Leadership Retreat: Leading with Genuine Care

October 3–7, 2021

Tuition $1500 + 4 nights
Lodging/tuition are combined at checkout

Co-sponsored with the Leading with Genuine Care Retreat

The Leading with Genuine Care Leadership Retreat (formerly the donothing Leadership Retreat) offers business leaders, entrepreneurs, and those seeking a more mindful life with the most rewarding challenge they may ever take — a leadership-focused mindfulness and meditation retreat.

Discover why meditation and mindfulness practices can positively impact your life. After slowing down, unplugging and looking within, you’ll grasp why presence and awareness is the greatest gift we can offer ourselves and others.

Leading With Genuine Care and Rob Dube will be forgoing payment for this retreat, which will support SMC and help to alleviate the impacts of the pandemic and devastating Cameron Peak Fire. SMC is grateful for this act of generosity. 

About the Retreat

Every detail at the Leading with Genuine Care Leadership Retreat is created to inspire. The retreat is held at the majestic Shambhala Mountain Center, nestled high within the Colorado Rockies.

You will be guided through valuable mindfulness techniques and leadership lessons alongside a supportive community of like-minded participants.

Whether you’re searching for an opportunity to deepen your meditation practice, get back on track, or you consider yourself a novice, the Leading with Genuine Care Retreat was designed for meditators of all levels.

We invite you to join us and enjoy:

  • Unplugging from our busy lives
  • Learning and refining mindfulness skills
  • Connecting with other like-minded leaders
  • Discovering how to bring mindfulness into your leadership and your life
  • Exploring nature and soaking in the inspiring energy of the surroundings
  • A guided hike led by SMC Executive Director, Michael Gayner
  • Mindful Connections led by mindfulness leader Patricia Karpas
  • MindTravel SilentHike, led by entrepreneur Murray Hidary
  • Delicious and healthy cuisine prepared on-site for all meals
  • Private accommodations

Standout Sessions

Look forward to exclusive and exciting sessions led by renowned mindful leaders.

Mindful Connections with Patricia Karpas

Patricia Karpas is a mindfulness expert and host of the Untangle: Mindfulness for Curious Humans podcast. The Mindful Connections session will kick-off the retreat with interactive exercises designed to inspire and connect with yourself and other retreat participants.

MindTravel  Silent Hike with Murray Hidary

Thousands of people worldwide have joined in on composer and tech pioneer Murray Hidary’s MindTravel experience. Now, he’s bringing his SilentHike to the Shambhala Mountain Center for the Leading with Genuine Care Retreat! Don’t miss this rare opportunity to immerse yourself in music, nature, and mindful leadership lessons. 

Guided Nature Hike 

Learn all about the beautiful lands you’ll be surrounded by for five amazing days. The Shambhala Center’s Executive Director, Michael Gayner, will guide us around the property while pointing out landmarks, highlights, history, and so much more.

Why Attend the Leadership Retreat?

Past participants have experienced endless benefits from attending the retreat. However, here are five key areas where they have shared that it’s been especially impactful.

→ Increased Productivity

The Leading with Genuine Care Leadership Retreat opens your mind and allow ideas to flow. Although you won’t be writing them down (part of living for the present moment), the best ones will rise to the top. By the end of the retreat, expect to have some real breakthroughs.

→ Increased Focus

By cultivating a deeper mindfulness practice, return to your daily life with a refined ability to train your attention and offer complete presence to any task.

→ Let Go of Fear

Many of your business and life decisions, or non-decisions, may be based in a deep-rooted fear. Maybe it’s a fear of failing or of being outside of your comfort zone.

The retreat will guide you in developing a mindful meditation practice that allows for more authentic, vulnerable leadership.

→ Rejuvenate Your Mind and Body

Do you feel busy all the time, even when you’re on a so-called “vacation?” At the retreat, let your mind and body finally receive the rest it deserves.

→ Gain New Perspective

Gift your mind with the ability to bring yourself back to the “Now.” At the retreat, you’ll find a new perspective on what really matters—the present moment.

What to Expect

Day 1: Sunday, October 3

Welcome to the Land

Registration takes place from 2pm to 5pm. If you plan to attend the 3:30pm session, please arrive with enough time to check in and settle into your accommodations. At 3:30pm we’ll enjoy an overview of SMC’s beautiful land and its energetic qualities with Executive Director, Michael Gayner. Then, we will head out on a hike where Michael will guide us to the very spots he discussed during his talk.

If you prefer not to hike, feel free to relax, or explore on your own during this time.

Welcome to the Community

We will have dinner together followed by a fireside chat. This is always a highlight for the group as it’s a time to connect and learn about each other.

Day 2: Monday, October 4

Welcome to the Retreat

We’ll begin the day with a healthy breakfast followed by a morning filled with mindful lessons and meditation. After lunch, we’ll continue our practice with stretches, mindful walking, wisdom talks, and more. A little before sunset, we’ll begin the MindTravel SilentHike experience with Murray Hidary.

Day 3: Tuesday, October 5

The day starts with instruction and meditation. Just prior to lunch, we will begin settling into the two-day silent portion of the retreat. Our afternoon includes meditation lessons, mindful walking and stretching practices, meditation practice, and wisdom talks.

Day 4: Wednesday, October 6

The day begins with meditation and wisdom talks. After a period of various mindfulness practices, there’s time for relaxation. The afternoon consists of more meditation, small break-out groups for questions, and wisdom talks.

Day 5: Thursday, October 7

On our last day, we will slowly come out of silence. Then, we’ll share our insights about our retreat experience. The session concludes with a powerful ritual that is most rememberable for the participants.

