Switchback at TRE, December 2-4, 2025 in San Antonio, TX
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Switchback Spring, June 16-18, 2026 in New Orleans, LA
Each fall, Take the Lead hosts a retreat that brings together women and femmes of color in the outdoor and running industries for an influential event focused on leadership development, community building, and personal empowerment.
The concept for the retreat originated in 2022 after Alison Mariella Désir and Martha M. Garcia attended a running industry gathering.
“We recognized the lack of racial and ethnic diversity among the women present,” says Désir, co-founder of Take the Lead. “We started imagining how we could create a space for women and femmes of color to gain the valuable insights, exposure, networking, and opportunities that could help them level up in their careers.
Since its founding three years ago, Take the Lead has evolved into a close-knit annual gathering, welcoming 60 to 80 attendees from the full ecosystem of the outdoor and running industries, including brand representatives, small business owners, consultants, and executives. They leave the retreat with tangible career tools, a strong network, and a feeling of being “seen” and empowered in their professional journeys, says Garcia.
It’s widely acknowledged that outdoor and running industry events frequently suffer from a lack of diversity. However, Désir says this underrepresentation doesn’t stem from a shortage of qualified professionals of color or members of the LGBTQ+ community within the industry. “It’s not a pipeline problem,” she says, explaining that these events fail to attract and include members of these communities.
Désir says that talented women and femmes of color are not being recognized for opportunities or provided with the necessary mentorship to enter these professional spaces. So, the issue is not a lack of talent or interest in the industry, but a problem where these individuals are being overlooked and often misunderstood.
Désir and Garcia designed the Take the Lead retreat to empower attendees with the knowledge and skills necessary to influence their industry, drive fundamental change within companies and organizations, and expand opportunities for underrepresented communities.
“Our goal has always been to create a space where women and femmes of color are centered and given opportunities to grow, connect, and lead without needing to overexplain themselves,” says Désir. “It’s about pairing education and mentorship with genuine community and joy. We want every attendee to leave braver and more grounded in their power, with tangible tools they can use in their careers and a network that reminds them they’re not alone.”
Each year, the Take the Lead programming evolves to include fresh content while maintaining a core framework.
“The retreat is designed around three pillars: learning, connection, and movement,” says Garcia. The learning portion of the retreat includes a mix of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and breakout sessions that explore themes like leadership, storytelling, AI, community-building, and professional growth.
The breakout sessions during the event give attendees opportunities to connect with a diverse range of people. One of the event’s major strengths is its ability to attract both older industry veterans and younger people. “The multigenerational exchange, where early-career professionals and seasoned leaders learn from one another, has become one of the most defining and beautiful parts of the experience,” says Garcia. After the retreat, participants can continue networking year-round through a Take the Lead Slack channel.
For the “movement” portion of the retreat, group activities and “mindfulness sessions” encourage attendees to focus on their mental and physical health. “We’re responding to the increased awareness around wellbeing and sustainable leadership,” says Garcia. “Our programming acknowledges that rest, recovery, and self-knowledge are part of the leadership journey, not separate from it.”
Action-Oriented Programs
Since its founding, the retreat’s programming has evolved significantly, moving beyond community building to focus on providing attendees with tools to make an immediate impact in their careers and work lives.
“In the early years, the retreat centered on creating space for learning, connection, and belonging—an experience many women of color in this industry hadn’t had before,” explains Garcia. “As our community has grown, the programming has become deeply action-oriented. We’ve introduced specific frameworks, tools, and mentorship moments that participants can immediately implement in their careers.”
Many sessions cover practical topics, such as leveraging AI for your job or negotiating your salary. Other sessions offer industry insights, such as a behind-the-scenes look at recruiter hiring practices. Attendees can also customize their experience by selecting from specialized tracks that delve into specific topics. For instance, the 2025 retreat included a track titled “Know Your Worth, Own Your Growth,” where mid-career professionals learned ways to position themselves for their next big opportunity in an organization.
According to Désir, the retreat’s speakers and panelists include business leaders, professional and Olympic athletes, creatives, and executives from across the running and outdoor industries. Take the Lead sponsors include prominent companies such as Brooks, Strava, and Fleet Feet.
When the participants leave the retreat, they can apply what they’ve learned to advance in the workplace, says Garcia. They not only gain fresh skills but also develop a new mindset for their return to work. “Maybe they gain a new way of looking at themselves,” she says. “They may have this old perception that they need to fit a certain mold to fit into leadership. But they learn that their superpower is to be themselves.”
The most vital takeaway for attendees is a profound feeling of community and belonging. As Garcia notes, “The most common thing we hear is ‘I feel seen.’ Attendees leave with new skills and inspiration, but also with community and confidence—the kind that lasts long after the retreat ends.”
This renewed confidence empowers women and femmes of color to influence others and fundamentally alter perceptions and practices across the running and outdoor industries. With conviction and a strong sense of determination, they are prepared to step into leadership roles and champion inclusivity.
“We’re building the future leaders of this industry,” says Garcia. “They come to learn and connect, and they walk away reminded of their strengths and purpose.”
Click here to learn more about Take the Lead. They are also presenting a session at The Running Event and Switchback at TRE, which will be held December 2-4, 2025, in San Antonio, TX, at the Henry B. González Convention Center. Click here to learn more about their session.
