Where Does Success Come From?

I read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell this week.

I'm fascinated by the research he has done to highlight factors pertaining to whether one is successful at something. In particular, I feel the need to ask the following question:

Why is it that some schools seem destined to wallow in mediocrity, no matter the leadership changes over the years, while others always appear to be at the top of their game?

How might Gladwell explain that? Do Boards tend to hire candidates (for Head of School) who have the kinds of backgrounds that lead to success? Is it entirely random? Can the institution itself have anything to do with its success, or is it rather the leader? Or is it both?

Clearly, it is highly likely that schools with solid track records didn't find their heads in a random fashion. The heads must have had diverse backgrounds that led them to be in the right place at the right time for schools, but I wonder also whether the background histories of the schools themselves have something to do with it. In that sense, it's a symbiotic relationship.