Escape the every day grind.
Make time for yourself.
Pause. Reflect.
ReConnect.
ReConnect with fellow UX Research Leaders and explore what’s next.
12-14th May, 2025
Yugen Forrest, The Netherlands
Experience a safe space where you can restore your passion and inspire your future research practice.
Break free from the ordinary. This intimate retreat, capped at 15 UX Research leaders, goes beyond traditional training. It’s a guided exploration alongside your peers, fostering self-discovery and collaboration.
Through a guided process of self-reflection and peer-to-peer coaching, you’ll work towards the following objectives:
- Sharpen your vision. Delve into your core values and leadership strengths to chart a course for impactful research.
- Craft your future. Uncover what truly matters for your research leadership practice, shaping its trajectory and maximising your influence.
- Amplify your impact. Connect with a like-minded cohort of leaders, forging powerful connections to fuel collective growth.
Why should you come?
Have you ever noticed how valuable it is to hear the perspective from someone who is not your colleague, friend or partner? To talk with someone you do not know, but does have relevant experience and ideas to share?
Sometimes a fresh perspective is all you need to see your challenges in a new light.
This retreat is for you if:
- You’re a UX Research Leader seeking to elevate your leadership practice.
- You crave meaningful connection with fellow research leaders.
- You’re ready to reignite your passion for UX Research.
Join us in the Yugen forest
The retreat will take place in The Netherlands, in the green heart of the province Flevoland. The Yugen Forest is a nature reserve about an hours drive North of Amsterdam. It is an inspiring and restful location where you can truly connect with yourself and others.
Roggebot ‘castle’
This is where we host sessions during the day.
Inside Roggebot
Comfy chairs, a fireplace and interesting spaces to gather in.
Relax in the outdoors
There are many places to sit and relax, enjoying the green surroundings.
Sleep under the stars
Everyone stays in their individual basic cabin or luxury glamping tent.
Leave this retreat with a renewed sense of purpose, a clear vision for your future, and a powerful network of research leaders who support your journey.
The program
We start the retreat with stating our intentions and goals for the time we have together. Every research leader brings their own experience and challenges with them, a brilliant blend of wisdom and curiosity. There are themes for each day and you will experience a unique development from peer-coaching and introspection.
Each day there are facilitated sessions related to the day’s theme. Sometimes these sessions take place with the whole group, sometimes you will work in pairs or alone. There is plenty of time built in for reflection and if you need time by yourself you can step out when needed.
In between sessions you can go for a walk in nature, enjoy some yoga or chat with the other participants.
In the evenings we will enjoy a lovely meal, light a campfire and relax.
Monday 12th May
Day 1
Focus: ReConnect
Define and share our intentions and goals for the retreat.
Get to know each other and coach each other on our individual challenges.
Tuesday 13th May
Day 2
Focus: Core leadership values and strengths
Discover which leadership values you embody and which ones you want to strengthen
But also… yoga, lovely meals, a walk on the estate and a campfire
Wednesday 14th May
Day 3
Focus: Future career path
Explore what’s next for our research practice and for you as a research leader.
We wrap at the end of the day and return home, but will stay connected through the leadership community.
Your host:
Kathleen Asjes
Experience
Kathleen is the founder of Grow & Connect, a community for UX Research leaders who seek each others support and inspiration.
Over the past 15 years, Kathleen has dedicated herself to leading user research and researchers, encountering numerous remarkable individuals who shared a desire for growth and development.
All these years as a research leader come together in her coaching practice. As an independent coach, she continues to focus on helping Research leaders to unlock their full potential.
Hosting this retreat
A Leadership retreat specifically for UX Researchers has been a dream for a long time. There are plenty of general leadership retreats or those aimed at Designers, but hanging out with your professional peers adds a new dimension.
With this retreat Kathleen aims to connect research leaders, ensuring there is time and a safe space for conversations that nurture and inspire.
So far, Kathleen has hosted online peer-coaching sessions between more than 100 research leaders. Now it is time to meet in real life. Giving ourselves the opportunity to go deeper, maximising the impact that comes from facilitated reflection and peer-to-peer coaching.
Price
- Regular price; 995 EUR (if your company or organisation pays for you)
- Out of pocket price; 895 EUR (if you are self-employed or paying yourself)
- Early bird discount is -100 EUR if you book and pay before the end of January!
These fees include two nights accommodation, all meals/drinks/snacks and materials used on site for 2.5 days.
