What's Next: Design Your Journey

“This life you are living is one of many lives you will live.”  Designing Your Life, Evans and Burnett

October is relentless. You probably shouldn’t go. The school year is in full swing, your calendar is packed, and stepping away for three days feels like an absolute luxury, something you'll get to do…someday. But here's what experienced leaders know: “someday” rarely comes and the leaders who do their best work are the ones who protect time to think.

This is that time.

By October, you'll know exactly what this year is bringing — the challenges that have surfaced, the questions you're sitting with, the things you haven't had time to think through. What's Next: Design Your Journey is built for precisely that moment: when you have enough information about your year to make the reflection genuinely useful, but still enough runway to act on what you discover.

Three days in Santa Fe. A small cohort of fellow school leaders. A structured, design-thinking framework to help you imagine what's next for your role, your leadership, your life.

This is not a vacation. It's an investment in the leader your school needs you to be. This distinctive L+D workshop will give you the gift of time and space for introspection and reflection, as well as offer practical design skills and ways to take action.

Through a combination of provocative activities using a human-centered design process — empathy interviews, journey maps, and journal prompts and conversations — you will have the opportunity to reflect on where you’ve been, make sense of where you are, and plan for what’s next, whether it's a personal or professional next step. You will have time to think deeply about the questions you are hoping to answer and use curiosity to imagine possibilities for yourself and the path ahead of you. How can you use your best resource – YOU – as a tool, resource and source of wisdom for digging deeper into your why as you look forward?

Best of all, you’ll be in the company of fellow travelers who are also working to create meaning from their paths, building the kind of collegial trust and openness that’s rare in the pace of a school year. Expect to be working individually and in small groups to explore essential questions, to learn through the stories of others, and to share one’s process and insights along the way.

We will draw on the unique environment of Santa Fe – its local art scene, walking paths, and spirit – to fuel our work. Our three days together will culminate in a festive “salon dinner” where you will share your insights, a personal story, or a piece of personal wisdom – whatever has resonated with you over the three days.

This retreat is a beginning of a process, not a stand alone event. Quarterly virtual meetings, a buddy pairing, and a 1:1 coaching session in winter 2027 will keep your thinking alive throughout the 2026-2027 school year.

Who is this retreat designed for:

• Leaders who sense that something in their work or life is shifting, and want time for reflection or creative inspiration to navigate that thoughtfully and with intention.

• Leaders wondering what “what’s next?” looks like, whether it's within or beyond their current role.

• Those drawn to human-centered design as a framework for reimagining their role, their stage of life, or their work in schools.

• Anyone in the middle of a significant change (new role, new chapter) who is ready to approach it with intention rather than just momentum.

• Leaders who want to “end well” or transition smoothly and gracefully, whether from a position, a school, or a new phase of life.

• For schools and school leaders investing in retention by giving their people the rare gift of space for career and personal reflection.

Price: $1,899 early bird pricing until September15 and $1,999 after September 15.  

Includes: Meals: Breakfasts at La Fonda on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.Generous appetizers and drinks on Tuesday night. “Salon Dinner” on Thursday night as we wrap up our program together. All materials and supplies and exceptional L+D swag!

Travel and hotel are not included.  

Refund Policy: When requested in writing, L+D will refund registration fees as follows: 75% of registration fee when requested 45 days or more from first day of the seminar; 50% of registration fee when requested 31–44 days from first day of the seminar; no refund within 30 days of the first day of the seminar.