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MEA 4-Day Intensive

Courage is Calling: Reset On Your Bravest Path

Feb 15 - 19, 2026 Santa Fe, USA
Enroll Now Book A Call
Financial aid is available. Apply Here.

Is financial aid for you?

We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to all, which is why we offer financial assistance on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.

We aim to support individuals facing financial challenges, including but not limited to members of under-represented communities. Our goal is to empower those who may face barriers in pursuing their educational and professional goals. If you're experiencing financial stress that might prevent you from attending our workshops, we encourage you to apply for assistance.

Apply Now
Margie Warrell, PhD

Courage Strategist, International Speaker, Executive Coach, Bestselling Author

In 4 Immersive Days, Transform Fear into Fuel Toward Your Boldest Future

You've already achieved more than most people ever will.  Yet, deep down, you know there’s more you’re meant for – more joy, more freedom, more impact, more aliveness.

Because behind all the success, the constant proving and productivity can leave you feeling disconnected from your deepest desires. The playbook that got you here won’t get you where your soul longs to go. It’s not that you’re failing. It’s that you’re ready to rise to a braver vision.

 Over four immersive days, you’ll create space to:

  • Reconnect with your deepest desires and longings
  • Release patterns of fear, doubt and self-protection that no longer serve you 
  • Reclaim the energy, creativity, and conviction they’ve been draining
  • Reset your compass toward your bravest, most expansive future

This extraordinary experience is designed to close the gap between fear and fulfillment. To elevate yourself—and others—from higher ground. To reimagine what’s possible, not through striving harder, but by living braver.

Wherever fear is whispering, possibility is waiting. This is your moment to answer the call to courage

“Your longing to live a deeply rewarding life will often be at odds with your desire to live a secure one. Yet all the courage you need – to rise, to risk, to recreate – is already within you. It’s just waiting to be claimed.”
– Margie Warrell from The Courage Gap 

Meet

Margie Warrell, PhD

Leadership Advisor | Executive Coach | Courage Strategist | International Speaker | Bestselling Author of The Courage Gap

Margie Warrell has spent over 25 years helping people live and lead more bravely to make their highest point of impact. A bestselling author of The Courage Gap and several other books, she brings warmth, wit, and deeply grounded wisdom to closing the gap between what we know and what we do, and between who we are and who we have it within us to become.

Growing up as the eldest of seven on a dairy farm in rural Australia, Margie's journey has taken her across continents and cultures, from war zones to boardrooms, shaping a uniquely global and deeply human perspective on courage and leadership. She integrates hard-won life wisdom with research-driven insight, inviting people to examine the fears that hold them back and reconnect with the deeper truths that can move them forward.

Known for blending head and heart, strategy and soul, Margie’s distinctive expertise includes:

  • Global impact across 40+ countries through speaking, consulting, and leadership development
  • Organizational transformation work with Fortune 100 executives, government leaders, and social impact organizations navigating high-stakes decisions (Margie was formerly a Senior Partner in Board & C-Suite Advisory at Korn Ferry)
  • Academic foundation with a masters in leadership and organizational change and PhD in Human Development, bridging rigorous research with practical application
  • Media presence as host of Live Brave podcast and regular NBC News contributor, reaching millions with courage-centered insights
  • Humanitarian leadership as board member supporting exiled Afghan and Iranian women through the Women's Democracy Network & McCain Global Leaders.
  • Educational impact through guest lectureships at Columbia, Georgetown, USC, SMU, and serving on the advisory board of Forbes School of Business & Technology
  • Hard won wisdom from her share of heartaches and hardships, including raising four children across multiple continents and finding belonging in new countries far from where she started out.

Supported By the MEA Team

Mary Hofstedt

MEA's Content Facilitator

Mary Hofstedt is an experienced non profit leader and educator who strives to advance a more hopeful, caring, and connected world. Her passion for youth and community development led her to work with Challenge Success, spearhead a coalition of youth and adult partners to develop a community arts center, and ...

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Darby Rose

Experience Facilitator

Darby Rose is a multidisciplinary artist, arts administrator, cook, actor and animal lover, currently living in Santa Fe, NM. Born into a family of travelers in Austin, TX, she’s lived more places than she can count — all over Texas, Boston, Jackson WY, Baltimore and Los Angeles, to name a few; and outsid ...

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Daniel 'DL' Landes

Experience Facilitator

Before joining MEA, Daniel “DL” Landes spent decades as a restauranteur, author, and publisher. As the owner of multiple restaurants in Denver, CO – and then a hostel in Mexico – he dedicated himself to creating environments where people could work out their humanity while eating and drinking (which i ...

