Let’s Go Upstate: A Retreat Designed for Senior Higher Ed Leaders
Most senior leaders I know don’t struggle with ideas. They struggle with space.
Space to step out of reaction mode. Space to pressure-test thinking with people who understand the trade-offs. Space to talk honestly about what’s working, what’s stuck, and what they’re carrying back into their institutions every day.
That gap is why Let’s Go Upstate exists.
Hosted by Ashley Budd and me, Let’s Go Upstate is a small, invitation-based retreat for senior higher ed leaders who want time to think, talk, and build alongside peers who understand the pressure of the role.
This has been in the works for a long time. It grew out of years of conversations with leaders across higher education who kept telling us the same thing: conferences are full of ideas, but short on space to actually work through them.
This Retreat Is Not About Being Taught
Let’s be clear about who this is for.
If you’re looking for a keynote-heavy agenda or someone to explain the basics, this isn’t it. This retreat is designed for leaders who already know the playbooks. You’re not coming to be taught at. You’re coming to slow down, compare notes, and do real work with people carrying similar responsibilities.
Attendance is capped at 30 for a reason. Every participant contributes. The program blends facilitated conversations, small-group work, and dedicated time to capture thinking while ideas are still sharp.
That might mean recording a podcast. Capturing short-form video. Or shaping language you can actually take back to your team, your board, or your clients and use.
The Setting Is Part of the Work
We’re gathering in Saratoga Springs and anchoring the retreat at Saratoga Arms. The venue isn’t an afterthought, it sets the tone.
No racing between sessions. No cavernous ballrooms. No background noise competing for your attention. This is a grounded, human environment designed to support real conversation and sustained focus.
The experience starts the moment you arrive, with space to transition out of work mode and into something more reflective. From sound baths to cycling class, from shared meals to unstructured time, the program is intentionally designed to create conditions for trust and candor.
A Program Designed for Depth, Not Density
Across four days, the flow balances conversation, reflection, and creation.
You’ll move through facilitated small-group discussions that prioritize peer learning over presentation. Afternoons are curated, not crammed, with moments that deepen connection without over-programming the day. Evenings extend the conversation through small hosted dinners across Saratoga.
Later in the retreat, the focus shifts to content creation and attendee-led learning. You’ll have structured opportunities to articulate your point of view, test ideas out loud, and even teach something you know well. The goal is to leave with tangible assets, not just notes.
Partners Who Understand the Stakes
This retreat is supported by partners who understand the realities senior leaders operate within.
Thank you to Snap Inc., our presenting partner, for investing in thoughtful, forward-looking conversations. Snap works with complex organizations balancing scale, speed, and responsibility, and their support helps create the space for this work to happen well.
We’ll bake and break bread together thanks to Squiz, our experience partner, who understands that some of the most valuable conversations don’t happen in sessions. And thank you to Kanahoma, our wellness partner, for designing moments of reset that support both body and brain.
Apply by February 10
We’ve invited an initial group from our personal networks and opened applications for remaining spots. If you’re a senior higher ed leader looking for a few days designed for deeper conversation, collaboration, and real work, we’d love for you to apply.
Applications close February 10.
Full details are available at letsgoupstate.com.
The real question is simple: where would your thinking shift if you finally gave it the space it deserves?