Building BONDE // Path to Retreats
Lessons in building something from scratch, one intentional step at a time.
If you’ve ever tried to build something from scratch, you know the tension: excitement, doubt, and a little bit of panic.
That’s exactly what planning BONDE’s first retreat felt like.
There’s something surreal about milestone moments as a founder. You’re so heads-down in the work that sometimes it’s hard to stop and appreciate all the steps it took to get here.
But as we prepare for our next retreat, I keep reflecting on how far we’ve come.
Let’s go back to 2024:
When we first dreamed up BONDE, retreats weren’t on the roadmap. Community, connection, access, authenticity… all words that described the vision. Helping women navigate the middle of their careers, the second and third chapters of life, and those intentionally opting into their next move. But how we would cultivate that? That part wasn’t clear yet.
It took a year for the idea for retreats to surface. I had just taken my second maternity leave. And actually took it. During that time, I kept thinking: it would be so nice to have a moment just for myself. To unplug from responsibilities and plug into my own thoughts. To simply be. To SLEEP.
When I resurfaced from mat leave, my cofounder, Parnian, had been reflecting too. She had a single, clear conclusion: we needed to offer retreats. A space where our busy, multi-tasking members could unplug from the world and reconnect with themselves. Music to my ears. I agreed instantly, knowing firsthand how necessary it was. And just like that, the next steps began.
We knew this wasn’t an inside job. This wasn’t something we wanted to test or learn from scratch through trial and error. We wanted it shaped with the same TLC we give our programming, our tech, and our branding.
So we reached out to our network and got introduced to Anna: head of retreats at an existing membership community.
I flew to NYC to meet her. Whoever we brought on had to align with our vision, overall style, and our intentionality. We met for lunch in Brooklyn, and we were immediately impressed. She didn’t pitch or lecture. She just asked questions. Really thoughtful, intelligent, curious ones. She leaned into our vision rather than inserting her own opinions from the jump. The exact energy you want from a potential advisor when you first meet them.
We connected personally, too. Sharing the unseen but important pieces of our lives. That bond and depth of connection is in BONDE’s DNA. It’s how we cultivate relationships that feel immediate and personal.
Once we aligned with Anna, it was game on. Over the next 90 days, we went all in.
We secured a full buyout of a Catskills retreat venue before we even had a single RSVP. No attendees identified, just a gut feeling that we’ll make it happen and a date to work backwards from.
Deadline anxiety was high but it was also what drove us. We focused on the most important next step to tackle, and little by little, things started to come to life.
We set the theme. Identified our facilitator. Hired a wellness instructor. Found a florist. Convinced in a DJ. Created the design assets. And most importantly, carefully selected the guest list. One by one, all 30 attendees coming 17 different states.
Each of them highly accomplished in their industries. And all looking for the same thing: a “me moment” alongside other successful women in community.
Everything fell into place. It felt almost too easy. But looking back, it wasn’t.
There were lessons in every step:
1. Book it & find a way. Sometimes the pressure of a deadline is the only thing that forces clarity.
2. Seek guidance from people with lived experience. Advice is only as good as the thoughtfulness behind it. Anna’s insight elevated every decision.
3. Pause & reflect. Taking time to step back (even during maternity leave) allowed the idea to form organically and intentionally for us.
4. Relationships are more important than transactions. The personal connection with Anna was as crucial as her expertise. Chemistry and shared values matter.
5. Iterate quickly but intentionally. From venue to guest list, we moved fast. But every move was deliberate and aligned with our overall vision.
What keeps coming back to me is this: building BONDE has never been about launching a product or checking a box. It’s been about creating a space where women can show up fully, gain access to resource they wouldn’t have otherwise had, and plug into themselves… and into each other.
The retreats are one way that intention comes to life.
Looking ahead to Palm Springs next week, I feel proud of what we’ve built and how we’ve built it. Thoughtfully… collaboratively. BONDE isn’t just a concept anymore. It’s here. A living, breathing community. And every retreat, every conversation, every little moment is a reminder that it’s meant to exist.
Cheers!
Meg