Nearly half of female executives are burned out – and the companies they run are paying the price.
According to McKinsey & Company 2024 report “Women at work”43% of female executives suffer from burnout, compared to 31% of their male counterparts. A Gallup study published in March 2026 found that the gender leadership gap has remained at 10 percentage points over four years, with no signs of narrowing.
The data points to a conclusion that high-achieving women are often the last to accept: The most strategic investment a founder or leader can make right now is not a new hire or a new round of funding. This is intentional time away from the business – in other words, a retreat.
Arianna Huffington, founder of the Huffington Post and CEO of Thrive globallysay it clearly in a interview with M13: “We all face this illusion that burnout is the price we pay for success.”
“After decades of working with clients, I have seen first-hand how stress, anxiety and burnout impact all aspects of health,” said Dr. Desi BartlettEdD, CPT, E-RYT, expert in women’s well-being and IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year 2025. “Taking care of yourself is not selfish, it is essential.”
I attended one of Bartlett’s retreats at a time when burnout had quietly set in. It was exactly what I needed. I came back re-centered, reinvigorated and with a renewed focus on my goals. For any businesswoman who runs on steam, this is not a good thing. It’s a must.
Not each retreat is designed with the founder or a leading leader. The following four experiments represent distinct approaches to renewal, each suited to a different type of leader.
RETREAT AGAIN: FOOD IN TUSCANY
The Encore Retreat is the exceptional experience of the year for the woman seeking total renewal – physical, mental and nutritional. Set in the Tuscan hills during peak harvest season, this immersive five-day program is designed to awaken and optimize the body, heart and mind through a blend of movement, functional nutrition, restorative practices and authentic Tuscan culture.
The retreat is co-led by Dr. Desi BartlettEdD, CPT, E-RYT — creator of Bodymind Workout®, author of Gorgeous total body and the IDEA Fitness leader of the year 2025 – and Ilanit Blumenfeld, MPH, RDN, CDNfounder of Retirement Encore and president of Nutrition IBGregistered dietitian with over 20 years of experience in functional nutrition and wellness.
What sets Encore Retreat apart is its intentional privacy. The group is deliberately small so that each participant receives individualized attention from the two co-facilitators – not a group lecture, but a personalized lesson. wellness experience adapted to the specific health of each woman and nutritional needs.
“This retreat creates a space where we can meet each woman where she is and share tools to help her optimize her health from the inside out,” Bartlett said in a statement. May 2026 announcement.
Programming includes daily Bodymind Workout® movement sessions, farm-to-table Tuscan cuisine guided by Blumenfeld’s Mediterranean diet and Blue Zones philosophy, meditation, yoga nidra, breathwork, nervous system regulation and truffle hunting.
“True wellness isn’t just about what you eat; it depends on how you live, explore and discover the world,” Blumenfeld said.
“Some places don’t just hold you back. They change you.” — Dr. Desi Bartlett
Ideal for: Women executives and entrepreneurs looking for a bonus holistic reset – bodythe mind and nutrition — in an intimate international setting. Places are extremely limited.
Dates: November 4 to 8, 2026 | Location: Lifestyle and spa retreat in FonteverdeVal d’Orcia, Tuscany, Italy | Registration: Open. Register: encoreretreat.com/tuscany-italy-retreat-2026 | Contact: Nourish@EncoreRetreat.com | (646) 326-4658
WOMEN’S POWERHOUSE EVENT
The annual Powerful Women Event draws female entrepreneurs to the JW Marriott Camelback Inn in Scottsdale for three days of conferences, brainstorming sessions and peer connection, culminating with a Sunday focused on tactical business strategy for founders, from early-stage startups to seven-figure operations.
“It will help you get out of your own way and make those big ideas a reality,” said founder Lindsey Schwartz.
Ideal for: Women seeking high-energy business programs and community in a larger-scale setting.
Dates: August 14-16, 2026 | Location: JW Marriott Camelback Inn, Scottsdale, Arizona. Tickets: powerhousewomen.co/event
LUSHI WELLNESS SOCIETY: SUNRISE RETREAT IN PUNTA DEL ESTE
THE Lushi Wellness Company retreat in Punta del Este, Uruguay offers an intimate and convenient oceanside experience in one of South America’s most beautiful coastal destinations. Cohorts are capped at 12 to 16 people, accepted on application to maintain the balance of the group. The four-night program includes two classes per day, evening workshops – breathing, sound baths and women’s circles – locally sourced Uruguayan food and real oceanside rest.
Ideal for: Women leaders looking for a boutique, application-only international experience with serious movement programming and a small group feel far from the conference circuit.
Dates: August 14-18, 2026 | Location: Punta del Este, Uruguay | Points: 12 Apply: lushi.co/pages/retreats
ENTREPRENISTA FOUNDERS’ WEEKEND — PLAN AHEAD FOR 2027
THE Entreprenista Founders Weekendhosted by the League of Entrepreneurssold out in 2026, drawing hundreds of female founders to the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, for three days of high-level business strategy, wellness and networking.
“We’ve seen partnerships formed, deals closed, and lasting friendships made all in one weekend,” Stephanie Cartin, co-founder of Entreprenista Media, said in a statement. April 2026 press release.
Ideal for: Female founders looking for a large-scale community and high-value network. Join the waitlist now for 2027 access.
Location: PGA National Resort, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida | Note: The 2026 edition is out of print. Waiting list: entreprenista.com/foundersweekend
THE RESULT
The most valuable asset of any company is the person at the top. His judgment, his vision, his ability to lead under pressure, none of that regenerates on its own. Leaders who take structured time off return with improved decision-making, greater creative ability, and stronger emotional regulation – all direct drivers of business performance.
“I’m not saying you can’t be successful if you burn out,” Huffington said. CNBC succeeds. “But you can succeed much more effectively and much more sustainably, and with much less damage to your health and your relationships.”
“Some places don’t just hold you back,” Bartlett said. “They transform you.”
