Last week I attended a retreat for women business leaders. I cannot tell you how hesitant I was to be a participant, because I had a little bit of impostor syndrome going on. As a solopreneur, I wasn’t sure I would be able to relate to the women with whom I would spend three days sharing my goals, ambitions, and career path. Luckily, I found that my self-doubt was unfounded, and I learned so much while also giving a lot.
The retreat was called the Level Up EmpowerHer Retreat, hosted by Human Power Solutions. It was a think tank for peers to dive into their business strategies with fellow women and develop a strategic plan for growth. I can honestly say that what I thought I would get out of this experience and what I actually gained were two completely different things. I walked away with insight into my strengths, as well as my fears, and a deeper understanding of my need to connect with other women.
Resilience: There is something to be said about this powerful word resilience, because it does not just refer to emotional strength. It encompasses the drive found deep inside of us to follow our passions and dreams despite obstacles, both big and small, personal and professional. Listening to others’ stories of how resilience drives them each day was an incredibly humbling experience for me and a reminder that each of us has our own struggles. Sometimes it is in those darker moments that we are challenged to stop, assess, and reevaluate how we will take steps forward. Other times, it is the sheer determination to fight our way back and find a path toward our goals. Most of the time, those two things exist together.
Accountability: There is self-accountability and there is shared accountability. In both cases, the end result is clarity around what you will do, and then actually doing it. When we say out loud that we are going to do something and then follow through, that builds confidence. But when we say we will do something and then find a million excuses not to, the opposite happens. Excuses and lack of completion quietly erode confidence. Without accountability, the ground begins to crumble beneath our feet. Not only do we lose our own footing, but those around us- employees, colleagues, and friends can feel that instability as well. To achieve our goals, we need support, compassion, and sometimes a little tough love to stay on track. In this retreat, I was reminded how important it is to ask for help and to lift one another up through shared accountability. No one can, or should, try to achieve something meaningful alone.
Compassion: This one can be a real tear-jerker. When we are willing to share our vulnerabilities, experiences, and day-to-day struggles, we invite others to see what’s behind the “all business” facade, and that is a scary thing to do. But in a trusting and safe environment, it can also be incredibly cathartic. It reminds us that we are not alone and that we have more in common than we often realize. Women are strong, sometimes to a fault, because we expect so much from ourselves without always acknowledging what we carry and overcome every day. There are always going to be critics, but their voices lose power when we surround ourselves with people who lead with compassion and kindness.
Upon reflection, I am profoundly grateful for the women who joined me on this journey and those who led the retreat. I was surrounded by role models, mentors, sisters, and mothers, and I left with an actual plan of action. I know what I need to do to get back on track with my writing, and I know who I will call to help keep me focused on my goals. My short- and long-term goals are clearer, and I am ready to stand tall and take control of my next steps. I can’t say I would have signed up for this without a push, but I am so glad I did.
As it turns out, I didn’t need anyone to solve my problems. I just needed the space to say them out loud and figure them out.
Last modified: May 5, 2026
