Why Mothers, Founders and Career Women Are Choosing Confidence Retreats Over Burnout Culture

For years, the default advice for busy women has been the same: push harder, optimise your mornings, squeeze self-care into whatever space is left. But somewhere between school drop-offs, scaling businesses, leadership roles and mental load, many women have quietly decided they’re done with burnout as a badge of honour.

A new kind of retreat is emerging, and it looks very different to the wellness escapes of the past.

Instead of silent mornings and vague affirmations, experience-led retreats are prioritising confidence, connection and practical tools. They’re designed for women who don’t want to disappear from their lives, but want to return to them clearer, steadier and more self-assured. Mothers, founders and career women are at the centre of this shift.

The women who are peaking right now

Right now, it’s women in their late 30s to early 50s who are truly peaking. They’re experienced enough to know what doesn’t work, confident enough to question old narratives, and established enough to invest in experiences that deliver real value. Many are at a point where their careers, businesses or leadership roles are expanding, while their personal responsibilities are also at their most demanding.

This is the stage of life where confidence matters more than motivation.

Why retreats are becoming strategy, not escape

One standout example of this growing movement is The Bali Collective, a six-day retreat-meets-conference taking place in Bali this March. Hosted at Le Méridien Jimbaran Bay and presented by Travelglobe, it reflects a broader trend we’re seeing among professional women: choosing depth over downtime, and substance over softness.

This isn’t about switching off completely. It’s about recalibrating.

For mothers juggling emotional labour alongside professional ambition, traditional retreats can feel disconnected from reality. For founders, stepping away often comes with guilt. For career women, time off needs to feel worthwhile, not indulgent. Confidence-led retreats answer that tension by blending personal growth with real-world relevance.

Practical skills women actually use

The Bali Collective replaces typical retreat programming with hands-on sessions centred on confidence, leadership, communication and storytelling. These are skills women actively use in boardrooms, businesses, creative work and family life.

The benefit is immediate. Women return not just rested, but better equipped to lead, speak up, set boundaries and make decisions with clarity.

Who’s leading the conversations

What gives this retreat format weight is the lived experience behind the sessions. The Bali Collective brings together women across media, business, food and wellbeing, each contributing insights shaped by their own journeys.

The speakers include:
Jules Robinson, FIGUR founder and entrepreneur, known for building a business and personal brand under public scrutiny
Anna Polyviou, MasterChef judge and pastry chef, sharing lessons from leadership and resilience in high-pressure creative environments
Heidi Anderson, Hit Network host and founder of Shit Show Live, exploring voice, visibility and storytelling
Danni Duncan, fitness coach, podcast host and author, focused on confidence and sustainable self-belief
Donna Demaio, 3AW journalist and media trainer, offering practical tools around communication, presence and authority
Maree Sortino, founder of The Social Secret, unpacking digital storytelling and personal branding with strategy and intention

Each speaker is leading hands-on sessions and candid conversations grounded in lived experience, not performative wellness. The focus is on real stories, honest challenges and practical takeaways women can apply immediately.

Why connection looks different now

Rather than keynote speeches delivered from a stage, this format encourages real dialogue. Attendees aren’t passive listeners. They’re participants, collaborators and contributors. This creates a sense of shared understanding that’s especially powerful for women who are used to carrying responsibility quietly.

There’s also a noticeable shift in how connection is valued. Networking is no longer about exchanging business cards or building audiences. Women are seeking relationships grounded in honesty and mutual support. Sitting beside someone who is also managing children, teams, ageing parents or high-stakes careers creates trust quickly and organically.

The benefit of this type of connection is longevity. These relationships often extend well beyond the retreat itself, offering ongoing support, collaboration and perspective once women return home.

Is this for you?

This new style of retreat resonates most with women who feel capable but stretched. Women who are doing well on paper, but know they’re operating below their full clarity or confidence. If you’re a mother balancing ambition with responsibility, a founder navigating growth and pressure, or a career woman stepping into leadership or reinvention, this format speaks directly to where you’re at.

It’s for women who don’t need fixing, but want sharpening. Women who value conversation as much as content, and who want to return home not just relaxed, but steadier and more self-assured.

The bigger shift

The rise of confidence-led retreats reflects a wider cultural reset. Burnout culture is losing credibility. Hustle narratives are being replaced with conversations around sustainability, self-trust and leadership without self-sacrifice.

For mothers, founders and career women, this trend signals something important. Taking time away no longer has to mean stepping back. It can mean stepping into clarity, strengthening confidence and returning with tools that support both professional ambition and personal wellbeing.

As curated travel experiences continue to evolve, confidence-driven retreats are becoming less of a luxury and more of a strategic decision. Not an escape from reality, but a way to meet it with greater certainty.

If this trend continues, the future of women’s retreats won’t be about slowing down completely. It will be about reconnecting with the version of yourself that’s already capable, experienced and ready for what’s next. To find out more visit Travelglobe.