2026 SOLIDAGO SUMMER STUDIO:
strategic pause
A summer leadership experience for people who love their work, but want more space to think, create, and choose how they lead.
Many of us love our work. We care about the people we serve and the teams we lead. But somewhere along the way, busyness became our default setting. We move from one meeting to the next, and our days are so full we’re unable to really reflect, so we react. The Solidago Summer Studio was created to interrupt that pattern. We’re not encouraging people to do less; we’re helping people create more space to think clearly, notice what matters, and actively and consciously choose how they want to lead.
August 4 - September 1, 2026 ‣ 1 Transformative Book ‣ 15 Thoughtful Leaders ‣ 3 Live Virtual Sessions
What are you too busy to notice?
We tell ourselves a story about when things will finally calm down. Once this project is finished. Once we've hired for that key position. After the conference. Once the kids are done with school—or back in school. After the holidays. But that season never arrives on its own. Unless we intentionally create space to pause, the pace of our work and lives rarely slows.
To be clear, busy doesn't always feel bad. Sometimes it's energizing. Sometimes it's the natural result of doing work we genuinely love. The problem isn't busyness itself—it's when every moment of our day is so full that we lose the ability to consciously choose how we're leading our organizations and living our lives. Constant busyness doesn't just consume our calendars; it narrows our attention. We become so focused on what's immediately in front of us that we lose sight of the bigger picture. We stop asking whether we're doing the right work, making the right decisions, or becoming the kind of leaders we want to be. We simply keep moving. The good news is that strategic pause isn't a personality trait—it's a leadership skill. And like any skill, it can be learned, practiced, and strengthened.
WHY A STUDIO?
We chose the word studio intentionally. In design and architecture, studios aren't places to passively consume information. They're places where people wrestle with ideas, experiment, receive feedback, and leave with work that's stronger because it was developed in community.
Each Summer Studio is intentionally limited to just 15 participants—small enough for meaningful conversation, thoughtful feedback, and building the trust that allows people to bring unfinished ideas into the open. This space is also an opportunity to develop relationships with fellow leaders who can continue to challenge, encourage, and support one another long after the Studio has ended.
the 2026 Summer Studio…
Our 2026 theme: STRATEGIC PAUSE
Every Summer Studio revolves around one transformative idea. This year's theme is Strategic Pause: the practice of creating intentional space to think more clearly, notice what matters, and choose how we want to lead. In a culture that celebrates speed, urgency, and constant productivity, pausing can feel counterintuitive. Yet some of our most important work as leaders cannot be rushed. Clarity, creativity, discernment, and wisdom rarely emerge in the middle of reacting. They require space. Throughout the Studio, we'll explore how intentional pause can help us make better decisions, navigate complexity with greater confidence, strengthen our relationships, and reconnect with the work that matters most.
OUR Studio guest: ROBERT POYNTON
The studio at a glance:
Robert Poynton is an author, facilitator, and leadership educator whose work explores the power of pause, attention, and presence in a world that often rewards speed and busyness. Through workshops, retreats, and writing, Robert helps individuals and organizations develop more intentional ways of working, leading, and relating to one another. His work invites people to slow down long enough to notice what matters, make wiser decisions, and create space for creativity, reflection, and meaningful action.
Robert is the founder of Yellow and the author of several books, including Do Pause: You Are Not a To Do List, which has inspired readers around the world to rethink their relationship with time, productivity, and performance. Drawing on backgrounds in improvisation, systems thinking, and experiential learning, he brings a practical and deeply human approach to personal and organizational development.
DATES: Aug. 4 • Aug. 18 • Sept. 1
COHORT: 15 Leaders
TIME: 10:00–11:30 AM CT (Chicago)
TEXT: Do Pause: You are Not a To-Do List*
*Every participant gets a mailed copy of the book.
FORMAT: Live Virtual
INVESTMENT: $395
What You’ll Experience
Rather than a traditional course or book club, the Summer Studio is designed as a month-long learning experience that combines thoughtful conversation, practical experimentation, and personal reflection. Each element is intentionally designed to help you move beyond simply understanding the idea of strategic pause and begin putting it into practice in your own work and life.
BEFORE THE STUDIO BEGINS: Before our first session, you'll receive a welcome package in the mail that includes your copy of Do Pause, curated learning materials, and a few surprises to help create a meaningful Studio experience from wherever you are.
SESSION ONE
NOTICING: We'll begin by exploring how busyness shapes the way we think, work, and lead. Together, we'll examine why pause feels so difficult, reflect on the ideas in Do Pause, and identify the patterns that keep us reacting instead of choosing.
SESSION TWO
PRACTICING: We'll return as a community to share what we've discovered, wrestle with challenges together, and explore practical ways to integrate strategic pause into our leadership, decision-making, and everyday work.
SESSION THREE
INTEGRATING: Our final session is about carrying the practice of strategic pause beyond the Summer Studio. Together, we'll explore what it looks like to integrate pause into our leadership, our organizations, and our everyday lives.
BETWEEN SESSIONS: Between each Studio session, you'll experiment with simple practices inspired by the book, reflect on your own leadership, and notice what changes when you intentionally create more space in your daily life. These aren't assignments to complete—they're invitations to observe, experiment, and learn. You'll also have opportunities to connect with fellow Studio participants between sessions, sharing insights, asking questions, and encouraging one another as you put these ideas into practice.
All participants will receive a mailed copy of DO/Pause: You are not a To Do list prior to the beginning of the program, and a live conversation with Robert Poynton during our third session.
IS THIS studio FOR YOU?
The Solidago Summer Studio is designed for people who care deeply about their work and want to lead with greater intention. Whether you're leading an organization, managing a team, or simply navigating a season of important decisions, this Studio is for those who are ready to create more space for reflection, clearer thinking, and meaningful conversation.
This Studio is built for people who are willing to bring real questions, unfinished ideas, and a desire to grow alongside a small community of thoughtful leaders.
Interested in hosting a private Solidago Summer Studio for your leadership team or organization?
We'd love to explore what's possible. Reach out to us at contact@solidagoinstitute.org to start the conversation.
RESERVE YOUR PLACE
The 2026 Solidago Summer Studio is limited to just 15 participants. To reserve your place, please complete the registration form below. Once your registration is received, we'll send a confirmation email with payment details, information about your welcome package, and everything you'll need to prepare for our first session on August 4.