2027

Executive Champions Workshop 

 

 

Reconnecting to Place and Re-shaping our Future

August 24 – 27, 2027

A Retreat for Leaders Shaping Change
In Vermont’s Green Mountains, ECW brings together senior leaders from business, nonprofits, education, and government, alongside community leaders working on change from the ground up. Through dialogue, reflection, embodied practice, and connection with the land, participants bring real challenges from their work and explore new possibilities with peers across sectors.


Guided by Peter Senge, Otto Scharmer, Arawana Hayashi, and Melanie Goodchild the experience integrates advanced systems thinking and the transformative art of Social Presencing Theater to open new pathways for awareness, creativity, and collaboration. Participants leave with fresh insights, renewed purpose, and an expanded sense of community. If you seek to lead with authenticity and innovate beyond traditional boundaries, ECW is your gateway to a pivotal journey.

Join us on
August 24 – 27, 2027


Location: 
Trapp Family Lodge
Stowe, Vermont, USA
Find location on Google Maps

In-Person
In Nature
With Otto Scharmer
With Arawana Hayashi
With Peter Senge
With Melanie Goodchild
Application Required

Application Process


Participation: 

ECW embraces a community-oriented application process. We invite you to share your journey and aspirations in your application, helping us foster a diverse and dynamic group of visionary change-makers. This approach ensures a profound and enriching experience for all attendees, aligning leaders from various sectors who are deeply committed to impactful change. For more details on the application process, including tuition rates, accommodations, and cancellation policies, please refer to the sections below and the FAQs. 


Begin Your Application: 

Access the application form here. We look forward to learning about your vision and potential contributions to ECW.

Feel free to reach out with any questions: Patricia Bohl ecw@presencing.org.

Some Testimonials

Artemis Evangelidi, Aipeia Consulting, Australia, ECW 2026 Everything was exceptional. Every teacher moved me deeply and I resonated so much with what was shared. I gained a lot of clarity on a project that I have been working on, and I now know my next steps. Peter's question: What does it mean to be a human being, has sat with me since the retreat. Melanie's stories and wisdom sharing have opened up a sense of belonging within me. And Otto's work still sits in my heart and soul as the deep work that I am here to assist with. The social presencing theatre work with Arawana was very powerful.

Some Testimonials

Kirk Hinkleman, Life Works, Aloka Foundation, USA, ECW 2026 A shift from visionary leader, to visionary organization. Wisdom from the collective. Systems Change from the inside-out, one human at a time. I start with myself, tend to the inner soil of my heart and embody the change I seek in life; Leading with wisdom from the heart. Showing up for myself and others as an act of compassion.

Some Testimonials

Amy Magnus, USA, ECW2024 Gathering in the beautiful hills of Vermont with folks from all over the world and led by an amazing group of facilitators was transformative. I want to continue the feeling I had at the meetings and will attempt to participate in more offerings if I am able. When I left, I felt renewed, re-energized. Because every part of the program was meaningful to me, I can't parse out one activity that stood out as the most transformative. If anything, it was the way it all fit together that lifted me and helped me see myself in a gentle light. It will help me go forward, and help me be gentler with others.

Some Testimonials

Hajar Anvar, University of Vermont Health (USA), ECW2025 Being humble about being part of a larger cosmos that is in motion and being responsible for what is waiting for me to happen. The diversity of teaching media, the pace of the day, good coordination between instructors, intentionality behind everything, modeling what is taught, integrated human/nature/content model. The humility and approachability of instructors who were genuinely present was a true gift—especially in these polarized times.

Some Testimonials

Flor Ramirez Mejia FHI 360, Mexico, ECW2024 The workshop was a gift for me to visualize my own leadership journey in a trusting environment and surrounded by people with great power to transform the small and large ecosystems in which they operate. I personally enjoy the moments of silence and reflection. This gift was unique, it was a necessary stop on the fast and noisy train of daily routine. Thanks for this opportunity.

