When
October 5-7, 2026
Where
Akademie Waldschlösschen, Göttingen, Germany
Who
Design & UX Leaders
Why
Professional Development & Networking
The Design Leadership Retreat is a space to step back from day-to-day work to reflect on your leadership practice, evolve your skills and gain fresh perspectives. We keep the group small and choose a calm setting to create the right environment for meaningful exchange.
You’ll return to your day-to-day work feeling energized and inspired, with new ideas, new connections, and a plan to move forward on the topics that matter most to you.
What This Retreat Is About
Our Focus Topic: Stakeholder Management and Strategic Influence
This year’s edition focuses on strengthening design’s position within your organization. How do you build stronger stakeholder relationships and align with other business functions? How do you make the value of design visible at the enterprise level? How do you gain or expand strategic influence?
We will explore practical concepts and proven approaches to help you address these questions with clarity and confidence.
Space for Real Connection
Leadership can be isolating. This retreat creates space for honest conversations with other design leaders who understand your challenges.
Through focused input sessions, facilitated discussions, participant-driven bar camp formats, and reflection exercises, we’ll work on concrete questions brought by the group. You’ll gain new perspectives in an honest and supportive setting and maybe even new connections that will last beyond the retreat.
Focus & Reset
Located in the middle of a forest, the retreat creates the distance needed to step out of daily operations and think with clarity.
Workshops and learning sessions are balanced with shared meals, walks in nature, informal conversations, and an evening visit to the nearby university town Göttingen. This friendly and calm atmosphere is allowing you to recharge and return with renewed direction.
Images: Unsplash, Laura Holder Wurzinger Photography
Our Location
Image: Waldschlösschen Akademie by James Steakley, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
This year’s retreat takes place at Akademie Waldschlösschen located in the middle of a nature reserve. The listed main building is over 100 years old and once was an exclusive Spa Hotel. It is now the heart of a small convention center. The venue’s unique architecture and remote setting offer plenty of space for collaboration and exchange. The buildings are surrounded by gardens that can also be used. The Waldschlösschen’s restaurant is offering a healthy and creative kitchen including vegetarian and vegan options.
Waldschlösschen Akademie is renown as an LGBTQ-friendly venue, whose values are rooted in the belief that all humans are equal and should have influence and creative power, regardless of their lifestyles or sexualities. We need our participants to respect these values in order to protect this safe space for everyone at the venue.
Getting There
By Train: The closest train station is Göttingen. From there you can take a direct bus to our location.
By Car: Waldschlösschen Akademie is close to the A7 and A38 highway.
By Plane: Göttingen is approximately 2,5 hours by train from Frankfurt Airport.
Retreat Team
This retreat is organized and led by design experts Katharina Koberdamm and Sascha Mahlke. Katharina developed the Design Leadership Framework and works as a design consultant and coach. Sascha brings over 15 years of experience in leading and managing design teams.
Katharina Koberdamm is an independent lecturer, consultant, and coach specializing in Design Leadership and Experience Design. She has developed Design Leadership Framework. Katharina guides design leaders in embracing their leadership role, becoming more strategic, and positioning design as a key driver of business success.
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She helps organizations build high-performing design teams and optimize the processes and structures that drive design excellence.
The Design Leadership Framework she developed is used worldwide and has received widespread recognition in the community, including features in the renowned design magazine PAGE.
With over 15 years of experience in digital design, Katharina started her career as a Senior Interaction Designer at design consultancies USEEDS°and EDA.C. Later, she worked independent in various strategic and leadership roles, including UX Lead, CX Lead, Project Manager, and Product Owner. Katharina is a regular guest lecturer at ECAL Lausanne and has been teaching at Macromedia University, UE Berlin and HTW Berlin. LinkedIn-Profile
Sascha Mahlke is a PhD expert in customer-centered development of digital products. He currently is Head of Digital Services Rehabilitation at Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund, where he is responsible for advancing digital offerings and processes. Prior to this, Sascha co-founded and managed the experience design consultancy USEEDS°.
