Manager's Retreat November 2025: Self-Awareness and Personal Development

Join us for two and a half days of self-awareness and learning at the spiritual home of the Henley MBA, the Greenlands campus. Organisational life presents many physical and mental challenges, and effective leaders are those who prioritise lifelong learning and development. The Manager's Retreat builds on Henley Business School's renowned Personal Development modules and is specifically designed for MBA alumni.

Participants who bring a curious mindset can expect a programme focused on deeper self-discovery and awareness, along with ample time to pause and reflect. The Manager's Retreat is a holistic and life-affirming exploration of your potential. Our starting point is our definition of Personal Development:

"The identification and removal of those restraints that limit the likelihood of sustainable individual, organisational, social and environmental health and wellbeing."

Who is the Manager's Retreat for?

The Manager's Retreat is a facilitated space for individuals that have completed their MBA. It is to deepen your understanding of who you are and to renew your personal development. Our programme consists of two and a half reflective days at Greenlands in the company of fellow alumni. There is also an option to book an extra night by arriving on 13 November 2025 (not included in the fee). The Manager's Retreat is open to first-time attendees only and we will be planning follow-up or further events for those who have attended retreats in the past.

The retreat is led by Dr Chris Dalton. Chris will be joined by members of the Personal Development tutoring team and invited specialists in personal and professional growth and development. More detailed information about the agenda and the facilitators will be available closer to the time.

What are the benefits?

You own what you find, including new ways of understanding yourself, changes in how you see your past and future, decision points and clarity in matters of importance to you. You will meet, network and learn from fellow travellers with experience and knowledge that can enlighten you. Our systemic approach informs us and the three key themes for the retreat are sense-making, meaning-making and health and wellbeing.

"The Manager's Retreat was a truly wonderful way to reconnect with Henley. As you may expect from Chris, the weekend was unexpected. I came away with answers to old questions, answers to new questions, and new questions I'm still pondering months after the Retreat." James Markham, MBA (Manager's Retreat participant, February 2025)

The retreat can refresh and restore the flow of organisational health and meaningful paths to resolve complex challenges. As the retreat is residential, you can tune (back) into the reflective environment at Greenlands campus and its 80 years of history dedicated to personal development. The campus is a vital and revitalising element of the Manager's Retreat.

Preparation and pre-work

There are no set pre-tasks. You might like to reflect on any aspect of your work, career or personal development you have identified as a current issue, question or puzzle. Everyone attending will join in contracting for confidentiality at the start.

Making a booking

The fee for this retreat is £950. Registration is open, so please book your place now.

The fee covers the following:

- Facilitation and attendance at all sessions;

- Full board up to and including lunch on 16 November 2025;

- Access to Greenlands campus facilities, including the gym;

- Accommodation at the Greenlands campus hotel on the nights of 14 November 2025 and 15 November 2025 (anyone wishing to arrive on the evening of 13 November 2025 can request to book an additional night directly with our reception team, but please note that this additional night is not covered by the Manager's Retreat fees).

Please note that numbers are limited to a maximum of 15 participants. A waiting list will operate if the Manager's Retreat exceeds this limit.

Resources

We will work in a dedicated conference room throughout and everyone will have their own space to reflect, think, work or write, as well as break out spaces. A small library of relevant books will be in the room and everyone is welcome to browse during the retreat. You will be encouraged to bring a book that has inspired or helped you and contribute to the temporary bookshelf.

Questions

Please address any questions about the event to Dr Chris Dalton on chris.dalton@henley.ac.uk