October 20 - 24, 2026
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THE MONTANA RETREAT:
Where Bold Leaders Build What’s Next
March 1–4, 2026 | Whitefish, Montana
Limited to 20 seats
This isn’t a getaway. It’s a reset for what comes next.
You’ve built a bold brand. Now it’s time to sharpen how you lead it.
For three transformative days in the Montana mountains, The Gathering brings together twenty senior brand, marketing, and creative leaders to reconnect with clarity, conviction, and community.
This is where inspiration from Banff turns into implementation—where the world’s boldest leaders slow down just long enough to accelerate forward.
What It Is
A private, three-day off-site designed for senior leaders who want to turn big ideas into brave action.
Each Gathering Retreat blends strategic depth, personal renewal, and peer collaboration inside an extraordinary setting.
You’ll experience:
Each Gathering Retreat blends strategic depth, personal renewal, and peer collaboration inside an extraordinary setting.
You’ll experience:
✔ Curated Workshops – interactive strategy sessions that move ideas from inspiration to implementation..
✔ Fireside Conversations – unfiltered dialogues with iconic brand builders who have walked the path before you.
✔ Peer Masterminds – candid feedback and accountability from fellow leaders who understand the stakes.
✔ Reflective Mornings & Rejuvenating Evenings – space to restore energy, focus, and perspective.
Outcome: renewed clarity, measurable goals, and a plan you can activate the moment you return home.
Inside The Gathering Retreats
Where inspiration turns into implementation
After The Gathering, leaders return home inspired — but often overwhelmed.
The Retreats create the space and structure to turn that inspiration into execution. Across three days in the Montana mountains, you’ll move from reflection to action through The Cult Brand Workshop — a guided, collaborative session embedded within the retreat experience. This workshop helps you translate belief into measurable brand and leadership growth by connecting human performance, cultural leadership, and brand transformation through the same advocacy principles that power The Gathering’s most celebrated brands.
The Cult Brand Workshop: The Proven Formula for Building Advocacy
The workshop inside The Gathering Retreats is built around one essential question: “How do we make people feel something so powerful, they tell others about it?”
In this immersive session, you’ll work alongside The Gathering and CULT facilitators to:
1️ Map the Emotional Journey
→ Identify the key touchpoints that define how your brand and leadership feel to interact with.
→ Uncover the gaps between what you say and what people experience.
2️ Design for Advocacy, Not Attention
→ Move beyond marketing to meaning — creating emotional ownership, not just awareness.
→ Learn how to architect experiences that inspire belief, not just behavior.
3️ Create Your Experience Blueprint
→ Align brand, culture, and customer experience into one unified ecosystem.
→ Leave with a documented roadmap ready for activation inside your organization.
Outcome
You’ll walk away with a living playbook for building belonging, not just loyalty — a framework that elevates how you lead, how your team performs, and how your brand connects with the world.
This is where clarity becomes conviction — and where bold leaders begin again.
What You’ll Take Home
✔ Customized Brand & Leadership Roadmap – a plan tailored to your next chapter.
✔ CULT Experience Frameworks – practical tools that connect purpose, culture, and performance.
✔ Peer Cohort & Accountability Network – a trusted circle of bold brand minds who stay connected long after the mountain.
✔ Renewed Clarity & Conviction – measurable goals and the confidence to act immediately.
The Business ROI
Clarity ROI
Connection ROI
Performance ROI
Cultural ROI
A 12-month brand + leadership roadmap
New partnerships + high-trust network
Tools to scale culture without burnout
Frameworks that create advocacy
Sharper decisions & better prioritization
Collaboration & long-term deal flow
Energized leadership & team alignment
Loyalty & share of heart that sustain growth
Meet Your Hosts
Mandy Balak
President, The Gathering | Leadership Coach &
Experience Designer
With two decades of experience building transformational communities, Mandy helps leaders bridge high performance and humanity — designing systems that sustain both impact and well-being.
Chris Kneeland
Co-Founder, CULT | Advisor to the world’s most iconic brands
Guides leaders to build companies that are both successful and significant. At the retreat, he helps participants translate The Gathering’s belief systems into actionable growth frameworks.
Special Guests
Each guest shares real stories of how they’ve built cult-like followings and led teams that changed culture.
Katrina Demers
Katrina Demers is the Vice President of Brand at Pursuit, leading the evolution of 60+ iconic attractions and experiences across North America and Iceland. Her work has shaped award-winning destinations like the Banff Gondola, Sky Lagoon, and FlyOver Chicago. Known for blending creativity with systems, she builds scalable frameworks that bring bold visions to life.
Xanthe Wells
Xanthe Wells is the VP of Global Creative at Pinterest, where she leads the House of Creative behind celebrated campaigns like It’s Possible and Manifestival at Cannes. Formerly Global Executive Creative Director at Google, she helped shape the Pixel and Nest brands, earning top honors including a Cannes Grand Prix. Recognized as one of Ad Age’s “Women to Watch,” Xanthe is known for using creativity to drive culture and business forward.