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At USEEDS he served many years as Managing Director before merging with the strategy consultancy diffferent, which was part of SYZYGY Group.
Sascha regularly shares his expertise as a mentor.Sascha’s expertise goes beyond designing digital products and services. He also focuses on improving innovation processes and the way design and research teams are structured. Throughout his career, he has led teams and worked to ensure that business strategy is closely aligned with design capabilities. Sascha has worked with companies across a variety of industries, including finance, software, e-commerce, and automotive. LinkedIn-Profile
Impressions from Past Retreats
This will be the third edition of the Design Leadership Retreat. With each year, we continue to refine the format and evolve the experience. We’re looking forward to welcoming new participants and to reconnecting with familiar faces.
“The mix of insights, exercises, and discussions was perfect. It was a well-structured and facilitated format. Discussing best practices with the other participants was extremely valuable.”
“After getting to know each other, we headed straight into the forest, such a great start. Overall, the group size and dynamics were very pleasant. Everyone was open to learning something new!”
“The program, the unique location, and the relaxed atmosphere really enabled focus and meaningful exchange. It could have lasted one more day!”
Retreat Overview
Focus Topics
We deep dive into the Enterprise dimension of the Design Leadership Framework:
- Managing stakeholders
- Aligning with other business functions
- Promote team capabilities
- Showcasing impact
- Expanding strategic influence
- Growing reputation
Learning Formats
The program combines structured learning with interactive and reflective formats:
- Focused input sessions
- Facilitated group discussions
- Participant-driven bar camp sessions
- Reflection exercises
- Group activities and socializing
Participants
The retreat is for professionals with leadership roles in Design, UX, or related fields. Whether you are an experienced design leader, seasoned consultant, new to the role, or currently between positions, you are welcome. A formal title is less important than having real leadership responsibility and a desire to grow in that role.
Dates
- Start: Monday October 5th, 2026, 3:00 PM
- 2 Nights On Site
- End: Wednesday October 7th, 2026, 4:00 PM
- A 2-hour online introduction on the Design Leadership Framework is included as preparation (optional)
What is Included
- 2 days of training and workshops
- 2 nights in a single room incl. bathroom
- All Meals and Coffee Breaks
- Soft drinks, coffee and tea during meals and workshops
- Retreat materials and presentations
- Group activities
- Note: Travel to and from the retreat must be arranged and paid for by you.
Tickets
Standard Price
979 EUR
The ticket price is the total amount payable. No VAT is charged. Please also see our Frequently asked Questions and Terms & Conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
☞ Can I Cancel or Transfer My Ticket?
Participants have the right to cancel their participation in the Retreat. Cancellations must be made in writing via email. The following cancellation fees apply:
- Free cancellation is possible up to 6 weeks before the start of the event. In this case, the full participation fee will be refunded.
- For cancellations made up to 3 weeks before the start of the event, a cancellation fee of 50% of the participation fee will be charged.
- For cancellations made within the last 3 weeks before the start of the event, a cancellation fee of 70% of the participation fee will be charged.
- Refunds will be processed within 14 days of receipt of the cancellation request to the original payment method, unless otherwise agreed.
It is possible to transfer the ticket to another person by arrangement with the Organizer. The request must be submitted to the Organizer no later than 2 days before the start of the event. Each request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must be confirmed in writing by the Organizer.
☞ How can I convince my manager to pay for this event?
Our event is a management training just like others, just in a more withdrawn (and beautiful) location. You will receive 2 days worth of workshops and input as well as the corresponding training material. The retreat price already includes accomodation and meals. We’re happy to provide a concise Seminar Offer you can share with your manager or HR department.
☞ I have a question or a special request.
If you have any questions or need additional information, feel free to reach out to us directly at our LinkedIn or send an email to katharina [at] designleadershipframework.de.