A lawyer and educator Leor Kweller is a committed professional with over ten years’ experience as a school leader and innovator. He has a proven and extensive track record of strategic innovation, driving sustainable growth, and building high-performing programs and obtaining the most out of students. His unique skills of operational acumen, strategic insight, and people-focused leadership have proven to be vital in propelling school communities towards long-term success.
In his role as an educator, Mr. Kweller delivers his own real-life experience to the classroom and curriculum management including working for Wall Street Law firms and a fortune 500 company. His teaching and leadership methods encompasses a broad range of approaches to obtain the most out of students and school professionals. Mr. Kweller has successfully completed the teacher leadership M.A. program at Brooklyn College School of Education and Psychology. He has an M.A. degree in history and a Professional Teaching Certification from the State of New York and is a member of both the New York and New Jersey Bars.
Giving back to the community through voluntary work is key for Mr. Kweller. To this end, he is involved with various teaching initiatives, including working on a publication about teaching Global History using a more thematic approach. As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum Mr. Kweller is very interested in research and methods of working with special needs children and is part of several support groups aimed at helping parents navigate the challenges associated with parenting children with special needs.
Mr. Kweller is an avid sports fan and can be found many mornings reading the Yankee box score on his phone. He follows all sports but has a particular interest in baseball and basketball. He has an impressive collection of vintage baseball caps and vintage baseball and basketball cards and blends his lifelong love of history with his hobbies.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day begins early generally about 6-6:30am. I start with brief meditation and affirmations, which helps me give thanks and manifest my intentions for the day. This practice grounds me and provides clarity. Following this, I feed my two young children breakfast, which has usually been prepped the night before. After breakfast, I help the kids get dressed for school. My son is on the autism spectrum, so I often work with him to help put his clothes and outfit together. After the kids are on their way to school, I usually get myself dressed and ready to head to work. Throughout the day, I try as much as possible to maintain a structured schedule, prioritizing my tasks based on their importance and urgency. Regular breaks and moments of reflection help me stay focused and avoid burnout.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Bringing ideas to life involves a multi-step process that starts with thorough research and brainstorming. Much of this is done in the evening after the kids go to bed. I generally like to take at least an hour, before I go to bed myself, to think about ideas usually related to how I want to teach a specific topic the next day or week, as well as what kind of information I want to convey to students. As a teacher I am lucky that I can often see my ideas come to life when I present the various stimuli I have thought about, created, and implemented. At times, I can clearly see that I have to refine my thoughts, while at other times the results are truly spectacular.
What’s one trend that excites you?
A trend that excites me is rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The potential applications are vast, from improving efficiency and accuracy in various industries to creating entirely new products and services. In both my fields, law and education, AI has a real chance to revolutionize how we do things.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
A habit that significantly enhances my productivity is setting aside time each day to recharge and concentrate on the big picture of what I am trying to achieve. This works equally well in micro day-to-day situations and macro planning ie: “what does the next six months look like and what would I like to look back and say I accomplished a year from now?” I find that stepping away for a moment or an hour and moving beyond the constant distractions of modern society allows me to focus on the deeper thoughts and the big picture.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell myself to be serious and focused but also not to take things so seriously. Specifically, I would advise myself to focus on the big picture, what do I want out of this project? What can this experience, even if not ideal, teach me and how can it work to attain my larger goal? Conversely, I would want to force myself not to dwell on mistakes or failures but to allow them to be building blocks towards future success.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe that true success is not just about achieving personal goals but also about making a positive impact on others. Many people equate success with wealth, status, or personal achievements, but I see it differently. I think that our greatest accomplishments come from helping others achieve their potential and making meaningful contributions to our communities.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I highly recommend reading. Read and read as much as you can a variety of subjects. An important aspect of this is then to take time to synthesize thoughts and concentrate on how what you read teaches you about life and different perspectives. It is rare that I meet a successful person that is not constantly reading and learning from what they read.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I am not a natural optimist, so it is important for me to understand this and work to overcome it. To maintain a positive outlook and avoid feeling overwhelmed, I practice gratitude and positive thinking daily. By focusing on what I’m grateful for and acknowledging even the small successes, I keep a positive mindset. Additionally, I make it a point to surround myself with positive influences, whether it’s people, books, or activities. These practices help me stay resilient and focused, even in challenging times.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
A realization that even failure presents a building block and opportunity to grow. The key is to get back in the game and keep moving forward. The greatest basketball player and perhaps competitor of all time, Michael Jordan, was quoted as saying “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. You have to keep moving, there is no excuse for staying stagnant.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I have failed many times, the key is to learn from that failure and not to make the same mistakes again. Every failure has the seed of a new idea, a new outlook that will lead to greater success in the future.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
One piece of software that significantly enhances my productivity is Trello. I use Trello to organize tasks and set deadlines. This helps me maintain a clear overview of my progress and ensures that nothing falls through the cracks. Trello’s flexibility and integration with other tools also streamlines my workflow, making it easier to manage both short-term and long-term projects.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I am currently listening to and loving The Rest is History podcast. It combines my love of history with fantastic storytelling. The episodes are large in scope and concentrate on some of the pivotal problems and individuals in human history. By listening and reflecting on the past, I can draw parallels with my own life and learn the lessons of history.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I watch and rewatch the movie The Shawshank Redemption. It showcases the importance of determination, strategic thinking, and teamwork in overcoming challenges and achieving success. The character development and storyline provides both entertainment and inspiration, making it a compelling watch for anyone looking to draw motivation from cinematic storytelling. “Get busy living, or get busy dying.”
Key learnings
- Establish a productive daily routine, including meditation and time set aside for focus and concentration centered around big ideas.
- Read. Always be reading at least one book and most importantly, synthesize what you have read.
- Bringing ideas to life requires thorough research, effective communication, and strategic execution.
- Learning from failures and adapting are vital for long-term success.