Some Testimonials

Ami Henson, COO, Mind and Life Institute (USA), ECW2025 Some personal breakthroughs from stuckness and beautiful tools for the collective. The program offered insightful content and concrete systems-change tools, all held in a format that blended connection and the restorative power of being outdoors.

Some Testimonials

Kohei Noda, Associate Professor, GLOBIS University (Japan), ECW2025 I had multi-layered insights from the workshop. My mindset shifted from ego-centric to eco-centric—to impact and introduce 4.0 ways and methods to enable a 4.0 world. I could deeply feel the somatic and embodied side of the experience this time.

Some Testimonials

Roberto Iñiguez-Flores, Associate Provost, Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico), ECW2025 There is a comprehensive theory that connects many of the most transformative and powerful knowledge we have as humans—Theory U. What you are doing is profoundly transformative. Keep on doing it—and please help us on ways to spread the word.

Some Testimonials

Kennan Salinero, ReImagine Science (USA), ECW2025 The ambiance and ease of the convening—it was a stellar experience. Most surprising was getting to know a very different Peter than I had known from previous crossed paths. The gentle, jolly Buddha Peter is a blessing I had not expected!

Some Testimonials

Stan Cross, CEO of Synergistic Intelligence, USA, ECW2024 My dialogues with the other participants especially in the world cafe, in our walks, in case studies, and at meals were amazing. On the first day the workshop talks by Peter and Otto were foundational and established a spirit of togetherness in the mission of bringing crucial change into the world. This theme was reinforced by Jorus's proclamation "we are the program"! Also the meditations led by Arawana helped establish an open silence that ended up being the birthplace for groundbreaking connections, concepts, and ideas. Deeply grateful for it all.

Overview

Many ancient and contemporary views of leadership recognize that deep connection to place is the source of vision and leadership beyond ego. The ECW offers a unique setting for leaders and changemakers to gather, connect with a powerful landscape, and engage in reflection and dialogue that matters.

Together, we explore the essential shifts required for our time:

  • Bringing mindfulness, compassion, and human development into the center of organizational life.
  • Re-orienting business, education, and governance toward balance, interconnection, and regeneration.
  • Moving from driving change to cultivating spaces that enable collaboration, shared vision, and collective intelligence.

At its core, ECW is an ongoing inquiry into how we might reconnect to place and re-shape our future—how leadership can emerge from a living relationship with the world around us. The workshop integrates systems thinking, organizational learning, Theory U, Social Presencing Theater, and place-based embodied practices to support both inner development and outer transformation. Learn more.

 

What happens at the ECW

The ECW offers a highly interactive program that builds on a variety of tools, concepts, and processes (and even a few short presentations) such as:

  • Starting off “in a good way” – intentional ways of arriving, grounding, and connecting with one another and with the social-ecological field.
  • Personal and collective contemplative practices – moments of reflection that invite stillness, sensing, and embodied awareness.
  • Social Presencing Theater – deepening our connection to the three fields in which we always operate: the individual mind-heart-body, the “social body,” and the larger “earth body.”
  • World Cafés that hold and weave small-group conversations.
  • Case clinics to cultivate collective creativity around tangible leadership challenges.
  • Conceptual sessions that explore the latest ideas of thought leadership in awareness-based systems change.

Through it all, we explore how to

  • sense and cultivate a more generative social field,
  • appreciate and practice what it means to think and act systemically, and
  • understand the deeper dynamics of social evolution unfolding all around us—and how they are shaping both the stresses and the possibilities for institutions today.

The workshop’s rhythm of contemplation, dialogue, and movement invites participants to leave not just with new insights, but with a renewed sense of belonging, purpose, and connection to a global community of peers.

