2026 Entourage Leadership Retreat
For women in corporate roles who lead at the highest level and are ready to expand their capacity without burning out.
November 4–6 | Sonnenalp | Vail, Colorado
A Retreat Designed for Women in Corporate Roles Who Carry a Lot
You are responsible for outcomes.
You make the decisions.
You hold the vision.
This retreat is where you step out of execution mode and into expansion mode.
Over three powerful days at the beautiful Sonnenalp Hotel, you will deepen emotional intelligence, rebuild energy architecture, examine trust at its root, and redefine what resilient leadership actually looks like in real life.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Augusta “GUS” Fehn MBA
Director of Contracts for DCMA Space
Topic: My Journey from the Battlefield to the Boardroom: Embracing Self-Doubt in Leadership
Augusta “GUS” Fehn, MBA, is a senior defense acquisition leader and Director of Contracts for DCMA Space, where she oversees more than $307B in U.S. Military and NASA assets. A former U.S. Air Force Captain and contracting officer with global deployments in Portugal, Botswana, Iraq, and the United States, she has led multi-billion-dollar portfolios across 22 countries and was the youngest director in her organization’s history. Recognized for her leadership excellence and mentorship, Gus is known for her candor, resilience, and operational depth. She speaks on navigating self-doubt, building credibility as the outlier in the room, and leading with confidence in high-stakes, high-accountability environments.
Sara Waters, LPC
Personal Development and Psychological Wellness Expert
Topic: The Trust Paradox - the Solution to Trust Issues is in the One Place We Rarely Look
Author of More YourSELF, creator of the More YourSELF Method, and former psychotherapist with 15 years of clinical experience. She specializes in an IFS-informed, parts-based approach and works with executive teams, Fortune 500 companies, AmLaw 100 firms, education systems, and high-performing professionals to strengthen leadership through psychological introspection and radical curiosity. Known for her quirky personality and tendency to provoke powerful perspective shifts, Sara challenges participants to question what they think they know – deconstructing default behavioral patterns and reframing deeply held beliefs to unlock greater trust, clarity, and performance without sacrificing psychological health.
Heidi S. Brinkman, PhD,
President of Brinkman Consulting, Inc.
Topic:
Emotional Intelligence
& The Empowered Leader
With more than 25 years of experience as a management consultant and executive coach, she works with leaders at every level to strengthen influence, resolve conflict, and build collaborative cultures through practical, behavior-based tools. A former Academic Director and Clinical Professor at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business, Heidi holds a PhD in Organizational Communication and is certified in EQ-i 2.0, EQ360, Emergenetics, HRG, and Insights. Her clients include Microsoft, Starbucks, GE, Wells Fargo, NSA, and multiple state and municipal agencies. Known for her depth, clarity, and application-driven approach, Heidi helps leaders translate emotional intelligence into measurable organizational impact.
Ellie Kempton, MSN, RDN
Functional Medicine Dietitian
Topic: The Invisible Cost of Success
A Functional Medicine Dietitian and executive wellness consultant with more than 15 years of experience guiding high-performing professionals to reclaim energy, sharpen clarity, and sustain ambition without burnout. As the founder of a pioneering consultancy at the intersection of leadership performance and human vitality, her work reframes wellness as strategic infrastructure rather than a personal afterthought. Her science-driven, human-centered approach bridges advanced diagnostics, physiology, and behavioral design to create precision vitality systems that strengthen decision-making, leadership presence, and longevity.
Your Hosts & Presenters
Brenda Abdilla, PCC
Co Founder of Entourage Leadership Group
CEO of Management Momentum LLC
Stephanie Wachman, PCC
Co Founder of Entourage Leadership Group
CEO of Symmetry Strategies LLC
The Experience
Wednesday | November 4
3:00–4:00 PM
Arrival + Connection
- Check-in and settle into your Junior Suite with fireplace and deep soaking tub
- Welcome Happy Hour
- Meet & Greet
- Gift Bags + Heavy Appetizers
This evening is about connection, ease, and stepping fully into the container.
Thursday | November 5
8:00–9:00 AM
Breakfast Buffet
Fuel your morning with a full breakfast spread.
9:00–9:30 AM
Welcome & Orientation
Overview of the retreat agenda, group preference setting, and housekeeping details to help you make the most of your experience.
9:30–11:30 AM
Emotional Intelligence & The Empowered Leader with Heidi S. Brinkman, PhD
Heidi brings depth, research, and practical tools to elevate how you show up in rooms that matter. This session explores:
- Advanced emotional intelligence in high-stakes environments
- Self-regulation under pressure
- Leadership presence and influence
- Building trust through attuned communication
- Expanding capacity without sacrificing clarity
This session sets the tone for the entire retreat.
11:30 AM–1:00 PM
Gourmet Lunch Buffet + Reflection Time
Take time to enjoy lunch, step outside, or connect with a fellow participant to reflect on the morning’s insights.
