Questions about the Retreat

After 3 days you will walk away from the retreat with the following:

• A clear sense of your strengths and passion as a research leader
• Insight into the future of our practice and your strategy to maximise your impact
• A strong and compassionate network of UX Research leaders

You will leave the retreat with a full heart and a clear sense of direction on what’s next for you…

Monday 12th October
We start at 11 am with getting to know each other and setting goals for our stay. After lunch we will dive into what strategy means to us. What would it look like if we had a strategy that works for us? During the rest of the afternoon we explore our individual challenges during a walk around the retreat site.
After the evening meal there will be time to chat around the fireplace.

Tuesday 13th October
For those who want to join we will start the day with a yoga session, followed by breakfast.
After breakfast we will explore the future of our research practice and get ready for a day of planning our strategy.
In the evening there will be an interesting workshop hosted by one of the participants (still a surprise!).

Wednesday 14th October
During this day we decide on the direction you want to take. You’ll set priorities and decide what you want to let go of.
At the end of the day we will wrap up and leave around 4pm.

This retreat takes place in The Netherlands at de Hoorneboeg, a regenerative venue on a nature reserve near Hilversum. It is a beautiful place for transformations and wondrous experiences that leave you speechless; deeply connected to the lush landscape in which it resides.

This is the address: Hoorneboeg 3, Hilversum (The Netherlands)
It takes roughly an hour to get from Amsterdam to Hilversum (by car and public transport)

• Car: You can reach de Hoorneboeg by car, there is plenty of free parking available. Follow these instructions on how to get there.
• Public transport: Take a train to Hilversum and you will be picked up from there. Use 9292ov.nl for checking train times and availability. We will coordinate arrivals so you can be picked up from the train station.
• Taxi: For those coming directly from Schiphol airport we can coordinate and organise a taxi for a group to keep the costs as low as possible.

Fee for participants who pay themselves or are self-employed:

• Early bird registration (pay full fee before the end of May) 795 EURO ex VAT

• Regular registration (pay full fee within 14 days after registering) 895 EURO ex VAT

Fee for participants whose employer will pay the registration fee:

• Early bird registration 895 EURO ex VAT (invoice sent – payment term 14 days)
• Regular registration 995 EURO ex VAT (invoice sent – payment term 14 days)
• Part of the employer paid fees will go towards supporting participants who require sponsoring.

The fees include 2 nights accommodation on site, all meals, drinks and snacks as well as materials we use during the retreat.

We have worked hard to find a venue that is comfortable but affordable because we think it is important to make sure that people from different places around the globe can join. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need financial support to enable your participation. For example if you are un(der)employed or live in a country with an extreme currency difference to the euro.

This retreat welcomes experienced UX Research leaders with multiple years in leadership roles. Participants are currently leading research teams or a research practice, might have experience in research consulting practices or functional organisation leadership.

This is a get together for professionals who want to deepen their leadership skills and explore what their future in UX Research Leadership looks like. This is not a retreat for aspiring research leaders who want to learn more about leadership.

Are you not sure this is right for you? Reach out to Kathleen to check.

It can be difficult to know what to expect. Here are some testimonials from last year that might help:
(And yes… half of last year’s participants are coming back this year)

I joined the ReConnect Retreat to gain clarity on my growth strategy for the coming years. I had felt stuck for a while. While the retreat did offer me valuable ideas and perspectives, my biggest insight was this: I rarely pause to acknowledge what I have already achieved. By consciously reflecting on my successes and allowing myself to feel genuine pride (something I find difficult), space opened up again to experiment and explore new directions.

Kathleen and Tomomi have created a strong and well-balanced program. They complement each other beautifully in terms of energy and group dynamics. The focus on a small group of experienced UXR leaders also meant the level of conversation was consistently high, grounded in extensive shared experience.

I would highly recommend this retreat to any UX Research leader who wants to create space for reflection and renewed direction. It is well worth the time and effort.  

Accommodation – 2 nights:

There are two types of accommodation on site.

Most of the participants will stay in one of the two houses. These houses have a cosy living room, fireplace and kitchen where you can make tea/coffee or have a drink. Both houses have regular bedrooms with a comfortable single bed and shared bathroom for every 2-3 participants. Everyone has their own private bedroom, no one will share.

There are also two cute private cabins. In Dutch they are called ‘pipowagen’. These have a comfortable bed, chair and desk, as well as heating. There is a shared bathroom just outside of the cabins.

Meals:
All meals, drinks and snacks are provided. The focus is on local and seasonal produce from the estate’s own vegetable and herb gardens.

Please inform us of allergies and/or dietary restrictions in advance.

Extra’s:
There might be a yoga session if there are enough interested participants. But maybe you want to contribute with something that you know well? Let us know when signing up!

Great question! You can wear whatever you feel comfortable in, be your authentic self. If this includes woolen socks, yes of course you can wear them! If this includes a party hat or suit, all ok as well.

May in The Netherlands tends to provide all kinds of weather. From sunshine to rain and wind. You will receive information about the forecast a couple of days in advance to help you pack. And yes, if it is forecast to be cold, we might recommend that you bring some warm socks.

— 100% refund for cancellation 90+ days before retreat start date.
— 50% refund for cancellation 30-89 days before retreat start date.
— 0% refund for cancellation 0-29 days before retreat start date.

Reach out to Kathleen Asjes with all your questions and ideas for the retreat.
Kathleen@growandconnect.org