20–26 September 2027 · Château de Vezins, Loire Valley, France
Speak to LEAD
Retreat au Château
A seven-day retreat for leaders and professionals ready to step into their power, communicate with clarity and impact — and deliver their signature talk on a real stage.
Only 10 places · Once a year · By application
An invitation
A personal welcome from Elena & Gaëlle
Is this for you?
Do you want to…
- Surround yourself with an elite group of inspiring, ambitious visionaries?
- Supercharge your leadership?
- Communicate your personal brand with clarity and impact?
- Craft — and deliver — your signature talk?
If you answered yes, this week was designed for you.
What you’ll walk away with
Three things you take home — plus a circle of ambitious peers from around the world.
01
Your signature talk, delivered live
Craft your idea with a proven method, then present it at The Salon au Château — professionally recorded and ready to share.
02
A professional photoshoot
Hair, make-up and portraits in the château’s salons — images that elevate your personal brand.
03
Confidence, clarity and a plan
A personal brand communication strategy, a toolkit to overcome disempowering habits, and an actionable plan for your goals.
Your coaches
Communication & public speaking coach
Dr Elena Paweta
An executive communication consultant, speaker and lecturer at SGH Warsaw School of Economics, with 20 years of business experience. For over a decade she has coached TEDx and TEDxWomen speakers, and she hosts the IDEAS+LEADERS podcast on communication and leadership. At the retreat she shares her method to write and present your talk with impact.
Host, leadership & confidence coach, yoga instructor
Gaëlle Deschamps
After 23 years in senior roles at SABMiller and The Coca-Cola Company — including Global Faculty at Coca-Cola University — Gaëlle has coached 300+ executives and led over 30 retreats through G Force. She and her husband own and restored the Château de Vezins, where she hosts you, leads the leadership and confidence sessions, and guides morning yoga.
Your journey
Three stages, designed so the transformation lasts.
Before · September 2027
Laying the foundations
A one-hour group call to meet your cohort and prepare for the week ahead.
The retreat · 20–26 September
Seven days at the château
- 15 hours of Speak to LEAD coaching with Elena
- 10 hours of leadership & confidence coaching with Gaëlle
- Five mornings of breathwork, meditation and yoga
- Themed dinners and a gala evening
- Your talk at The Salon, recorded on stage
After · October 2027
Creating what’s next
A one-hour accountability and amplification call, plus your 100-page Speak to LEAD workbook.
Saturday 25 September 2027
The Salon au Château
An intimate circle. A global stage.
The week builds to this moment. Rooted in the tradition of Enlightenment-era salons, The Salon brings together a carefully selected audience for an evening of defining ideas — where you deliver your signature talk, professionally filmed and photographed, ready to share with the world.
Your home for the week
A privately owned château, lovingly restored over 17 years. Four hectares of French gardens, antique-filled salons, a pool, jacuzzi and sauna — exclusively yours for seven days.
In their words
Eleanor (Chief Strategy Officer, Founder), Maria (University Professor) and Scarlett (Research Analyst) share their experience of the 2026 retreat.
Eleanor
Chief Strategy Officer, Founder · 2026 participant
Maria
University Professor · 2026 participant
Scarlett
Research Analyst · 2026 participant
“Everything was a highlight… I loved the perfect balance of work and own time as well as glitz and glamour. For an introvert with a voice that has long been suppressed, with a story and idea to share with the world, the retreat was my pivotal point.”
Rachna
Eye Surgeon · 2024 participant
“This week has been one of the best weeks in my life. I can’t recognise myself. This programme is utterly transformational and a lot of fun!”
Jason
Founder & CEO · 2025 participant
“I would recommend this training for anyone, even if you’ve already done public speaking. I felt I was fairly experienced, but I’ve learned so much this week in terms of levelling that up. My main takeaway is that confidence is relative: it’s very empowering to be around people who are extremely confident and experienced, because you can learn a lot from them.”
Eleanor
Chief Strategy Officer, Founder · 2026 participant
Questions
Who is this retreat for?
Leaders, founders, executives and professionals who want to communicate with more clarity and impact, elevate their personal brand and share their ideas from a stage — whether you are new to public speaking or already experienced.
How do I apply?
Click “Apply for your place” to book a short application call with Elena. The group is limited to 10 participants, so we want to make sure the retreat is the right fit for you.
What does it cost, and what is included?
The retreat includes all coaching sessions, accommodation in the château, meals, yoga, the photoshoot and the professional recording of your talk. The price depends on your choice of room — we share full details during your application call.
Where is it, and how do I get there?
Château de Vezins, 2 rue Nationale, 49340 Vezins, in France’s Loire Valley. Nantes airport is about 50 minutes away by car; Cholet and Chemillé train stations are about 15 minutes away, and we can help organise transfers. Flights and transfers are not included.
When should I arrive and leave?
Arrival is between 12:00 and 13:30 on Monday 20 September 2027. Departure is any time after 12:30 on Sunday 26 September.
How many places are there?
Only 10. The programme runs once a year, and places are offered in order of application. If this cohort is full, we will add you to the waiting list for the next retreat.
Ten places. Once a year.
Step into your power, find your voice and share your ideas with the world — at Château de Vezins, 20–26 September 2027.