View Bio
Reserve Your Transformation

This Workshop Is For You If…

  • You're a mission-driven entrepreneur, executive, business owner, or self-identified “insecure over-achiever” who's mastered external success but feels something essential is missing.
  • You're at a crossroads and hungry for clarity on "What's next?" beyond the conventional metrics of achievement.
  • You're exhausted from the performance of having it all together and ready to explore what life looks like when you stop managing your image.
  • You're passionate about meaningful impact but find yourself held back by invisible patterns of self-doubt, perfectionism, or the need to over-prove.
  • You're ready for the real work – examining the deeply entrenched scripts of insecurity or 'imposterhood' that keep you playing smaller than your potential.
  • You sense there's a bolder version of yourself waiting to emerge, but you need the courage and tools to let that person call the shots.

What You'll Gain

Decode Your Inner Operating System

Uncover and dismantle the deeper patterns of proving, perfecting, and self-protection that have quietly shaped your decisions, often at the expense of your joy and potential.

Live From Your Truth Center

Stop micro-managing your life and start living with clarity and conviction, anchored to authenticity as your greatest power and your surest guide.

Embrace Strategic Imperfection

Release the need to control every variable or have it all figured out. Move forward with power and purpose, even in the face of unknowns and uncertainty.

Step Into the Life Fear Has Been Keeping Small

Any part of your life in which you’re not fully alive, fear is reigning. It’s time to answer your call to courage.

Architect Your Boldest, Unapologetic Future

Strip away outdated scripts and design a roadmap for the life you truly want – not the one you inherited or were conditioned to chase. One that ignites new energy, aligns to your deepest desires, and emboldens you to take the very actions you’ve not been brave enough to take… until now.

Our Agenda at a Glance

Sunday:

3:00 PM: Arrival/Check-in

6:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner

8:00 PM: Classroom Time

Monday:

7:00 AM: Mindful Movement

8:30 AM: Breakfast

10:00 AM: Classroom Time

1:15 PM: Lunch

3:00 PM: Classroom Time

6:30 PM: Dinner

8:00 PM: Free Time

Tuesday:

7:00 AM: Mindful Movement

8:30 AM: Breakfast

10:00 AM: Classroom Time

1:15 PM: Lunch

3:00 PM: Classroom Time

6:30 PM: Dinner

8:00 PM: Evening Gathering

Wednesday:

7:00 AM: Mindful Movement

8:30 AM: Breakfast

10:00 AM: Classroom Time

1:15 PM: Lunch

3:00 PM: Classroom Time

6:30 PM: Dinner

8:00 PM: Evening Gathering

Thursday:

7:00 AM: Mindful Movement

8:30 AM: Breakfast

10:00 AM: Checkout/Departure

Friday:

Saturday:

*Please note that not all “classroom time” activities take place in the actual classroom. 

Step into transformation in the high desert

Rising Circle Ranch | Santa Fe, USA.

Our spectacular Santa Fe campus is located on an upscale regenerative ranch featuring traditional Pueblo architecture and nearly 2,600 acres of wildlife, hiking trails in the arroyo, and awe-inspiring beauty. Close to historic Santa Fe, an artisan’s mecca.

PLUS: Gourmet from-scratch meals, snacks, and drinks featuring locally sourced ingredients, made by our in-house chefs

  • Big-sky desert country
  • Breathtaking nature
  • Interaction with horses and donkeys
  • Evenings around the campfire
  • Star-gazing

Explore the Ranch
on Horseback

Our Rising Circle Ranch spans 2,600 acres of New Mexico high desert, offering guided horseback riding for all experience levels through diverse terrains under the vast Southwest sky

You’ll experience highlights like:

  • Wildlife habitats and arroyo trails
  • Ancient petroglyphs
  • Breathtaking high desert vistas
  • The tranquil setting of our regenerative ranch

Horseback riding is an optional add-on activity you can book once you arrive on the ranch. Whether you’re seasoned or brand new to horseback adventures, this guided experience lets you discover the ranch’s natural wonders alongside our gentle horses.