 

The Facilitation Team

The ECW will be facilitated by a diverse team of four facilitators who each bring an individual perspective and experience: 

  • Arawana Hayashi, the Presencing Institute & The Art of a True Move
  • Melanie Goodchild, Anishinaabe (Ojibway), the Presencing Institute & Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig
  • Otto Scharmer, MIT Sloan School of Management & the Presencing Institute
  • Peter Senge, MIT Sloan School of Management & The Center for Systems Awareness

Who should attend this program?

ECW is for people leading change in organizations and communities. We welcome executives and senior leaders from business, nonprofits, philanthropy, education, and government, alongside grassroots leaders carrying significant work in their communities.

Participants bring different forms of experience and responsibility, but share a willingness to explore real challenges with peers. We especially welcome those working toward social and ecological well-being, whether they are reshaping institutions or leading initiatives on the ground.

ECW is a retreat and workshop shaped by everyone’s participation. Some familiarity with awareness-based systems change is helpful. If this work is new to you, you can explore our online programs before attending.

 

Explore our Programs

 

Pricing Details

Pricing includes tuition and all meals (breakfast, lunch, breaks, and formal dinner) for three days. The meal package cost of $728 is mandatory and included in the following totals:

  • Corporate/Professional – $5053 ($4325 tuition + $894 meal package)
  • Nonprofit/Academic – $4228 ($3500 tuition + $894 meal package)
  • Public Educator – $3408 ($2680 tuition + $894 meal package)

Scholarship rate: $2394 ($1500 tuition + $894 meal package)

Group Rates: Receive a 10% discount on regular tuition for groups of three or more participants. This group rate cannot be combined with early-bird pricing, and the meal package is charged at the standard rate. Each group member must complete the application form individually. To qualify for the discount, ensure you include the names of all group members in the field labeled “Please List the Names of Your Fellow Group Members Here.”

Scholarship Opportunities: We offer a limited number of scholarships at a special rate of $2394, which includes $1500 for workshop tuition and $894 for the meal package. These scholarships are designed for individuals who have a significant potential to impact their communities but require financial support to attend. If you believe you qualify, please provide a detailed explanation in your application. Our goal is to make the ECW accessible to everyone, especially those actively making a difference at the grassroots level.

Selecting Your Tier: We trust our participants to choose the pricing tier that best reflects their financial capacity and the value they place on this unique experience. By selecting honestly, you support the sustainability of ECW and ensure that diverse voices are included, particularly those from less-represented sectors who can benefit from our scholarship program.

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Schedule

The ECW is designed as a full three-day retreat. We start with registration at 3pm, followed by a first session at 4pm on August 24th and end with lunch on August 27th, 2027. 

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided for all three days, beginning with registration and a welcome coffee on Tuesday, August 24. Additionally, there is an optional box lunch scheduled from 2-3 p.m. on Friday, August 27. We kindly request that you schedule your travel arrangements to accommodate this. 

Please note that it is a requirement for participation that you commit to attending the entire workshop.

Getting There

The workshop will be held at the Trapp Family Lodge, 700 Trapp Hill Road, Stowe, VT 05672, Phone: +1-802-253-8511, e-mail: reservations@trappfamily.com. Find the location on Google Maps

Staying at the Lodge

Please make your own room reservations. If you are staying at the Trapp Family Lodge, the special room rate for the participants is $1023. This rate includes 3-nights lodging and tax. Rates are based on single or double occupancy. Additional adults are $25 per adult, per night added onto the rate. As this is the main tourist season, it is very likely that the rooms at the Lodge will sell out quickly. Please call the Trapp Family Lodge as soon as possible after you’ve been admitted to ECW at 1-800-826-7000 ext. 1 (toll free), at +1-802-253-8511, or email reservations@trappfamily.com. Be sure to reference the "Executive Champions Workshop" when making your room reservation to get the special ECW rate. The cutoff date for the room block at this special rate is July 23, 2027.