Next, we will enjoy a final lunch. Together, we’ll reminisce about the last few days and treasure this special time—fully in the present moment.

Why Did Past Participants Love this Leadership Retreat?

“I was also surprised that I was ok being alone in my room or on hikes without any distractions. I started observing things that I normally wouldn’t have if I were either with someone or was distracted with music, phone, etc.”

“The practice of meditation is helping to increase the size of the space for me between stimulus and response. I noticed it immediately when I was back in my office.”

“When a particular comment was raised by one of my staff members—I was able to slow my response. My impulse was to react defensively, but I slowed down and responded with a clarifying question. The two-second pause probably changed the interaction from a negative to a positive for both parties. Pretty amazing.”

“[I learned] the ability to focus on breathing—to relax—before reacting when faced with something I might be eager to respond to…especially when negatively.”

“I am able to bring the benefits of meditation to my employees. I have learned to treat everyone with kindness and to handle employee challenges in a calmer, more productive way.”

“I was very surprised that I was able to shut down from technology for as long as I did and became ok with it. It was very challenging at first—but by the end, it just wasn’t a thing…”

Join us in Colorado from October 3–7th, 2021 for the Leading with Genuine Care Leadership Retreat and take the most rewarding leadership challenge of your life!

REGISTER NOW

Retreat Faculty

Janet Solyntjes

(Lead Teacher)
Janet Solyntjes, MA, is a Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher and has been leading silent meditation retreats in the U.S. and internationally for over 25 years. Janet provides online study groups and individual mentoring to mindfulness teachers-in-training and has been on the faculty of Naropa University, the Center for Mindfulness, and the Engaged Mindfulness Institute. She facilitates the annual donothing retreat for entrepreneurs and supports business leaders and teams in the integration of mindfulness into workplace settings.

Rob Dube

(Leading with Genuine Care  Founder)
Rob started his first business in high school selling Blow Pops out of his locker. For the last 30 years, he’s served as co-founder and co-CEO of imageOne, ranked as one of the Top 25 Small Businesses in America by Forbes.
Rob has been an avid meditator for over 15 years. He’s also the host of the Leading with Genuine Care podcast where he’s talked with mindful leaders including Jon Kabat-Zinn, Sharon Salzberg, Shantum Seth, Dr. Andrew Weil, and more. Rob is the organizer of the Leading with Genuine Care Leadership Retreat, author of donothing: the most rewarding leadership challenge you will ever take, and a Senior Contributor for Forbes.
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Patricia Karpas

Mindful Connections
Patricia Karpas is a former media executive, co-founder of the five-star app Meditation Studio, Head of Content for MUSE, the Brain Sensing Headband, and the host of the podcast, Untangle: Mindfulness for Curious Humans.
On Sunday evening, Patricia will lead us in some practices to help kick off our five days of focused, mindful growth together.
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Murray Hidary

MindTravel SilentHike

On Monday, tech pioneer and multi-disciplinary artist Murray Hidary will guide us on a once-in-a-lifetime MindTravel SilentHike. His purpose-driven approach is at the heart of Murray’s successes and global recognition. 

Immerse yourself in music and nature while creating a deeper connection between yourself and your surroundings. You’ll also grow professionally as Murray integrates impactful leadership lessons into the SilentHike’s narrative.

Murray’s MindTravel events typically host 100s of participants. Don’t miss this rare opportunity as you share in the experience with a small group of like-minded leaders and entrepreneurs.

About Shambhala Mountain Center

Nestled high in the Colorado Rockies 2 hours north of Denver, Shambhala Mountain Center is a six-hundred-acre mountain valley retreat surrounded by native forests, gentle meadows and rocky peaks. Tamed by decades of use as a contemplative refuge, we provide a safe and supportive container for exploring paths of deepened awareness, personal wellbeing and societal transformation. For more than 40 years, extraordinary people have gathered here to experience Shambhala teachings and partake in over 100 year-round offerings featuring indigenous wisdom traditions, body awareness practices, contemplative arts, mindful living or other paths of personal transformation.
Click here to see our location in Google Maps. 

Cancellation Policy

Refunds will be offered until September 20, 2021, minus a 5.5% processing fee. Please see SMC’s full policy here. 

Children Policy

Shambhala Mountain Center welcomes children of parents/guardians who are participating in our scheduled programs, or who are simply engaging in a personal retreat. However, we do not provide childcare. Parents are required to bring a caretaker for their children, so that the parents can fully participate in their program.

Click here to learn more about bringing your child to SMC. 

Arrival Details

Registration takes place from 2:00 – 5:00pm at the Guest Services building on October 3. If you would like to attend the opening program session at 3:30pm, please arrive in time to check in and settle into your accommodations. The Guest Services building closes at 5pm; after that, no one is available to provide information or orient you to your accommodations. Further specifics regarding your program’s schedule will be available upon arrival. If applicable, you will receive an email from the program coordinator in the week prior to your program with any additional information you may need.

REGISTER NOW

Program Details

Registration takes place from 2– 5 pm on your program start date. All participants and volunteer staff must check in at our Guest Registration house. Please arrive before 5 pm to check-in and settle into your accommodations. Your program begins with dinner, followed by an orientation. The Guest Registration house closes at 5 pm after which no one is available to provide information or orient you to your accommodations. All programs usually end at 12:30 pm on the program's departure date, followed by lunch. Further specifics regarding your program's schedule will be available upon arrival. If applicable, you will receive an email from the program coordinator in the week prior to your program with any additional information you may need.