September 13-14, 2025 | San Diego

Designing Your Life Women's Retreat

Design the most important project of all – your life.

Your Future. Your Community.

Navigate life’s ambiguity and design a life and career full of joy and meaning through design thinking.

Join us in San Diego for a weekend of empowering workshops and activities focused on helping women design and create their ideal lives.

“I am filled with excitement for what the future holds. This life design journey has been transformative for me. Through the DYL workshop, I gained not just insights but a renewed sense of purpose. “

Kristen Donnino

Past Participant

Plan Your Stay

Dana Inn Mission Bay San Diego

The retreat is located on the water’s edge at Dana Inn Mission Bay in San Diego.

Find new inspiration and the chance to focus on you while enjoying all that San Diego has to offer. Rooms are first come, first serve.

Book Your Stay

A Weekend of Connection and Possibility

You’ll experience highly interactive activities, exploring the social and personal narratives that shape us, and digging into design tools to increase your creativity and confidence.

Reception

Connect with your fellow life designers in a casual setting. Enjoy the wine and cheese reception on the first evening.

1.5 Days of Life Design

The workshop begins at 8:00 am on Saturday morning. We’ll begin by understanding the life design process and setting your goals for the retreat. Our skilled facilitators will then guide a series of explorations into crafting the life you wish for. Participants receive a A Designing Your Life for Women Workbook for exercises and reflections.

Post Workshop Coaching

At the end of the workshop, the real journey begins. Registration includes a one-hour coaching session with the instructors and participants following the retreat.

Meet our facilitators

Kathy Davies, Former Director of Stanford’s Life Design Lab & Co-CEO DYL Consulting

Shanice Webb, Stanford Lecturer in the Life Design Lab and CEO of Transcend Thought

Catherine Dalipe, Certified Facilitator, Fieldbrook Consulting

Join the Global Community of Life Designers

What You'll Learn

The DYL Approach

Apply design thinking and design mindsets to life design, increasing your creativity and confident use of design tools.
Explore the social, gender and personal narratives that shape us.
Reframe dysfunctional beliefs, especially those unique to women.
Define the meaning of work and life and how they can be coherent to form your compass.
Design the balance and energy you need to fuel your life.
Envision three potential future lives and learn how to prototype the parts of these lives that are most compelling to you
Create a Designer’s Action plan for real change.
Connect with other women who could help you make progress on your action plan.

You won't want to miss this

Gain confidence in your future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the retreat include lodging?

We encourage participants to stay onsite for ease and comfort, but lodging is not included in the retreat cost. You are responsible for securing and paying for your own lodging, and may choose to stay onsite or at other local hotels.

Where should I stay?

The Dana Inn and Marina provides on-site accommodations and participants will have easy access to workshops and gatherings.

Below, are other lodging options in the area.

The Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina (half a mile from the the Dana Inn) 1441 Quivira Road, San Diego, California, USA 92109 Tel: +1-619-224-1234

Ocean Park Inn (15 minute drive, on the coast) 710 Grand Avenue, San Diego, California, USA 92109 Tel: +1-800-231-7735

Best Western Blue Sea Lodge (15 minute drive, on the coast) 707 Pacific Beach Drive, San Diego, California, USA 92109 Tel: +1-619-692-5287 Main: +1-858-488-4700

Holiday Inn Express & Suites(15 minute drive, inland) 635 Hotel Circle South, San Diego, California, USA 92108 Tel: +1-619-993-7299

Andaz (20 minute drive, near San Diego Zoo) 600 F Street, San Diego, California, USA 92101 Tel: +1-888-233-1234

Hampton Inn 1531 Pacific Highway, San Diego, California, USA 92101 Tel: +1-619-233-8408

What do I need to be aware of when booking flights and lodging?

** We highly recommend you book flights and accommodations that you can cancel and are refundable. DYL will not be liable for any charges you incur for changes or cancellations for flights and/or accommodations. **

What happens if the workshop is cancelled?

On rare occasions we may need to reschedule workshops for a better date in the future. If this happens to your workshop, we’ll offer you a chance to attend the future workshop or offer a full refund. We will work to give you 30 days notice so you have a chance to adjust travel plans.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

You can email our coordinator at: catherine@designingyour.life

Does the retreat include meals?

Yes, we include breakfast both days, lunch on Saturday and a wine and cheese reception on the first evening. You are responsible for your own dinners, and we will end the workshop on Sunday at 1:30 pm, in time for you to leave for lunch on your own. We are happy to help you with recommendations