In this episode of "Dare to Be More," we sit down with Anisha Sivagurunathan, the 2026 School Captain at MLC School, to explore her inspiring journey from a shy pre-kindergarten student to a confident leader. Anisha shares the experiences, setbacks, and lessons that shaped her leadership abilities and what it means to represent and serve the MLC community.

Featured Guest: Anisha Sivagurunathan, 2026 School Captain at MLC School

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

1. How leadership skills are developed through sport, drama, and co-curricular activities
2. The importance of resilience when facing setbacks and disappointments
3. What it means to be a "culture keeper" and lead by example
4. How listening is one of the most important leadership qualities
5. The power of teamwork and collaboration in effective leadership

Key Topics Discussed:

1. The journey from pre-K to school captain
2. Overcoming disappointment and building resilience
3. Leadership opportunities at MLC School across all year levels
4. Balancing school captain responsibilities with HSC studies
5. The empowering environment of an all-girls school
6. Maya Angelou's quote: "People will never forget how you made them feel"

About MLC School: MLC School is a leading independent girls' school in Sydney, committed to empowering young women through academic excellence, character development, and innovative education. Our mission is to inspire girls to dare to be more.

Connect With Us:

1. Website: mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
2. Instagram: @mlcsydney
3. Facebook: @MLCSchoolSydney
4. LinkedIn: MLC School

Co-host: Anthony Perl

Produced by: 'Podcasts Done for You'

Hashtags: #Leadership #StudentLeadership #GirlsEducation #MLCSchool #SchoolCaptain #Empowerment #YouthLeadership

What does it take to become a school captain, and how does

2

leadership shape a young woman's journey?

3

Today I'm joined by Anisha Shan

4

In this episode, we explore the path

to leadership, including how to develop

5

leadership skills through co-curricular

activities, the importance of listening

6

and teamwork, overcoming setbacks, and

building resilience, and what it means

7

to be a culture keeper at MLC School.

8

I'm your host, Anthony Pearl.

9

Let's begin today's conversation.

10

Well, hello everyone and welcome to

another episode of Dare to Be More,

11

and I'm so pleased to say that I

12

joining me on the podcast today.

13

Welcome to the program.

14

Anisha Sivagurunathan: Hello,

15

Anthony Perl: and I think we

better let you properly introduce

16

yourself to everybody, Anisha.

17

So why don't you tell everyone a little

bit about who you are and your background.

18

Anisha Sivagurunathan:

So my name is Anisha Vin.

19

I am a very proud MLC girl since I was in

pre-K, which has been a very long time.

20

I'm also a very proud, more and more girl,

and I'm also a daughter of an old girl.

21

I think MLC to me has been the cornerstone

of my personal growth and I owe a lot

22

to MLC and that's a bit about Lee.

23

Anthony Perl: You've got an opportunity

to give back by being the captain.

24

So firstly, tell me about that process,

about becoming school captain and that

25

moment when you learned that you were,

26

Anisha Sivagurunathan: oh my gosh.

27

That was the most, I guess, emotional.

28

It was a very emotional moment.

29

People could tell I was crying a lot.

30

Um, but it was just, I guess I

was surrounded by all my friends.

31

I was surrounded by my teachers.

32

I was surrounded by

this amazing community.

33

And I did not expect it to happen.

34

So I was just really, really

excited in the moment.

35

'cause I get to represent the community

and yeah, this school is something

36

I'm really, really passionate about.

37

So being given that opportunity to

represent them was just such an honor and

38

I was just so excited and so an emotional

in that moment that I cried a lot.

39

Anthony Perl: I bet.

40

And how excited was your

family when you told them

41

Anisha Sivagurunathan:

they were so excited?

42

We're all very big MLC fans.

43

There's a very good reason why we stayed

here for so long, and my sister was

44

probably the most excited and shocked

after the assembly when she found

45

out she was bawling, tears of joy.

