Lead the Way - A Guide for Student Leaders

By Luke McKenna

Leadership isn’t about a badge — it’s about making a difference.
“Lead the Way - A Guide for Student Leaders” is a practical, inspiring handbook for secondary school students who want to grow into leaders worth following. Whether your students wear a badge or simply want to make a positive impact at school, in their community, or in their life, this book helps build the mindset, habits, and skills of a genuine leader.

Readers will learn HOW TO

  • Use their strengths to lift others up

  • Communicate with purpose and confidence

  • Create win–win outcomes in teams and relationships

  • Take responsibility and lead by example

  • Serve with humility, courage, and care

  • Be a great leader others choose to follow

Who it’s for

  • Captains, prefects, SRC/Student Council, house & sports leaders

  • Peer mentors and any student who wants to step up

  • Primary school edition is for Year 5 and 6 students. Secondary school edition is for Year 9-12 students.

  • Schools can purchase in bulk to ensure their student leaders are set up to Lead the Way

ORDER NOW

Perfect for incumbent student leaders and leadership programs. Purchase now to secure copies for your 2027 cohort.

How to order

Pricing

  • 12–39 copies: $22.50 + GST per book

  • 40+ copies: contact UPP via email for a bulk quote.

LEAD THE WAY - ORDER FORM FOR YOUR 2027 STUDENT LEADERS

Why it works

Built on years of real-world student leadership development at UPP, “Lead the Way - A Guide for Student Leaders” blends relatable stories, simple tools, and powerful mindset shifts to turn good intentions into everyday leadership.

Inside the book

  • Short, actionable chapters students can use immediately

  • Real examples that connect with school life

  • Practical tools and prompts to build daily leadership habits


Take a look before you buy your copies...

See a preview of Primary Schools Edition here >>

See a preview of the Secondary Schools Edition here >>

Meet the Author

Luke McKenna is the founder and Director of Unleashing Personal Potential (UPP) and a respected educator, speaker, and author. Over the past decade, his work has positively impacted more than 400,000 Australian students, with a focus on leadership, wellbeing, relationships, growth mindsets, and grit.

Luke has worked across primary and secondary schools in Independent, Catholic, and Public sectors, serving as both a classroom teacher and Assistant Principal. He holds degrees in Business and Education, a Master of Educational Leadership, and a Professional Certificate in Positive Education.

He is a regular presenter at education conferences and has been published in the Australian Journal of Middle Schooling, Happy Schools, and The Positive Times. Luke is the author of:

  • THRIVE: Unlocking the Truth About Student Performance (2015)

  • Making Wellbeing Practical (2019)

  • Making the Shift: Becoming a Leader Worth Following (2022)

  • Lead The Way- A Guide for Student Leaders (2025) Primary Schools and Secondary Schools Editions