Leadership at 2,000 Meters: Where Vision Meets Nature
Personio
How do we set the stage for the most profound leadership insights happen away from the boardroom. We partnered with Personio's leadership team for an immersive retreat in the Spanish Pyrenees, where mountains became meeting rooms and campfires replaced conference tables. At Basecamps La Cerdanya, surrounded by natural beauty at 2,000 meters above sea level, this leadership team didn't just discuss culture, they lived it, breathed it, and projected the leadership model they wanted for their entire division.
Objectives
01. Foster authentic connections within the leadership team
02. Define and align on the leadership model for their division
03. Develop organizational culture in a setting that encourages openness
04. Create shared experiences that strengthen team cohesion
05. Connect leadership development with personal reflection and growth
We took leadership development out of its traditional setting and into the elements.
The Spanish Pyrenees provided more than a backdrop they became an integral part of the learning experience.
Mountain Debriefs
Strategic conversations and reflection sessions conducted at 2,000 meters, where the clarity of mountain air seemed to sharpen thinking and perspective.
Experiential Learning
Through guided activities, nature-based metaphors, and structured reflection, the team explored how context and environment influence leadership presence and decision-making.
Fireside Leadership
Evening sessions around open fires, where informal conversations often revealed the deepest insights about leadership philosophy and team dynamics.
Nature Integration
The natural environment facilitated authentic connections—both with each other and with the leadership principles they were developing.
What we noticed
We noticed that when you take leadership development into nature, something powerful happens. The combination of a natural setting, focused time together, and space for structured reflection created the conditions for honest connection and meaningful insight. The team found greater alignment on leadership priorities, a deeper understanding of themselves and each other, and the energy to carry that clarity into the wider organization. As one participant shared, I came back with a clearer head, a stronger bond with my peers, and a renewed sense of purpose. It wasn’t just a retreat it was a turning point. Sometimes the most important.
