Finding Harmony: A Professional Development Retreat for Women
ITALY
October 4 - 9, 2026
Val d’Orcia
TUSCANY
During the week you'll experience professional development sessions designed to nourish both leadership and personal growth in an environment of beauty and intention.
Led by Natalie Kasiborski, PhD, LMSW, MPH—an expert in strategic leadership and social impact—these sessions invite you to reflect on your leadership identity, align with your core values, and envision your next chapter with clarity. Through guided discussions, experiential learning, and immersive cultural activities, you’ll strengthen your emotional resilience, deepen peer connections, and refine your narrative as a leader.
Set within a historic Tuscan villa surrounded by olive groves and rolling hills, this retreat offers a rare opportunity to recalibrate and return to your work more rooted, resourced, and inspired.
✦ Enjoy a cooking class at a historical, family-owned castle winery
✦ Tour an organic farm and taste their pecorino cheese
Highlights
✦ Savour farm to table meals prepared by a private chef
✦ Wander Pienza and Siena on guided tours
The
Experience
Day Trips
We'll visit hidden gems like a nearby Romanesque abbey, tour a prestigious Montalcino winery, and enjoy the most charming, medieval and Renaissance-era towns of Tuscany like Montepulciano, Siena and Pienza.
Private Chef
We'll have a top local chef cooking us typical, Tuscan cuisine —including beautiful breakfast spreads and delectable dinners. Local wine and spirits are included, no extra cost.
Cooking Class
We'll have a cooking class at a nearby, top-rated historical castle winery. Afterwards, we'll eat what we've made and enjoy tasting the wineries perfectly paired wines.
Italian Country Charm
Authentically Tuscan, the villa has been beautifully refurbished while still maintaining its original character. With both single and double rooms, private and shared bathrooms, the villa can sleep up to eighteen guests.
Relaxing Spaces
A converted barn is now an extra living area and yoga studio with a view looking out onto the countryside and Montalcino in the distance.
Glorious Grounds
The villa has a panoramic swimming pool and plenty of places to lounge and play. A converted barn is now an extra living area / yoga studio with a view.
Plush Rooms
Each of the villa's rooms is spacious and comfortable. Some boast views across the valley while others face the thick trees in the back. Wake up to chirping birds and sleep to the soothing soft sounds of crickets and frogs.
Natalie Kasiborski
PhD, LMSW, MPH
Natalie Kasiborski is a passionate advocate for women’s leadership and mental health, with deep roots in public health, social work, and community transformation. She brings more than 15 years of experience leading programs that center well-being, equity, and empowerment—especially in underserved and rural communities.
Natalie has worn many hats: professor, public health leader, therapist, and mentor. Her work has been recognized nationally—she was named one of the “40 Under 40 in Public Health” by the de Beaumont Foundation. As someone who’s walked alongside many women leaders, Natalie deeply understands the importance of making time for vision, reflection, and self-care—especially in roles where you're always giving to others. Beyond titles and accolades, Natalie is someone who knows how to hold space for growth, connection, and honest conversations. She believes deeply in the power of women coming together to support each other, to reflect, and to lead with authenticity.
What you’ll gain…
✦ A Restorative Pause – Time to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with yourself.
✦ Connection & Community – Share stories and build supportive relationships.
✦ Personal & Professional Clarity – Discover new insights for your career or personal journey.
✦ Cultural & Culinary Magic – Learn to cook in a castle, explore Tuscan towns, and taste local delights—from pecorino to Brunello.
✦ Holistic Renewal – Find balance through luxurious accommodations, serene landscapes, and thoughtful rituals.
Inclusions
Prices are per person and include:
Shared rooms starting at
£3950 per person
Arrive early, stay late.
Coming on a retreat with us and want to arrive a bit beforehand? We can help create the perfect experience to enhance your trip. Choose from one of our packages below and add your preferred experiences.
The 4* Bellissimo, Rome
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Stay in a centrally-located, 4-star boutique hotel for your chosen number of days
Breakfast each day
Vespa Tour of Rome
Airport / train station pick up (arrival only)
from £500 per night
The 4* Botticelli, Florence
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Centrally-located, 4-star boutique hotel for your chosen number of days
Breakfast each day
Guided Walking Artisan Tour of Florence
from £500 per night
The 5* Meraviglioso, Rome
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Centrally-located, 5-star boutique hotel for your chosen number of days
Breakfast each day
Guided Walking Tour
Vespa Tour of Rome
Airport / train station pick up (arrival only)
from £1000 per night
The 5* Michelangelo, Florence
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Centrally-located, 5-star boutique hotel for your chosen number of days
Breakfast each day
Guided Walking Artisan Tour of Florence
from £1000 per night
FAQs
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We recommend you fly into Florence as it's a small, easy airport to navigate and well connected to the city center. It's also where we're all going to meet in Piazza Santa Maria Novella on the first day of the retreat for private transfer to the villa. Alternatively, you can fly into Rome and take a train to Florence, about 2 hours on the faster trains.
Trainline is a good resource for schedules and tickets.
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Yes, absolutely. We offer 'bijou' small, add-on itineraries for those who'd like to spend a few days in Rome, Florence, the Amalfi Coast or Milan on either end of the trip. Just click here, choose your dates and package and voila. Sorted! Don't see what you're looking for among one of our pre-package tours? Write to us at duende@duenderetreats.comand we'll help with a bespoke itinerary suited to exactly what you're looking for.
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All are welcome! It's an itinerary that would be enjoyable for anyone who likes to eat, laugh, walk, cook, cycle, wine taste and explore. (Children not permitted.)
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Yes. When you register and pay your 30% nonrefundable deposit, you can opt into setting up a payment plan.
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Deposits are nonrefundable unless there's a waiting list and someone would like to take your spot. In the case we are able to sell your spot, you will be refunded your deposit, less £100 admin / transaction fees.
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The full itinerary will be sent to you about a month prior to departure. If you have specific questions regarding the excursions, please do reach out to us.
Our trips, tailored to you.
Any of our trips can be tailored to suit your needs. Click on the button below and fill out our simple easy form and we’ll send you a quote.
