What’s Next: Design Your Journey
Santa Fe, NM / October 27-29 2026
$1,899 early bird pricing before Sept. 15. $1,999 after September 15
“This life you are living is one of many lives you will live.”
Designing Your Life, Evans and Burnett
October is relentless. You probably shouldn’t go. The school year is in full swing, your calendar is packed, and stepping away for three days feels like an absolute luxury, something you'll get to do…someday. But here's what experienced leaders know: “someday” rarely comes and the leaders who do their best work are the ones who protect time to think.
This is that time.
By October, you'll know exactly what this year is bringing — the challenges that have surfaced, the questions you're sitting with, the things you haven't had time to think through. What's Next: Design Your Journey is built for precisely that moment: when you have enough information about your year to make the reflection genuinely useful, but still enough runway to act on what you discover.
Three days in Santa Fe. A small cohort of fellow school leaders. A structured, design-thinking framework to help you imagine what's next for your role, your leadership, your life.
This is not a vacation. It's an investment in the leader your school needs you to be. This distinctive L+D workshop will give you the gift of time and space for introspection and reflection, as well as offer practical design skills and ways to take action.
Through a combination of provocative activities using a human-centered design process — empathy interviews, journey maps, and journal prompts and conversations — you will have the opportunity to reflect on where you’ve been, make sense of where you are, and plan for what’s next, whether it's a personal or professional next step. You will have time to think deeply about the questions you are hoping to answer and use curiosity to imagine possibilities for yourself and the path ahead of you. How can you use your best resource – YOU – as a tool, resource and source of wisdom for digging deeper into your why as you look forward?
Best of all, you’ll be in the company of fellow travelers who are also working to create meaning from their paths, building the kind of collegial trust and openness that’s rare in the pace of a school year. Expect to be working individually and in small groups to explore essential questions, to learn through the stories of others, and to share one’s process and insights along the way.
We will draw on the unique environment of Santa Fe – its local art scene, walking paths, and spirit – to fuel our work. Our three days together will culminate in a festive “salon dinner” where you will share your insights, a personal story, or a piece of personal wisdom – whatever has resonated with you over the three days.
This retreat is a beginning of a process, not a stand alone event. Quarterly virtual meetings, a buddy pairing, and a 1:1 coaching session in winter 2027 will keep your thinking alive throughout the 2026-2027 school year.
Santa Fe, NM / October 27-29 2026
$1,899 early bird pricing before Sept. 15. $1,999 after September 15
““I came to the program needing a reset, needing support from others in imagining a new path. Through the small group dialogue, writing prompts, museum visit and labyrinth walk, I found the safety to connect in fresh ways within myself and with others.” Past Participant”
— Past Participant
Program Info and Details
Who Should Attend?
Who is this retreat designed for:
Leaders who sense that something in their work or life is shifting, and want time for reflection or creative inspiration to navigate that thoughtfully and with intention.
Leaders wondering what “what’s next?” looks like, whether it's within or beyond their current role.
Those drawn to human-centered design as a framework for reimagining their role, their stage of life, or their work in schools.
Anyone in the middle of a significant change (new role, new chapter) who is ready to approach it with intention rather than just momentum.
Leaders who want to “end well” or transition smoothly and gracefully, whether from a position, a school, or a new phase of life.
For schools and school leaders investing in retention by giving their people the rare gift of space for career and personal reflection.
Price: $1,899 early bird pricing before Sept. 15. $1,999 after September 15. Includes meals noted above, supplies and some cool L+D swag! Travel and hotel are not included.
Dates and Location
Our retreat will be held at La Fonda On the Plaza in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, starting the morning of Tuesday, Oct 27 at 9 a.m. Please plan to stay through the evening of Thursday, October 29, departing on Oct. 30.
Meals: Breakfasts at La Fonda on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Generous appetizers and drinks on Tuesday night.
“Salon Dinner” on Thursday night as we wrap up our program together.
Rooms (limited) are available at the historic La Fonda On the Plaza for a rate of $189/night plus taxes (lafondasantafe.com; use the code DESIGN26). Walk to restaurants, shops, and museums right from the hotel. Other options include the Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza, a few minutes walk from La Fonda, or you can check out other local hotels and AirBnbs near the downtown Plaza.
Flights are available into Albuquerque (one hour drive or shuttle service from the hotel) or Santa Fe. Once in Santa Fe, a car is not needed unless you plan to take any adventures outside of the city. Plan to arrive in Santa Fe by Sunday evening so you will be ready to start the program on Monday morning.
Price:$1,899 early bird pricing before Sept. 15. $1,999 after September 15. Includes meals noted above, supplies and exceptional L+D swag! Travel and hotel are not included.
Draft Schedule
Draft Schedule:
Day 1: Looking Inward Through Writing and Personal Reflection
Reflective writing prompts
Time to review materials you have brought along with you in order to hone your personal and professional questions (artifacts, journals, interviews with colleagues and those close to you)
Journey mapping
Development of your “Essential Question” for exploration
Walking the labyrinth
Evening: Cocktails, heavy appetizers
Day 2: Artistic Exploration and Storytelling
Storytelling, photography or art to share key elements of you, your values, your journey
Activities may include visits to local art museums, photography opportunities, meetings in small groups to practice storytelling
Introduction to design thinking
Evening: Dinner on your own or with others in Santa Fe
Day 3: Planning and Creation of Future You
“Designing Your Life” practice-using the skills we have learned to create models for future paths
“Odyssey” planning
Ideating and prototyping on the future of “you”
Telling your story from the future: You will practice being in the future and look back to tell your story from a vantage point of 10 or 20 years in the future.
Evening Salon Dinner: Share your journey–what do you want to tell and how do you want to tell it?
Facilitators
Crystal Land
Crystal’s background as a literature and memoir writing teacher combined with her interest in the many ways we grow and evolve as leaders and humans has led her to develop this collaborative retreat. She sees designing and writing processes of discovery and exploration we can each enter into wherever we are in our lives. A long-time journaler, doodler, reader and writer, she is excited to be in conversation with those on their journeys, and to come together in Santa Fe, where the sky always tells a story.
Isaiah Noriega
Isaiah is a person in process. Curious, searching, and committed to the slow, honest work of becoming. He has spent years walking alongside students, educators, and communities in the work of belonging, well-being and leadership. But underneath that work Isaiah is drawn to the space between thinking and being. The quiet space that opens up when we stop performing our identities. He is deeply interested in the conditions of looking at the world not as problems to solve, but as living systems to tend to.
Shu Shu Costa
Shu Shu started her career oh-so-long ago as a professional writer, editor, and author. These days, her writing is mostly an internal journey of reflection - sometimes a solace, sometimes a challenge, sometimes a moment of insight and truth. She is a great believer in examining the stories of our lives to understand more deeply who we are, where we’ve been, and where we dream of going…and she is eager to hear your stories.
“The three days in Santa Fe with L+D was even more magical than I pictured it would be. The facilitators led our cohort through several contemplative exercises during the workshop that deepened reflection and helped each of us develop greater clarity about the next steps on life’s journey. I came to the program needing a reset, needing support from others in imagining a new path. Through the small group dialogue, writing prompts, museum visit and labyrinth walk, I found the safety to connect in fresh ways within myself and with others. Since the program we have continued to meet in person and virtually with one another to sustain the bonds of our learning. I feel energized and whole, and forever grateful for joining this workshop at a pivotal moment in my life. This program is for anyone who is searching for growth, laughter and joy. You will not be disappointed!”
Past Participant