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Summary for: In Czechia, a new kind of retreat is helping leaders reset and return sharperProfessional retreats may conjure up images of spa robes, trust falls, and dialed-back productivity. But in Czechia, a new kind of retreat encourages leaders to step back so that they can move forward.
Many are finding that these intentional spaces allow professionals in Czechia to abate burnout, resulting in real growth and, in many cases, increased profitability.
Debunking old-school thinking about retreats
For leaders who think productivity means visible output, slowing down is often equated with losing control or falling behind.
“In a world glorifying constant motion, pausing can feel counterintuitive or even like failure,” explains Dana Poul-Graf, a cross-disciplinary consultant, coach, and founder of Key & Spark, specializing in leadership and workplace strategies.
After years of working with international teams and expat professionals in Czechia, she saw a pattern: even competent leaders were stuck in reactive mode, constantly doing but rarely being.
But what if stepping back is exactly what helps you lead forward? That’s the belief behind Sentinel Retreats, which Poul-Graf created along with Elke Preuss, a global leadership strategist and executive coach.
We offer a place of recalibration, designed to help leaders realign their internal compass, reset their nervous systems, and restore their core capacity,” she adds. “Enabling them to return with renewed clarity and effectiveness.”
Swapping conference rooms for forests
Leading across cultures isn’t just about translating words–it’s about navigating different values, expectations, and ways of working.
Retreats offer an alternative to stuffy office environments, where team-building and better cultural understanding can occur more naturally. As Preuss puts it, “The most powerful shifts don’t happen in boardrooms. They begin in stillness, when leaders allow space for the truth to rise.”
Vera Stanglin, a BizzTreat employee working in new business development, realized that many retreat participants, most of whom she didn’t know, shared similar struggles and experiences. “It opened my eyes to how differently we can perceive ourselves compared to how others see us,” she explains.
Forests comprise 37 percent of Czechia’s landscape, and Poul-Graf extensively researched how spending time outdoors can help regulate the nervous system, reduce stress, and foster deeper thinking. She was drawn to the pastoral setting of the Vista Hotel, which is within a short distance from the center of Prague, and allows nature to become an active tool for participants.
Team members often connect and let their guards down in relaxed, informal settings, like around a fire or during a mindful walk in the forest.
Designed as journeys, not just agendas
Sentinel Retreats aren’t a series of scheduled events; they gradually expand perspective and reconnect participants to what’s most true and meaningful. From quiet reflection to guided conversations and rejuvenating activities, every part of the retreat is a “thoughtfully crafted journey,” as Poul-Graf puts it.
Intentional stillness – something many leaders have never truly experienced – brings one of the most powerful effects of a retreat: clarity. And not the vague, inspirational kind. We’re talking about real, actionable clarity that simplifies decision-making and sharpens focus.
William Revellese attended the Sentinel Retreat hoping to have some structured relaxation. “I wanted to take away some practical tips for dealing with work stress,” the managing director at Arbor Group explains, “But I left energized, recharged, and with tangible methods…I am seeing immediate benefits at work (and home).”
Retreats are a smart investment, not just a feel-good perk
Fewer distractions lead to clearer, values-based decisions, which result in better time management and, in many cases, profitability. According to the Harvard Business Review, every $1 invested in well-being (like retreats) returns up to $6 in savings. Gallup found that highly engaged teams see an 18% jump in sales.
A retreat that boosts clarity and retention? That’s money well spent, and a no-brainer investment for companies employing diverse or expat-heavy groups. Participants don’t come back from retreats with more options and strategies, they come back with the right ones.
Individuals can sign up to experience a Sentinel Retreat with other business leaders from the area. Poul-Graf and Preuss also organize corporate retreats for companies looking to host larger events. With international interest growing, the team plans to expand outside of Czechia into other countries, including the U.S.
"In a world obsessed with doing, more leaders are realizing that thinking clearly starts with slowing down,” emphasizes Poul-Graf. “True, sustainable transformation comes from a powerful synergy of deep reflection and active embodiment of new insights and behaviors.”