Your Workshop Also Includes:

  • 4 nights of lodging at our world-class retreat center at Rising Circle Ranch, Santa Fe with all of your meals, snacks, drinks, and other amenities included
  • Daily sessions and experiential activities to help you connect with your inner self, envision your desired experience, and release what no longer serves you
  • Mindfulness practices to soothe your nervous system and help you cultivate greater mindfulness and presence in the moment
  • Movement to get the energy flowing and build your strength and agility as you chart your course forward to the life you want to live
  • Incredible bonding experiences with the most amazing humans you’ll ever meet
  • Intimate gatherings to cultivate connection and celebrate the joy and beauty of life

Stop Letting Fear Limit Your Life and Work

Fear often doesn’t look like fear at all. Sometimes it shows up masked as professionalism—over-preparing, over-controlling, over-committing. But over time, it can cost you far more—in joy, connection, and fulfillment—than what you were trying to avoid.

The good news: there’s another way forward. This workshop is your chance to break the cycle.

In four focused days, identify what’s been holding you back, replace fear-driven habits with courage-fueled ones, and leave with a plan you can start using immediately.

In this program, you will:

  • Identify the fear-based patterns that limit your decisions and results
  • Learn practical strategies to replace fear with clarity, confidence, and decisive action
  • Reconnect with your boldest vision for your life and work
  • Create a clear, actionable plan to move forward with courage in real situations

If you’re ready to stop letting fear dictate your choices, now is the time to act.

Book your spot today

Courage is Calling: Reset On Your Bravest Path

Feb 15 - 19, 2026 Santa Fe, USA
Starting at
$3,300 per person
Enroll Now Book A Call
Financial aid is available. Apply Here.

Is financial aid for you?

We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to all, which is why we offer financial assistance on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.

We aim to support individuals facing financial challenges, including but not limited to members of under-represented communities. Our goal is to empower those who may face barriers in pursuing their educational and professional goals. If you're experiencing financial stress that might prevent you from attending our workshops, we encourage you to apply for assistance.

Apply Now
Magnificent! Margie’s compelling framework toward more courage, less fear, and ultimately more effectiveness in our personal and professional lives.
Amy Edmondson
Harvard Business School
Attending Margie’s workshop changed my life and that of my colleagues. I am quite confident you will walk away from her session agreeing that they were some of the best hours you have spent on yourself in a long, long time. A worthwhile investment for all leaders, both emerging and established.
Elizabeth Faber
Deloitte Global Chief People and Purpose Officer
Margie is a master and her ability to engage, empower and affect positive change is outstanding.
Keri Day
Chief Audit Officer, Marriott International
Margie’s ability to engage, educate and embolden people is inspirational. Her nuggets of wisdom are both profound and practical for anyone wanting to be a more confident communicator and enjoy greater success in their workplace and life.
Professor Rebecca Heino
Professor, Marshal School of Business, USC

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes this different from other personal growth retreats?

This isn’t about adding more strategies or productivity hacks. It’s about excavation – removing what’s in the way: fear, self-doubt, outdated scripts that keep you small. Margie combines 25+ years of global leadership experience with deep psychological insight to help you step into a more courageous way of leading and living.

Do I need to be in a leadership role to benefit?

Nope. This retreat is for anyone ready to stop shrinking and start living from the inside out. Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, high-achieving leader, or simply at a turning point in your life, you’ll gain tools to make braver decisions aligned with your values and purpose.

Is this for people stepping away from their careers or still actively building?

Both. Many participants are deep in their professional journeys but feel called to lead with more authenticity and soul. This isn’t about stepping back – it’s about stepping forward more courageously into what’s next.

What’s included in the investment?

Everything: four days of immersive sessions with Margie, all materials, luxury accommodations at MEA’s Santa Fe campus, chef-prepared meals, and intimate experiences with a maximum of 28 participants. You’ll only need to cover travel to Santa Fe and personal extras.

What are “courage gaps” and why do they matter?

Courage gaps are where fear – often disguised as perfectionism, people-pleasing, over-functioning, controlling or self-doubt – holds you back from your fullest expression. You’ll learn to identify these patterns and shift from protection to purpose, proving to ease, fear to fire.

How is Margie’s approach different from other coaches or authors?

Margie’s wisdom runs deep. From a rural Australian farm to global leadership stages, she blends academic rigor (PhD in Human Development) with real-world experience. Her work is grounded, honest, and transformational, built not to impress but to empower you to live braver and more aligned.

Still deciding or have questions?
Connect with our helpful team of Advisors

Our Advisors are all MEA alumni who can offer genuine insights into our programs. They’re passionate about helping you finding the right fit to make your next chapter the best one.

BOOK a cAlL

Daniel Booz

Lucas Erie

Leslie Bartlett