Higher Ground, Vietnam

A gentle welcome, a shared meal and the slow easing-out of operating mode. The one question is named — who were you before you became who everyone needed? — and left to sit overnight.

Morning session at the resort; each woman names what brought her here. Afternoon in the Vietnamese countryside — village, cycling, a home-hosted dinner. Late session: what’s holding you back.

Strengths and learned behaviours — the emotional core of the retreat. Your VIA results, story-led, in structured pairs. The afternoon and evening for it to land.

An early start to the Son Tra peninsula — wildlife walking, jungle, Da Nang Bay and the Marble Mountains. No formal workshop; the walking conversations are the work.

Cham Island in the morning — boat, snorkel, beach lunch. Afternoon workshop: midlife capacity — nutrition, energy, perimenopause and menopause. How your body is also how you lead.

My Son sanctuary in the morning — Cham ruins, ancient music, pottery, river boat back. Afternoon workshop, led by Susan: verbalising what you want and the boundaries to hold it.

Morning herbal healing journey — gardens, infusions, meditation, vegetarian lunch on the farm. Afternoon workshop: your elevator pitch — the practical artefact of the entire retreat.

The closing morning: each woman writes herself a letter — what she learnt, what she’ll do differently, the boundaries she’ll hold. We post it to her four weeks later. A closing ritual, lanterns lit, and each woman books her post-retreat call before she leaves.