46

And she told me that she was

proud of me and that she loved me.

47

And that was a really nice moment.

48

Anthony Perl: Very nice.

49

That's such an amazing

thing to have happen.

50

And tell me now that you've

had an opportunity to then

51

go, okay, I'm school captain.

52

Have you considered what

that actually means?

53

Anisha Sivagurunathan: Yeah, I

think school captain to me means

54

representing the school as a community,

but also connecting with them.

55

I guess people immediately assume

it's like a higher hower figure, and

56

that's not really what it's about.

57

It's.

58

About listening to the community and

working with our school community,

59

not just in year 12, although we are

the oldest, but across all different

60

like year groups, year 7, 8, 9,

10, 11, 12, and even the teachers.

61

It's about working together.

62

And I guess school captain for me

means working together with everyone

63

to create a more harmonious community.

64

Yes.

65

Anthony Perl: And that is such a, a

wonderful idea of what you are trying

66

to achieve and have you thought about as

a leader, how do you actually do that?

67

Anisha Sivagurunathan: I think

that, I dunno what the, as actual

68

quote is, but it's about being

a leader is setting the example.

69

And one thing that we've talked about

of with all the year twelves is being

70

the culture keepers of the school.

71

And I think the best way to be like

a leader is to also set the example.

72

So like even if.

73

It's that simple as like smiling at the

gate and being friendly and saying hello

74

to everyone, or being nice to people,

talking to year sixes in the playground,

75

or even just like wearing correct uniform.

76

It's about keeping that like kind,

caring, supportive culture alive at MLC.

77

And the best way to do that is just being

a role model yourself and doing that.

78

Anthony Perl: I love that and for everyone

listening in, I'm going to reveal a

79

little bit of a secret here is that we

are recording this podcast and it's after

80

hours of school and Anisha has kindly

gotten dressed into her school uniform

81

for this podcast, even though we are

only recording the audio side of things.

82

So, and I think that's a sign of

how important the school is to you

83

and to represent in the right way.

84

Anisha Sivagurunathan: Yeah, I think

for me, when we talk about it a lot like

85

uniform is really, really important.

86

And the school, like the

uniform represents generations

87

and generations of old girls.

88

And being able to wear my uniform

today and like you probably can't

89

see this, but being able to wear

it with pride is a very big part

90

about, I guess about being at MLC.

91

And

92

Anthony Perl: yeah,

93

Anisha Sivagurunathan: it's

a very special part of me.

94

I was very lucky to meet a lot

of sapphires at a sapphires

95

lunch, which are the old girls

that have left a long time ago.

96

And just meeting with them,

talking with them, the uniform

97

was a special part of them.

98

And just seeing how, I guess the

99

just stayed the same and stayed

100

Anthony Perl: It's fantastic.

101

And I I, I, it's so great to hear that

you're so proud of what you're going to

102

do and what you're trying to achieve.

103

So I want to know a little bit more

about the skills that you've been

104

given to become a leader and what,

you know, what it's like to learn

105

about leadership in the school.

106

What does that actually mean and what

opportunities have you been given

107

throughout the, your school and career?

108

Anisha Sivagurunathan: I think.

109

Like my leadership qualities are developed

pretty much everywhere and leadership

110

is like as, although it's a big quality

in itself, there's so many different

111

like factors that we've had to work like

I've had to work on to become a leader.

112

So I'd say one of the big ones most

people notice is communication.

113

For me, I had a lot of

speech and drama experience.

114

The school gave me options to drama

productions, speech and drama lessons, and

115

just being able to practice and hone in

on that skill to learn how to communicate

116

on big stages or just even in small

conversation has been a big part of me.

117

Another factor was teamwork.

118

Like I guess being a leader and being

school captain, you have to work in a

119

team, and I am the biggest fan of teams.

120

The school introduced me to netball

when I, in year two, and since then

121

I have just been the biggest band.

122

If anyone knows netball and they

know me, they just go hand in hand.