The Trapp Family Lodge's check-in time is at 4:00 p.m., and check-out time is at 11:00 a.m. If you require an earlier check-in, Trapp Family Lodge does its best to accommodate. Additionally, the concierge can hold your luggage both before check-in and after check-out if needed. If you won't be staying at the Trapp Family Lodge, kindly inform us by emailing ecw@presencing.org.

FAQs

To apply for the ECW, please complete the application form. 

We encourage potential participants to provide a thorough description of their professional background and articulate how attending the ECW will add value to their work and personal growth. The form is structured to capture essential information across several pages, allowing you to reflect on and articulate your goals and expectations from the workshop comprehensively. This holistic approach ensures that all applicants are well-informed and fully prepared for a transformative experience at the ECW.

Submitting an application does not automatically secure a place. After submitting the form, you will have the option to receive a copy of your responses by email. You will receive an email confirming that we have received your application

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Strong applications may be accepted soon after review, while some applications may remain under consideration as we shape a diverse and balanced participant group.

Scholarship decisions will be communicated around mid-April 2027.

You will be contacted by ecw@presencing.org as soon as a decision has been made. Please add this address to your contacts and check your spam or junk folder if necessary.

A limited number of scholarships are available for participants whose work has significant potential to benefit their communities and who require financial support to attend.

You can request scholarship consideration in the application form and explain how the support would enable your participation. Scholarship decisions will be communicated around mid-April 2027.

Yes. ECW is designed as a complete three-day retreat, and full participation is required.

Registration begins at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 24, followed by the first session at 4:00 pm. The workshop concludes at 2pm on Friday, August 27, 2027. Please arrange your travel so that you can participate in the entire program.

You will be asked to confirm your availability for the complete workshop in both the initial application and the participant confirmation form.

If you are accepted, you will receive an email from ecw@presencing.org containing:

  • Your acceptance notification
  • The ECW 2027 Participant Information Pack
  • A link and instructions for paying your deposit
  • Accommodation-booking information
  • The relevant payment deadlines

Your place will be held provisionally for 30 days while you arrange payment of the deposit.

A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your place. The deposit is due within 30 days of acceptance.

Once your deposit has been received, you will receive an automated receipt and an email confirming your spot from ecw@presencing.org along with the link to fill in the ECW2027 Participant Information form.

The ECW2027 Participant Information form is sent after your deposit has been received. It collects the administrative and practical information needed to prepare for your participation, including:

  • Contact information
  • Emergency-contact information
  • Confirmation of full-workshop attendance
  • Acknowledgement of the cancellation and substitution policy
  • Accommodation plans
  • Spouse or guest information and planned meal participation
  • Dietary requirements and food allergies
  • Photo permission

After submitting the Participant Details Form, you will have the option to receive a copy of your responses by email.

A 50% non-refundable deposit is due within 30 days of acceptance. Your place is confirmed once the deposit has been received.

The remaining 50% balance is due six weeks before the workshop, by July 13, 2027.

If the deposit or balance is not received by the applicable deadline, we reserve the right to release your place. If you anticipate difficulty meeting a deadline, please contact us in advance at ecw@presencing.org.

All payments and refunds are subject to the cancellation and substitution policy below.

A receipt will be sent to the email address provided when payment is completed.

Please note that the payment receipt records the transaction. After receiving your deposit, ECW will send a separate email confirming your place and providing the ECW2027 Participant Information form and next steps.

A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total participation fee is required to confirm your place.

All cancellations must be submitted in writing to ecw@presencing.org.

For cancellations received on or before July 13, 2027, the amount paid minus the non-refundable 50% deposit and a $300 processing fee will be refunded, provided that the full balance has been paid.

No refunds will be granted for cancellations received after July 13, 2027.

A substitute participant may be proposed no later than August 10, 2027. Substitutions are subject to approval, as all ECW participants must meet the program’s participation criteria.

For international credit-card payments, refunds will be issued in USD. The Presencing Institute is not responsible for losses resulting from currency fluctuations or exchange rates.