1:00–3:00 PM
The Invisible Cost of Success with Ellie Kempton, MSN, RDN
What Ambition Without Wellness Architecture Costs the Female Body.
Women at the helm of innovation are paying for their success with their health. Together, we’ll walk through the deep biological impact of sustained overdrive, and introduce the Lifestyle Architecture Bridge as the trailhead to dissolving patterns of wellness debt. Each woman will walk away with a bespoke, precision-driven framework that allows her to stay ambitious without abandoning self.
3:00–4:30 PM
Self-Care & Recharge
The perfect time to schedule a massage or facial, take a walk, or get in a workout.
4:30–6:30 PM
Vision Board Workshop & Social Hour
Join us for Cocktails + Pizza + Protein as we dive into one of our retreat favorites: crafting vision boards for the year ahead. A relaxed, creative way to wind down your day.
6:30 PM
Dinner on Your Own
Friday | November 6
8:00–8:45 AM
Breakfast & Career Strategies Worksheet
Enjoy breakfast while working through an interactive placemat exercise and connecting with fellow attendees.
8:45–9:30 AM
Reflections & Takeaways
Group discussion to share key learnings and favorite moments from Thursday.
9:30–11:30 AM
My Journey from the Battlefield to the Boardroom: Embracing Self-Doubt in Leadership with Augusta “GUS” Fehn, MBA
- In this candid and powerful session, Gus shares:
What imposter syndrome looks like at the highest levels - Leading as the outlier in male-dominated rooms
- Building credibility under pressure
- Resilience forged in operational environments
- Confidence that evolves, not arrives
This is real leadership, not polished LinkedIn leadership.
11:30 AM–1:00 PM
Lunch & Connection Time
Enjoy a leisurely lunch or use this time for a treatment, a walk, or connecting with a new friend.
1:00–3:00 PM
The Trust Paradox - the Solution to Trust Issues is in the One Place We Rarely Look
Sara Waters, LPC, Author of More YourSELF and creator of the More YourSELF Method, Sara blends 15 years of clinical experience with executive leadership development. This interactive session explores:
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) -informed parts work and psychological introspection
- Why “trust issues” are rarely about other people
- Over-functioning and hypervigilance in powerful leaders
- Delegation resistance and internal control dynamics
- How to rebuild internal trust to expand external leadership
This is bold, introspective, and transformative.
3:30–4:00 PM
Action Planning & Goodbyes
Pair up with an accountability partner and participate in a focused forum exercise on time management. Wrap up with final thoughts and farewells.
This agenda ensures a perfect blend of personal growth, leadership development, and meaningful connection. Get ready for an empowering experience designed exclusively for women leaders!
We've redefined the conference experience.
It’s more than just sessions and speakers; it’s about forging connections that last a lifetime. Immerse yourself in a supportive community of like-minded women, where the bonds you create are as valuable as the content you absorb.
View photos from our past retreats.
The retreat was curated beautifully. The content and balance of very special and thoughtful elements made this the most impactful leadership experience I have had the privilege to attend. I would recommend this to any business woman looking to confirm strength and gain powerful insight and tools to be more effective to make a bigger impact.
It was completely inspiring to be there—both worthwhile and so much fun. I had the opportunity to meet incredible, powerful women and reflect more deeply on myself, my leadership, and my role as a team member. I also set some important boundaries to step away from the office and fully embrace the experience.
Elevate your leadership, elevate your life.
November 4–6 | Sonnenalp | Vail, Colorado
Your Investment
$2,995
Early Commitment Rate:
Register with a $100 non-refundable deposit before April 15
and your rate is held at $2,695. Full balance due by June 30.
- Tuition for the Retreat
- The EQi 2.0 Leadership Assessment
- Welcome Happy Hour
- Vision Board Event with Food & Drinks
- Gourmet Breakfast & Lunch (Thursday & Friday)
- Gift Bags + Specialized Materials
Only 20 spots available.
Registration fee is non-refundable. If circumstances arise, your investment may be credited toward next year’s retreat or applied toward executive coaching.
Registration non-refundable. If circumstances arise, your investment may be credited toward next year’s retreat or applied toward executive coaching.
Become a Retreat Sponsor
Elevate your brand and support high-level corporate women by becoming a retreat sponsor. Gain visibility, connect with influential leaders, and contribute to a transformative event. Secure your sponsorship now and be part of this inspiring movement.
Important Hotel and Travel Information
Special Guest Rates at the Sonnenalp Hotel & Spa
Junior Suites: $240 per night
Two Bedroom Bi-Level Suite: $659 per night
Rates subject to 10.8% lodging tax + daily resort fee.
Special Concessions Include:
- Reduced Resort Fee: $30 (normally $55)
- Reduced Valet Parking: $30 (normally $50)
- Complimentary nightly turndown service
- Complimentary WiFi
- Complimentary access to pool, fitness center, saunas, steam rooms
- 20% off treatments at Sonnenalp Spa
