Overview

Our journey begins at Oxford University, the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest university in the world. We’ll hear from a panel of experts on what inspires some of the world’s most innovative people -- from thought leaders to scientists to artists -- especially at one of the hubs of new thinking about the world to come in the 21st century.  

Then we’ll engage in a very English tradition: the country walk. We’ll spend eight nights and nine days travelling along footpaths through forests and pastures, along rivers and streams, and stopping in picturesque villages.* Along the way, we’ll engage in a series of reflective exercises to help you get in touch with (or back in touch with) what inspires you to excel at what you do. We’ll engage in solo writing as well as talking with each other to learn from others’ journeys.  

By ending our trip in Bath, we’ll have the opportunity to take a well-deserved soak in the ancient springs from which the city takes its name… in a rooftop pool with dazzling views of the city’s Georgian architecture. 

*We will be travelling about 100 miles at an easy walking pace. A luggage service will transport your belongings between nightly accommodations, and you will always have the option to travel by car rather than walk for any segment. 

Why The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds embody the essence of retreat and renewal. Known for their rolling hills, honey-colored stone villages, and timeless footpaths, they offer a landscape that naturally slows the pace of life, inviting reflection and reconnection. Unlike urban centers where the demands of leadership often accelerate, the Cotswolds provide the opposite: a setting where quiet beauty, unhurried rhythms, and deep history create fertile ground for inspiration to resurface. 

Oxford anchors the journey with its centuries-old reputation for ideas, discovery, and innovation, reminding leaders of the transformative power of knowledge and creativity. The small villages along the walking route offer a living example of community, continuity, and simplicity—values often overlooked in the high-pressure corporate world. Finally, Bath provides both a literal and symbolic space for renewal, where Roman springs and Georgian elegance converge in an experience of restoration that bridges ancient tradition with modern wellbeing. 

What You’ll Experience

• Visit Oxford University and engage in discussions with experts on what inspires innovators  

• Walk the storied paths of the English countryside, using nature as a companion for reflection and renewal. 

• Conclude with a restorative spa experience in Bath, bringing the journey full circle with renewal of body and spirit. 

Objectives

• Engage in guided reflection on how you can fuel your ongoing inspiration  

• Learn about how innovators of the past found sources of new ideas   

• Unplug from digital distraction to connect with other executives and reconnect with your internal motivational drive 

• Return home with a renewed sense of purpose, equipped to inspire others through authentic and creative leadership.   

Where Reflection Meets Renewal, and Inspiration Becomes the Path to Leadership.