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

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.

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

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 >>


Schools Pre Orders

Perfect for incumbent student leaders and leadership programs. Pre-purchase now to secure copies for your 2026 cohort. Pre-orders placed by 19 September 2025 include complimentary personalisation- your school name and your student leaders’ names printed inside the front cover. Jump in now to claim this special offer.

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 - PRE-ORDER FORM FOR YOUR 2026 STUDENT LEADERS

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