ALPS or jura, switzerlandEUROPE Day or multi-dayShop talk walks
To think outside the box, get outside your box.
Organizations need new ideas and new approaches to stay relevant, effective and attractive to donors in today’s fast-changing world.
Old ways of generating ideas are unlikely to inspire the innovation necessary to stay ahead.
So while your competitors are inside their glass boxes trying to solve new problems with the same old white boards and sticky notes, you can get fresh ideas from fresh air to move into the future with clear vision, direction and purpose.
"If you enjoy being active, spending time outdoors, being amazed by the beauty of nature, discovering stunning and relaxing places in the company of a high-quality facilitator who is caring and attentive, I highly recommend Hike Here Now for your team-building sessions or staff retreats!"
— Alex R.
Geneva
"All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking."Friedrich NietzscheWhen I’m not hiking, I help organizations develop clear strategies and compelling narratives. My “Shop talk” trips combine my experience and passions for hiking and helping good organizations make good things actually happen.
Before founding Hike Here Now, I worked in politics, advocacy and international organizations. No matter my role, top leadership consistently invited me into “the room where it happens” when making big decisions. A lot of what I brought to those meetings ended up shaping the direction of the organizations and earning good results. I also managed multi-cultural teams through major projects, organizational changes and complex global dynamics, finding ways to keep everyone coordinated, motivated and empowered to get the job done.
[ You can learn more about my background and consulting services here and on my Linkedin profile. ]
My Shop Talk Walks let you in on the secret that can set your organization ahead of the rest: most of the best ideas come while playing outside, not at the office. Give it a shot.
Strategy comes naturally
Team building trips
Duration
Day or multi-day
Pricing
From CHF 1500
All year
Dates
Exertion
Relaxed (or more for those who want it)
“I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one can not walk away from it.”
Søren Kierkegaard 
Strategy comes naturally
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Clear your mind and clarify your strategy
If you’re a leader of an organization or a team, and understanding your business, communications or fundraising strategy requires unearthing mind-numbing presentations buried somewhere in Sharepoint, or if your organization’s narrative is measured in pages not seconds, this trip is for you.
For me, strategy comes naturally, as in, ideas flow and connections appear not while I’m staring at a screen, but while I’m outside breathing fresh air and moving blood though my veins and into my brain. Outdoors, I focus just enough on the trail ahead to keep my mind engaged while allowing the rest of it the freedom to be its best creative, problem-solving self.
Ideas we get outside sharpen into strategies when we can bounce them off someone who really knows strategy. My years of experience helping organizations play to win instead of just surviving gave me insights into the fundamentals of strategy that can be useful across sectors at all levels of engagement.
Strategy comes naturally trips provide both the fresh space and the experienced strategic sounding board to help you get to the core of knowing where you’re trying to go, how you’re going to get there, and why it’s going to work. You’ll return to the office with new ideas, a fresh perspective and renewed energy. I will also provide you with a map of our route annotated with the ideas we had along the way and a summary of the main conclusions, insights and potential next steps, and of course, photos.
Before you decide, I’m happy to give a free half-hour conversation to see how to make this as useful for you and your team as possible.
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I’ll cater the hikes to be sure we have time for consultation and reflection, and for clarifying, refining and packaging your ideas.
You can send me some things in advance to frame your challenge, then we’ll talk shop while we walk. We’ll take some moments to reflect between vistas and end the trip with clear and memorable ideas for how your organization can move towards its goals.
We won’t solve all the problems or end with a 37-point list you’ll never look back on, but you will get a fresh perspective in fresh air, fresh ideas about how to move forward on Monday and new approaches to thinking strategically that will serve you for years to come.
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We’ll go somewhere in Switzerland or nearby France for these trips. Depending on your desire for the physical nature of the trip, the time of year, trail and weather conditions and your travel plans, we can find great hikes in the Jura or the Alps.
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No previous hiking experience necessary, and we can accommodate any fitness level for these trips. We don’t have to go any harder or farther than it takes to get fresh air and steady blood flow to stimulate our brains. Walking is a requirement, but how far, how long and how fast is up to you.
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Depending on where you are traveling from, it might make sense to arrive close to the trailhead the night before we start the trip. We can discuss options for that when you book. These accommodations would be your responsibility to reserve and are not included in the trip price.
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Strategy comes naturally trips are great for individual CEOs and other leaders or teams from the C-suite, management, communications or fundraising.
These are private trips. We will not mix people from different organizations so we can stay focused on and free to discuss your organization’s needs.
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CHF 2,000 per day for up to 4 people. CHF 250 for each additional person per day. Suggested maximum of 6 people, but we can be flexible if necessary. Price includes hiking trip planning, leadership and safety, meals on the trail, strategy review in advance of the hike and strategic counsel during the hike.
Team building trips
Adventure together, deliver together
Sharing time in nature is an excellent way to build camaraderie, motivation and trust that will pay big dividends when you’re back at the office.
On these trips, your team will not only have an amazing shared adventure, but we will also create opportunities and safe spaces to focus on strengthening the personal relationships that underpin our professional relationships.
As an experienced facilitator inside the office and outdoors, I’ll work with you in advance to identify your objectives and build a trip to reach them. We’ll adapt as needed throughout the trip to ensure your team comes away stronger, more cohesive and better prepared to collaborate and deliver. And if you need a specific type of coaching or facilitation, I have a network of professionals we can tap into, or we can work with someone your team already knows.
Let’s talk about how your team can benefit from getting outside, together.
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On these trips, we’ll combine hiking with other activities to help your team break down barriers and build up rapport. We can go for a day or multiple days. We can move from one location to the next, or “base camp” at an appropriate accommodation in the mountains.
You can send me some things in advance to frame your challenge, then we’ll develop a program to meet your needs. In certain cases, I may bring in specialists to help facilitate certain exercises or programs.
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We’ll go somewhere in Switzerland or nearby France for these trips. We can find great places in the Jura or the Alps depending on your desire for the physical nature of the trip, a hiking-based or base camp style trip, the time of year, trail and weather conditions and your travel plans.
-
No previous hiking experience necessary, and we can accommodate any fitness level for these trips. We will incorporate time in nature, but we don’t have to go any harder or farther than it takes to get fresh air and steady blood flow to stimulate our brains. Walking is a requirement, but how far, how long and how fast is up to you.
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For multi-day, base camp style trips, we will reserve space in a mountain hotel suitable to your needs. For day trips, it can be nice to stay near the trailhead if team members live farther away so we can get a reasonable start. I can provide options for those accommodations, but it will be the responsibility of those who choose to stay there to make and pay for the reservations.
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Team building trips are great for teams from the C-suite, management, communications, fundraising or other teams in your organization.
These are private trips. We will not mix people from different organizations so we can stay focused on and free to discuss your organization’s needs.
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From CHF 1,500 per day with custom pricing available to match your needs and budget. Prices include hiking trip and team building activity planning, leadership, and facilitation. We can also create “all-inclusive” packages to make planning and invoicing as easy as possible for your organization.
Related trips
Hill yeah!
Get out!
Go wild!
