P4L welcomes senior leaders to Windsor Great Park retreat

Telos Partners' Adam Campbell, Jeremy Gadd and Corrine Thomas at P4L's February retreat

‘Reflective’, ‘courageous’ and ‘grounding’ – that’s how our Project Manager Emma Jordan describes Partners for Leadership’s latest leadership retreat.

Held over 24 hours, our February retreat brought together a fresh cohort of leaders from a mix of sectors at a secluded venue in Windsor Great Park.

P4L is delivered in association with Telos Partners and Emma – who, as Project Manager, supports both our teams – says: ‘Our February cohort really embraced the chance to pause and reflect, with one regular participant describing it as a ‘breath of fresh air’.

‘The conversations were thoughtful, honest and purposeful – with the informal exchanges over dinner just as rich as the facilitated sessions we held. We were also lucky with the weather, which made the venue – Cumberland Lodge – even more beautiful.’

Exploring key leadership themes

P4L’s overnight leadership retreats are a key part of the senior leadership development support we provide for each cohort over a period of two years.

Each retreat reflects our belief that effective strategic leadership begins with self-awareness and is sustained through meaningful connection with others.

This is why, three times each year – in February, June and September – P4L participants gather in-person at Cumberland Lodge.

Here, they benefit from a programme of off-the-record talks by expert contributors and thought leaders, interaction with fellow participants and an in-depth practical workshop around one or more key leadership themes.

Challenging long-held beliefs

'February's retreat provided a chance for participants to examine assumptions, reset perspective and reconnect with what it truly means to lead with intention [in a volatile world]'

As always, our latest leadership retreat enabled each participant to step back from the unrelenting pace of their daily roles to engage in something Emma describes as ‘both rare and essential’: thoughtful, honest reflection.

‘‘The environment encouraged depth over speed and curiosity over certainty,’ she says.

‘It provided a deliberate pause – a chance to examine assumptions, reset perspective and reconnect with what it truly means to lead with intention in a world characterised by volatility and rapid change.’

Emma adds that she was ‘pleasantly surprised’ by how quickly participants were willing to challenge long‑held habits, explore tensions in their leadership practice and show real vulnerability through some lively debates.

She identifies ‘the depth of reflection, the openness of the discussions and the clarity that emerged around the importance of purpose‑led, long‑term leadership’ as highlights.

‘There was a strong shared recognition of the need to protect purpose in a volatile environment,’ she explains.

P4L Project Manager Emma Jordan

What February's P4L participants said

'I take a lot of value from hearing from other leaders... [At P4L] the discussions are always illuminating and I especially enjoy the walking and talking'

So what did February's participants think?

'[The retreat] helped me get some headspace to think more clearly,' said one. 'I take a lot of value from hearing from other leaders and seeing that we're all experiencing the same issues and challenges. The discussions are always illuminating and I especially enjoy the walking and talking.'

'The walk is a brilliant element where you can explore and challenge each other one-to-one,' another agrees.

A third participant was particularly impressed by the guest speakers.

'They were amazing,' they said. 'One was very candid with his personal journey and inspired me to think in a different way... The other was very inspiring, especially his experience of putting his values and authenticity above all else, and recognising his personal limitations and having a team that complements these limitations.

The participant also described the presentation on 'Leading through Disruption' delivered by P4L and Telos Partners' Peter Ward as 'an eye-opener'.

Next steps for senior leaders on the path to the top

P4L's peer-led strategic leadership experience supports senior leaders to develop the strategic confidence, judgement and presence they need to step up and succeed.

It is for you if you are:

·       A senior leader preparing for (or recently appointed to) a strategic role

·       A high-potential individual identified in succession plans

·       An executive seeking a reflective space to recalibrate your leadership approach

Find out why by exploring our ‘Programme experience' page and book a call here to explore joining our next leadership retreats at Cumberland Lodge on 9-10 June and/or 22-23 September 2026.