123

And the school gave me opportunity to

explore so many different team sports.

124

So like I tried soccer,

I tried basketball.

125

I'm just the biggest fan of team sports,

and I learned to work with others,

126

hear their ideas, hear when things are

working, when things aren't working.

127

I learned that.

128

Some people can see things that you

can't always see, and I guess that's the

129

biggest part of being school captain.

130

I can't see everything in the school,

but when I listen and when I hear

131

from others, that's the, that's the

teamwork skill that we are developing

132

and just working together as a team to

just make a better school community.

133

Anthony Perl: And you put a team of

leaders around you as well, don't you?

134

The school captain isn't

just operating on their own.

135

Yes.

136

That whole team around you.

137

Anisha Sivagurunathan: I have the

most amazing group of my 44 captains

138

and my amazing prefects and also

year twelves because we are leaders

139

in itself, like as the oldest girls

of the school and not the tallest,

140

but we are the, some of the oldest.

141

We've hit that stage of maturity

where we have to step up and lead,

142

and that's what we're all about.

143

We wanna set the example for the

younger grades to just, I guess,

144

inspire them to be fearless

thinkers that MLC teaches us to be.

145

Anthony Perl: So tell me a little bit

about any other opportunities you've

146

had to lead throughout your career.

147

'cause you've talked about the

sport ones, but have you had other

148

opportunities within, within other

general studies and things that you've

149

been doing and other opportunities

that you've gone away and done as well?

150

Anisha Sivagurunathan: I've definitely

had like bountiful opportunities.

151

A big one was when I was in year nine.

152

I was a middle years leader and that

was the most amazing opportunity.

153

I think being very little, but working

alongside the house captains was just,

154

I could talk with my younger girls

and being really like in year nine.

155

It, I felt so small back then and,

but I was able to communicate with my

156

friends and thoughts that we thought.

157

Never reach the big stage.

158

In big life, were able to be communicated.

159

And so like big ideas for house events

came from that, and that was a really

160

big opportunity that the school does.

161

My sister was an SRC, and I think SRC

is like one of the biggest parts of MLC.

162

They are the student representative

council and they just work together to

163

also create a better school community.

164

It doesn't need to be

like a title or a batch.

165

That means that you're a leader.

166

I've had the opportunity to work

with my friends to run a fundraiser

167

for the school for jeans, and that

was just an amazing opportunity.

168

Just learning how to step up,

learning how to share a community

169

course that was really important.

170

And even if it's as small as being like

a team leader in a group assignment,

171

that is those just small experiences.

172

Leadership can help contribute

to you being a leader as a total.

173

Anthony Perl: So I want to

ask you a little bit as well,

174

tell me you're back in pre-K

175

Anisha Sivagurunathan: Yeah.

176

Anthony Perl: You are looking

up at, somewhere down the line.

177

You're seeing a school captain.

178

Could you ever possibly have imagined

that you would, uh, go from pre-K

179

to being the year 12 captain?

180

Anisha Sivagurunathan: Absolutely not.

181

I think I was the shyest kid in pre-K.

182

My head was like, I did, I made one

friend and I'm so grateful for the

183

one friend I made in pre-K, but I,

it just, it was just, I can't believe

184

it In year five, like if I was a

big year for leadership for so many

185

kids and I was like, I missed out.

186

I didn't get a house captain or a school

captain and I, I cried to my teachers.

187

I was like.

188

I'm never gonna be anything great.

189

There's no future ahead for me.

190

But I am so grateful for my teachers that

reassured me, and were so encouraging.

191

They were like, this is just the

start of a greater journey for you.

192

You are a good kid.

193

You, you work hard, you play hard.

194

My teachers encouraged me that that

wasn't the end of my journey, even if

195

I didn't have a title, even if I didn't

have a badge, that it wasn't Overman.

196

So year five Anisha at

that stage was heartbroken.

