The Altitude Summit
Resilience Starts at Altitude
Sun Valley, ID
February 23-26, 2026
“[The Altitude Summit] gave me the confidence to be more creative in my approach to a rapidly changing and dynamic environment.”
- Shawn S, Managing Director, Deloitte
Resilience, Endurance & Optimism
Feb 23-26, 2026
Part retreat, part leadership lab, this is a chance to step out of the noise, think at altitude, and design what’s next.
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The Altitude Summit is a 2.5-day, invite-only senior women’s retreat in Sun Valley. It blends fireside conversations, intimate peer circles, keynotes, and practical skill labs designed for women leading at altitude, with high expectations and limited margin.
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✔ Step out of firefighting into clear, strategic reflection.
✔ Strengthen core Ascent Skills: high-trust communication, decision-making in uncertainty, psychological immunity to change, and AI literacy.
✔ Learn with true peers in candid, off-the-record conversations.
✔ Leave with a concrete 90-day roadmap for resilience and endurance.
✔ Refuel in the mountains so you return as a steadier, clearer, more optimistic force inside your organization.
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People leaders are navigating nonstop restructures, AI disruption, talent anxiety, and culture fatigue.
Resilience helps you absorb shock without burning people out.
Endurance keeps you leading with steadiness, not heroics.
Optimism, grounded and credible, keeps your organization believing in a future worth striving for.
These are no longer nice-to-haves; they’re core muscles for anyone stewarding culture and talent.
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This retreat is curated for senior women leaders at the SVP, Managing Director, and late-stage VP level who are carrying real scope and influence, and want space to reset, sharpen, and reconnect with peers.
Ideal participants include senior women who lead or shape:
People strategy and talent decisions
Culture, engagement, and leadership capability
Org effectiveness, transformation, and change
Enterprise programs across L&D, Inclusion, and leadership development
High-stakes teams in complex, matrixed environments
The Impact is Real...
“How do you distill the transformation that happens after 2.25 days refining your leadership approach at Altitude?
You start by remembering why you went.
I went to the Altitude Summit looking for connection and perspective. I was surrounded by leaders who care deeply about both purpose and performance, and reminded that resilience is not something you build alone.
I came home lighter, sharper, and more grounded in how I want to lead next.”
- Mareshia, People & Culture at Biogen
“I had the privilege of attending an intimate, invitation-only gathering of HR leaders hosted by Kahilla last week, focused on the theme of resilience.
The experience was rich with insight and connection.
We learned about the power of micro habits, the importance of adaptability, and the idea that optimism is a choice. One of the standout moments was rising early to climb a mountain as a group to enjoy the sunrise. The experience was a true testament to resilience, and Noa Ries has redefined my expectations for what a conference can be.”
- Diane, Head of Leadership Development at Fidelity
AGENDA
AGENDA
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Optional Morning: light personal movement on your own (ski, snowshoe, walk)
9:00am | Morning Reflections
Arrive. Name the load. Set one intention and one boundary for the retreat.
Session 1 | Opening Circle: Why Resilience Now?
Faculty: Joanne HeymanWhat’s different at altitude for senior women leaders.
Stabilize the nervous system, then stabilize the leadership system.
Session 2 | Keynote Lab: Resilience as Agency
Faculty: Raphael SaulMove from pressure to power.
Choose your stance, your narrative, your next right decision.
Session 3 | Rapid Ascent Lab: Mapping Your Real-Time Resilience Challenges
Faculty: Dr. DeYonne ParkerDiagnose your current terrain: decisions, stakeholders, constraints.
Identify your two highest-leverage moves.
Session 4 | Workshop: Personal Resilience Foundations
Faculty: Joanne HeymanBuild your immunity to change: recovery, mindset, energy.
Replace coping with capacity.
Dinner | Welcome Dinner: Connection and Candor
High-trust table conversations, no performance required.
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Optional Sunrise | Moving Meditation: Resilience in Motion
Guided movement, breath, and pacing.
9:00am | Morning Reflections
What drains you? What restores you? What must change in how you’re leading?
Session 1 | Workshop: High-Trust Communication in Fear-Based Environments
Faculty: StaceyClarity without harshness. Honesty without anxiety.
Communication that stabilizes teams during change.
Session 2 | Workshop: AI Literacy and Adoption for Senior Leaders
Faculty: Devrin Carlson SmithThe practical fluency you need now.
Lead adoption without hype, manage fear, build responsible momentum.
Session 3 | Fireside Skill Lab: Building Followership for Resilient Leadership
Faculty: Paul Francisco, Raphael SaulInfluence without over-functioning.
Build belief, alignment, and movement across a system.
Session 4 | Closing Lab: Building Organizational Immunity to Change
Faculty: Dr. DeYonne Parker, Paul Francisco, Dr. Sasha HeinzWhat to reinforce, remove, and model to sustain people through volatility.
Endurance at the org level, not just personal grit.
Dinner | Private Chef Dinner + Fireside
Deep integration conversation, peer commitments.
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9:00am | Moving Meditation
What you’re choosing next, and what you’re no longer available for.
