Elevate, the Urban Retreat in Singapore

We often think we need to get away, to go somewhere remote, disconnect from everything, to finally find clarity.

But what if the real shift doesn’t come from escaping…

What if it comes from returning?

That’s the question we explored at ELEVATE, an Urban Retreat for Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and ambitious Professionals in Singapore. We didn’t gather to run from our lives. We gathered to step more fully into them.

We began by asking a question we don’t often make space for:

What does an Inspired Life mean?

Not, What do you need to do? 

But Who do you want to be? 

There’s something vulnerable and powerful about turning to someone you’ve just met and answering that.

It softened the room.

It opened us up.

It reminded us that behind all our titles and to-do lists, we are human beings, craving depth, meaning, and connection.

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We moved through the FLOW framework: Focus, Life Purpose, Ownership, and Wellbeing: not as theories or goals, but as foundations for how we want to live, lead, and feel.

We nourished our bodies with chef-curated meals, and we nourished our hearts and minds; we shared stories, laughter, and honest reflection.

And we learned from the amazing Guest Speakers who showed up with incredible authenticity. They didn’t speak at us. They spoke from experience. They took us back to moments we rarely talk about in leadership spaces:

Moments when they had lost their focus, or questioned their path. Moments of uncertainty, burnout, or feeling misaligned. And they shared what helped them find their way back. What anchored them. And what clarity, and resilience, actually looked like in the messy middle.

Then they shared what happiness looks like for them. Not the polished version, but the real, lived one. What shaped their understanding of happiness. How it evolved through both success and struggle. They shared their past. Their inner challenges. The moments that made them pause and recalibrate.

And in this realness, they gave us permission to ask those same questions of ourselves. To explore what our happiness looks like, especially when the weight of responsibility is high.

We ended the day not with more words, but with presence. Through gentle movement, breath, and stillness, we gave our minds and bodies space to integrate the day’s insights. 

We practiced Strala yoga, a style rooted in softness, ease, and moving how it feels good to move. It’s not about performing the perfect pose. It’s about tuning in.

Letting go of tension.

Reconnecting with your breath, your body, your being.

After a full day of reflection and connection, it was exactly what we needed — a return to self, not through thinking, but through feeling. It reminded us that wellbeing isn’t just a concept. It’s an experience.

And sometimes, the most powerful insights come when we stop trying… and simply allow.

Lastly, Christian guided us through a sound journey that invited deep rest and inner calm, helping us drop out of our heads and into the moment.

Why am I so passionate about creating ELEVATE? 

Because I believe ambition isn’t the problem. In fact, ambition is beautiful.

But we don’t need to chase it at the cost of our wellbeing.

ELEVATE is my way of showing that we can pursue big dreams: with clarity, intention, and integrity.

Because transformation doesn’t require distance. Doesn’t require struggle (although it does require hard work).

It needs honesty.

It needs space.

It needs community.

What I heard most from participants after the event, wasn't just praise. They wanted more... More time, more connection, more interaction and Q&A with me, and more space to simply be.

“It was too short.” 

“There wasn’t enough time to connect.”

“Can we do this again?”

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And the answer is: Yes.

Because this wasn’t a one-off event.

It was the beginning of a deeper conversation. One that I hope continues in how we choose to show up, and in how we remind ourselves, again and again, that life is both precious and short 💫

If you’re reading this and longing for a moment to pause with purpose, know this:

You don’t need to run away to find it.

Sometimes, the most powerful Retreat isn’t an escape at all.

It’s the kind that helps you return: to yourself, your values, your life.

Let’s keep elevating… together.

Love, 
Pauline

Ps: What truly makes an event special isn’t just the content, it’s the environment that holds it. I’m deeply grateful to Andaz Singapore for being that kind of partner. A heartfelt thank you to Federica and her team for their care and support. And to Executive Chef Martin for curating the most thoughtful and nourishing wellness lunches. You made ELEVATE feel not just possible, but truly held.