The Investment
All inclusive investment for 3.5 days, 3 nights
Prices in USD
Includes accommodations, meals, workshops, recreation, and post-retreat advisory access through CULT Labs or Experience Labs.
Prices in USD
Includes accommodations, meals, workshops, recreation, and post-retreat advisory access through CULT Labs or Experience Labs.
Pay in Full — Save 10%
$6,750 USD (Regular $7,500 USD)
Commit in full and save $750.
Your spot is confirmed instantly and your all-inclusive experience is secured.
Airfare not included
Only 20 seats available — once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Payment Plan — 4 Monthly Installments
$7,500 USD total
4 monthly payments of $1,875 USD, completed by February 2026.
Your spot is saved with the first payment
Airfare not included
Only 20 seats available — once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Why It’s Different
Most retreats give you motivation.
This one gives you momentum.
It’s not about escaping work — it’s about redefining how you lead it.
Through strategy, reflection, and community, you’ll gain the frameworks, focus, and fire to lead boldly into 2026 and beyond.
The Montana Retreat
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the dates for the 2026 Montana Retreat?
The retreat runs Sunday, March 1 to Wednesday, March 4, 2026 in Whitefish, Montana.
Sunday, March 1: Welcome Dinner begins at 6:00 PM
Monday, March 2: Full day of workshops and connection experiences
Tuesday, March 3: Full day of workshops, movement, and integration
Wednesday, March 4: Morning session + closing lunch, wrap by 1:00 PM
We recommend arriving Sunday afternoon and departing after 2:30 PM on Wednesday.
Where is it held?
Our 2025 retreat takes place in Whitefish, Montana—a mountain town known for its natural beauty, creative energy, and community spirit. You’ll receive the full venue address and travel details in your confirmation email.
What meals are included?
All group meals are included—beginning with the Welcome Dinner on Sunday and ending with a Closing Lunch on Wednesday.
Expect nourishing, locally inspired cuisine designed to fuel conversation and connection. Please note any dietary restrictions during registration and our hospitality team will take care of you.
What can I expect from the workshops?
Each day blends high-impact facilitation, leadership development, and curated reflection time. Sessions are led by CULT Founder Chris Kneeland and Gathering President Mandy Balak, alongside guest facilitators. Expect a mix of strategy, storytelling, embodiment, and connection—this isn’t a lecture series, it’s an immersive leadership experience.
Is there time for rest or recreation?
Absolutely. Our programming is intentionally designed with both depth and spaciousness. You’ll have solo reflection time and optional recreation blocks to explore, recharge, or connect informally.
What’s the best way to get there?
Most guests fly into Glacier Park International Airport (FCA), approximately 20 minutes from Whitefish. Shuttle and car rental options are available at the airport. Detailed travel recommendations will be provided in your pre-arrival guide.
Who is this retreat for?
This experience is designed for brand and business leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives who crave clarity, creativity, and connection. It’s for those who want to grow their leadership capacity, refine their vision, and return home re-energized—with tools to sustain high performance and fulfillment.
What should I pack?
Think mountain casual meets intentional leadership:
- Comfortable clothes for workshops
- Layers for cool mornings and evenings
- Outdoor gear for optional activities
- A notebook or journal
- An open mind and willingness to play full out
Can I come alone?
Absolutely. Many attendees join solo and leave with lifelong connections. Our gatherings are intentionally designed to create belonging from the moment you arrive.
What’s included in the retreat fee?
Access to all sessions and workshops
All group meals (Sunday dinner → Wednesday lunch)
Welcome gift + retreat workbook
Optional morning movement sessions
Access to curated community experiences before and after the retreat
What’s not included?
Flights and travel to Whitefish
Optional recreational activities or spa treatments
What’s the vibe?
Think less “conference” and more immersive leadership reset—equal parts strategy, soul, and connection. We keep it intimate so every conversation matters and every guest feels seen.
Is accommodation included?
All accommodations and reservations are included in your retreat fee and will be fully coordinated by The Gathering team. Once registered, our team will handle all lodging details to ensure a seamless arrival and stay in Whitefish.
Welcome to
Nita Lake, Whistler, BC
Famous for its vibrant lakes, majestic mountains and easy access to outdoor adventures of all kinds.
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Whistler is a town north of Vancouver, British Columbia, that's home to Whistler Blackcomb, one of the largest ski resorts in North America. Besides skiing and snowboarding, the area offers snowshoeing, tobogganing and ski jumping at the Olympic Park, a venue for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
The hub of Whistler is a compact, chalet-style pedestrian village at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Whistler is a mountain resort town renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant community. Whistler offers visitors endless adventures and natural beauty.
Join us February 25-28th, 2025
Only 14 spots are available to ensure an intimate and high-touch experience.
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