197

I cried in the bathroom for a very

long time, but, and I thought I would

198

never get like a leadership in year

12, or I'll never be a leader and

199

I'll never be able to give back.

200

But then I guess I kind of gave, gained

hope to myself and I found that I could

201

be in a leader in different scenarios

where I didn't have to be a captain.

202

I could step up and help younger kids,

or I could help in the canteen line.

203

Or I could just help put out the sport.

204

Like we had sports monitors, we helped

put out the sports equipment for the

205

younger kids and just, I found that

in that scenario, that was how I could

206

be a leader without having that title.

207

And so it wasn't the end

of the journey for me pair.

208

And moving into year 7, 8, 9,

10, I think seven and eight, I

209

didn't get any leadership title.

210

I wasn't an SRC.

211

Then when I, in year nine, I got

middle years leader, I was the most

212

ecstatic I've ever been because I

was like, wow, like I'm finally gonna

213

have the opportunity to be a leader.

214

But then I was like, hang on.

215

A lot of the stuff I was doing in

my title I was doing before then.

216

So just helping out, just talking

with others and I guess voicing the my

217

opinion, not my opinion, but the opinion

of others and looking out for others.

218

But yeah.

219

I did not expect to be

school captains at all.

220

Anthony Perl: Well, so

221

Now, if you look forward 10 years and

even more into the workforce, where

222

do you want the leadership to take you

and where do you see yourself going?

223

Anisha Sivagurunathan: I think leadership,

for me, I looking forward 10 years, gee.

224

I think school captain, for me,

it wasn't the title that impacted

225

my future, but there's this really

interesting quote, it's Maya Angelou.

226

And last year school captain shared

this with me and she said, Ms.

227

Maloney shared it with her and she said,

people will forget about what you said.

228

People will forget about what

you did, but people will never

229

forget how you made them feel.

230

And I guess from the start of my

captaincy, and since she said that

231

quote to me, I've kept that with me.

232

So looking 10 years in the future, I, I

know that people aren't gonna remember

233

what I said and did, but how I make

them feel will forever stick with me.

234

And just creating that environment

will forever stick with me.

235

And using my leadership in

the future, it'll help me

236

collaborate more with others.

237

School captains, again, has taught

me so much, although I developed

238

my teamwork skills before.

239

It's just taught me how

to communicate better.

240

It's taught me how to speak

in front of public audiences.

241

It's taught me how to work in a team

and work together with the school

242

community that whatever job I pursue in

the future, I can always a classroom.

243

Anthony Perl: And what is it that

you wanna pursue into the future?

244

Anisha Sivagurunathan: There's a lot

of ideas, but I've always had the dream

245

to be a dermatologist, so hopefully.

246

We get there someday.

247

Anthony Perl: I'm sure

you'll make it happen.

248

Tell me, have you got any leaders that

you've admired, whether they be in

249

the school or outside of the school?

250

Anisha Sivagurunathan: I would

definitely say, because I've been in

251

the school, I would say one of the

biggest inspirations is Miss Maloney.

252

And I know it sounds really,

really cliche, but people, once

253

I heard Mary Rose, the previous

school captain, tell me that.

254

It just stuck with me forever.

255

Like Miss Bologna's actions

speak louder than her words.

256

She is always at the crosswalk helping

little kids cross the road, and she

257

does so much behind the scenes, but

the best thing she does is listen.

258

She will just sit there and she'll

listen to you for hours because she knows

259

that her school communities, I guess

voice matters a lot when I've met Ms.

260

Maloney and I actually talk to her.

261

I was like, wow, she is the best listener.

262

That's really inspiring for me 'cause I

learned to listen to people a lot more and

263

I think it's one of the greatest values.

264

You could be the loudest talker in

the room, but I feel like being a

265

better listener is just a really

important quality of value to,

266

Anthony Perl: just a couple of

questions to finish things up for you.

267

So, year 12 is a difficult year.