If the Presencing Institute needs to cancel the program, participants will receive a refund of the participation fees paid. The Presencing Institute cannot reimburse flights, accommodation, or other travel and program-related expenses.

The participation fee includes workshop tuition and the mandatory meal package. The meal package covers the meals and refreshments identified in the ECW program information, including breakfasts, lunches, breaks, and dinners during the workshop.

Accommodation, transportation, flights, and other personal expenses are not included.

Groups of three or more qualify for 10% off regular tuition. This group rate cannot be combined with early-bird pricing, and the meal package is charged at the standard rate. Each participant must submit an individual application and list the other group members in the designated field.

Participants are responsible for arranging and paying for their own accommodation.

A room block at the Trapp Family Lodge, where the workshop takes place, will be available at a special ECW rate.

If you are staying at the Trapp Family Lodge, the special room rate for the participants is $1023. This rate includes 3-nights lodging and tax. Rates are based on single or double occupancy. Additional adults are $25 per adult, per night added onto the rate.

As this is the main tourist season, it is very likely that the rooms at the Lodge will sell out quickly.

Please call the Trapp Family Lodge as soon as possible after you’ve been admitted to ECW at 1-800-826-7000 ext. 1 (toll free), at +1-802-253-8511, or email reservations@trappfamily.com.

Be sure to reference the "Executive Champions Workshop" when making your room reservation to get the special ECW rate.

The cutoff date for the room block at this special rate is July 23, 2027.

We recommend waiting until you have received your acceptance notification before making non-refundable travel or accommodation arrangements.

Applicants requesting a scholarship should wait until their scholarship decision has been communicated before making non-refundable bookings.

You may travel and share accommodation with a spouse, partner, or other guest. Workshop sessions are reserved for admitted ECW participants, but guests are welcome to join the group dinners.

Please indicate in the Participant Details Form whether your guest will attend any of the dinners and select the relevant evenings.

Guests may be able to join dinners if space is available and arrangements are made in advance. Guest meals are not included in the participant’s ECW fee and require separate payment.

The Participant Details Form will ask which dinners your guest would like to attend. Please do not bring an unregistered guest to an ECW meal, as the venue requires advance notice and accurate numbers.

We will collect dietary requirements and food allergies through the Participant Details Form. We strive to accommodate a range of dietary preferences to the best of our ability. Please share your requirements and highlight any allergies you might have.

We will share these requirements with the venue and confirm what can be accommodated. If you have a severe allergy or a dietary need requiring particular care, please provide complete details in the form and contact us at ecw@presencing.orgif needed.

Please note: While we aim to meet dietary needs, our venue’s kitchen is not a kosher or halal facility. We encourage participants requiring strictly kosher or halal food to consider arranging their own meals. We understand the importance of these needs and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

If your plans or any information provided in your Participant Details Form changes—including dietary requirements or allergies, accommodation plans, or spouse and guest arrangements—please email us at ecw@presencing.org as soon as possible.

Confirmed participants will receive recommended pre-reads and practical information by email.

The final agenda, location map, arrival instructions, weather and packing guidance, and other essential information will be sent approximately two to three weeks before the workshop. Participants will also be invited to join an optional WhatsApp group for reminders, participant connection, and on-site updates.

All essential information will be provided by email; joining WhatsApp is not required.

Yes. Participation in one online group onboarding call before ECW is mandatory. Two alternative dates and times will be offered to accommodate different schedules and time zones.

You will receive calendar invitations for both options, but you only need to attend one. Please accept the invitation for the session you plan to attend and decline the other.

Please contact us at ecw@presencing.org with questions about your application, payment, accommodation, dietary requirements, guest arrangements, or workshop logistics.

Important ECW communications will be sent from this address. We recommend adding it to your contacts and checking your spam or junk folder if you are expecting a message.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit: Trapp Family Lodge | https://www.trappfamily.com/

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