Session 1 | Panel: Resilience, Endurance, Optimism as Executive Practice
Faculty: Paul Francisco, Dr. DeYonne Parker, Stacey Zolt HaraLeading with realism and hope.
Optimism as strategy, not personality.
Session 2 | Workshop: Communicating Calm Through a Crisis
Faculty: Jaci AndersonBe the thermostat. Protect credibility and trust.
What to say, when to say it, and how to prevent unforced errors.
Session 3 | Outdoor Adventure Afternoon: Endurance in Practice
Guided choice: ski, snowshoe, or mountain walkshop
Facilitated by: Joanne HeymanIntegration through movement. Perspective. Peer bonding.
Translate insight into one brave conversation and one clear decision.
4 | Capstone: Your 90-Day Resilience, Endurance, Optimism Plan
Faculty: Joanne Heyman3 leadership moves: 1 communication upgrade, 1 recovery practice, 1 stakeholder reset.
Accountability structure so optimism becomes action.
Dinner | Closing Dinner: Optimism in Action
Final commitments, relationships, next-step pathways.
Summit Faculty
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Paul Francisco
SVP, Chief Diversity Officer at State Street
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Raphael Saul
International Motivational Speaker, Business Consultant, Attorney, Entrepreneur
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Joanne Heyman
Integrative Coach, Strategic Advisor, Lecturer & Facilitator
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Stacey Zolt Hara
Head of Workplace & Purpose, Burson Communications & Corporate Reputation Specialist, Ex Visa, United Airlines
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Devrin Carlson Smith
AI Expert, Founder of Extraordinary AI, Formerly Microsoft, Droga5, Publicis, Omnicom
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Dr. Sasha Heinz, Ph.D.
Developmental Psychologist & Mindset Coach, Expert in Positive Psychology
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Dr. DeYonne Parker, Ph.D
Director, Global Leadership Development, Salesforce, Ex Coca-Cola Company
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Jaci Anderson
Director of Issues & Reputation at Starbucks, Former Amazon Corp Comms
About Kahilla
Your Trail Guide for The Altitude Series
“I'm still swelling with gratitude from the summit last week. It was truly one of the best "conferences" I've attended...We all felt so connected after such a short time together. The evening with the private dinner and "real" fireside chat was a testament to [the power of] connections and community.”
At Kahilla, we define resilience as the core muscle of modern leadership. It steadies executives in complexity, sharpens clarity, and unlocks lasting performance, preparing leaders to guide organizations through disruption.
We create transformation through immersive summits, peer coaching, and practical frameworks that move seamlessly from the mountain to the enterprise, designing every experience to translate into real-world impact.
We partner with senior executives and ambitious teams at inflection points —the critical stretch where clarity, community, and resilience matter most—to help them rise higher.
How would you describe your overall experience at The Altitude Summit?
“Amazing! Great location to really take space and reflect with other growth-minded leaders.”
“Inspiring, idea-generating, and a regrounding and re-purposing of who I am and who I want to grow into.”
“Enriching, Engaging, and Enchanting.”
“It was a beautiful time to step away from my daily demands and refresh and reimagine how I lead.”
The Kahilla Difference
We’re trusted by: Fidelity • State Street • Deloitte • Google • American Tower • IBM
And we deliver measurable outcomes:
96% grow strategic networks
85% navigate complexity more effectively
84% feel ready for next-level impact
74% are more likely to stay
62% step into greater responsibility
Key Takeaways
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Simple, repeatable practices to protect your energy and mindset.
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Say the hard things clearly, steadily, and credibly.
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Inspire trust and alignment when conditions are uncertain.
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Use AI to enhance, not replace, human judgment and connection.
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Design a 90-day plan to absorb disruption without burnout.
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Learn through movement, reflection, and time on the mountain.
What's one insight or commitment you're taking back to your team or organization?
“Sharing the wonderful networking opportunities and the value this summit could deliver to other leaders in my organization.”
“There is problem-solving power in me & in this community.”
Investment & Cohort
All-inclusive $4,750 per leader (excluding flights) for a 4-night, 3 full-day senior women’s retreat in Sun Valley.
Capped at 40 SVPs, Managing Directors, and late-stage VPs. Includes up to 20 annual Kahilla licenses per leader so you can cascade the learning with your team throughout the year.
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Single-occupancy room at a premium property, with all meals from arrival dinner to departure breakfast, including two elevated evening experiences.
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Daily movement and walkshop-style sessions plus one signature outdoor experience.
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Round-trip airport transfers from Hailey, a curated welcome kit (journal, performance layer, local gifts), and professional photography with a shared gallery.
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Two immersive days on resilience, endurance, visibility, and leading through change, anchored by curated “trail circle” peer groups.
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Guided working time to create a 90-day personal Endurance Plan and org-level Resilience Brief, followed by one virtual integration session and a digital toolkit to use back in their organizations.
How has this experience reshaped how you approach resilience or leadership?
“Gives me the confidence to be more creative in my approach to a rapidly changing and dynamic environment.”
“It has helped me acknowledge the fear I feel in terms of taking the next step - and remind me to connect with others and have honest and open feedback.”
“This has given me tools to identify and grow in areas I had not previously given thought to.”
