI integration, global migration, and workforce alignment. 

This volume explores the growing demand of leaders to break down silos of expertise and disciplines in education to collaborate across industries and sectors to harness innovation and transform organizations. The authors begin by defining “cross-sector leadership”; critique the development of leaders to be uni-disciplined not interdisciplinary in higher education; and delve into the increasing daily demand of leaders to reach beyond their expertise to collaborate with others to solve interrelated problems and foster innovation. Through an analysis of policy and practice coupled with research-based case studies of cross-sector leaders transforming institutions and systems across the globe, the authors highlight the organizations and voices of cross-sector leaders pushing the envelope to redefine the nature of effective leadership.

Noel S. Anderson is Clinical Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and former founding Executive Director of Leadership and Innovation in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University (NYU), USA. He is co-founder of the EdD in Leadership and Innovation degree, and responsible for directing graduate programs and Executive Education initiatives within NYU’s domestic and global campus network.

Lisette Nieves is President of the Fund for the City of New York (FCNY), an institution charged with developing and helping to implement innovations in policy, programs, practices and technology in order to advance the functioning of government and nonprofit organizations in New York City and beyond. Prior to the Fund, Nieves was the Director of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and a Full Clinical Professor at NYU Steinhardt where she co-led the design and implementation of a new doctoral program in Leadership and Innovation. Nieves is also a Distinguished Clinical Instructor with NYU, overseeing doctoral students and supporting research initiatives.