268

There's a lot going on.

269

You've got the HSC and all

the exams at the end of it.

270

How do you strike that balance between

what's required as a captain and what's

271

required as Anisha doing her studies?

272

Anisha Sivagurunathan: Jess, I

think I'm very much into both, and

273

for me, my captaincy is not another

duty that I have to fulfill, that

274

I'm forced to do against my will.

275

It's something fun for me and it gives

me a break from my regular school study.

276

So for me, I've had a lot of experience

balancing a lot of things in my life.

277

I've done sport, I've done dance,

I've done drama, I've done music at

278

all at some stage in my life, and

also trying to juggle my academics.

279

And I guess the school has opened

me up to those opportunities

280

and I've learned how to juggle.

281

I've learned how to be a holistic learner.

282

And so going into year 12, I

guess my captaincy is my break.

283

And it's something I enjoy doing.

284

Like I enjoy working with my year twelves.

285

I enjoy working with the younger

communities and I enjoy working

286

with leaders such as like Ms.

287

Maloney, miss G Graff, and Ms.

288

Boyd and Mr.

289

Taylor, and that, that gives me something

fun to do a breakaway from my studies.

290

So I guess finding that

balance between fun and St.

291

Like work hard and play hard and

yeah, that's how I juggle it at least.

292

Anthony Perl: Being part of an all girls

school, how important has that been

293

to your experience and how different

do you think it is being in a girls

294

school as opposed to being in a boys

and girls school in a co-ed school?

295

Anisha Sivagurunathan: If

I'm being completely honest,

296

I've been at MLC since pre-K.

297

As I said before, though, I have had a lot

of experience in an all girls environment,

298

but it's also opened up for me in like

co-educational environments and I guess

299

as a young girl in a girl's school.

300

I don't feel the pressure of anyone.

301

I guess an all girls

school is very empowering.

302

We're very connected community, and I

love that about our all girls school.

303

We stand up for each other, we stick

with each other, and we're just like

304

a united front, which I think is the

best part about an all girls school.

305

And we love cheering each other.

306

Like the MLC school spirit is topnotch.

307

If anyone were to attend an assembly,

anytime that a girl gets recognized.

308

We are like off the ground sharing for

them because we are here to support

309

each other in an all-girl school

and I really love that about us.

310

Anthony Perl: It's fantastic.

311

Well, we've just got one question to

finish things up and it's a question we

312

ask everybody coming onto the podcast.

313

So the podcast and the school

motto is, dare to be more.

314

So tell me what does dare

to be more mean to you?

315

Anisha Sivagurunathan: Oh, that's it.

316

It's a lot.

317

It means so much to me.

318

But I think dare to be more means

that we step outside the boundaries.

319

We don't stay in this box,

told what we're told to be.

320

As an all girls school,

it's so, so empowering.

321

I'm in gender equity and I just hear

from other schools, but it's so,

322

so empowering to be encouraged to

have our motto be dare to be more.

323

It's kind of saying that we can be

fearless, we can achieve anything.

324

And I guess as a young

girl, like growing up.

325

It means a lot to, to me in the

sense that we can achieve anything

326

and you can achieve anything too.

327

We can go past the boundaries

of what's told for us.

328

We can be fearless thinkers, we can

achieve great things, and we can

329

achieve goals and set standards that.

330

No one expects us to do.

331

Anthony Perl: Thank you for

joining us on Dare To Be More.

332

If you enjoyed this episode, please

subscribe wherever you get your

333

podcast so you never miss an episode.

334

Your likes and comments also

help more families discover

335

these valuable conversations.

336

For more information about MLC School

and their approach to girls education,

337

visit their website@mlc.nsw.edu.au.

338

Check out the show notes

for more information.

339

The Dare To Be More Podcast is

produced by podcast Done for You.

340

I'm your host, Anthony Pearl,

and we invite you to join us next

341

time as we continue to explore

what it means to dare to be more.