Here we go again !
Fifteen delegates joined us at Centre Parcs Woburn Forest for our June Elephant Leadership Camp, representing an incredibly diverse range of organisations and sectors.
We were delighted to welcome returning delegates from British Steel and also from beauty group Alchemy&I, alongside managers, seniors and wannabe leaders from the worlds of technology, energy, housing associations, car park management, fashion, membership organisations and the charity sector.
As always, delegates arrived as strangers and individuals. They left as Leaders and as a Team.
Stand out moments
Standout moments from this Camp included:
Watching some of the quietest delegates discover the impact they could still speak up, without changing their style or being inauthentic, but by simply introducing their ideas to a group discussion with a powerful opening remark such as "May I throw a spanner in the works here ..."
Great discussions around the role of authentic human connection in leadership, reminding us that whilst technology and AI continue to take up more and more of the operational stage, real leadership remains fundamentally human.
The more talkative delegates learning the power of silence; discovering that sometimes the most impactful contribution is knowing when not to speak
Genuine trust and camaraderie developing between people who were complete strangers just a few days earlier
And ... we discovered that is illegal to sell human beings on eBay (who knew?!)
Insightful, impactful, human growth.
The Takeaways
Key Leadership Takeaways
Leadership is influence, not authority
Quiet leadership can be every bit as powerful as visible leadership
The quality of our listening often determines the quality of our leadership
Human connection remains the foundation of trust and engagement
Great leaders create the conditions for others to succeed
Sometimes the most powerful voice in the room is the one that speaks least
Leadership requires connections, connections require self-awareness, self-awareness requires feedback
Always best to lead like an Elephant ....
Camp Vibe
Invited to select their own 'vibe' for the Camp, delegates did just that.
Over three days, delegates challenged assumptions with humour, tested their leadership habits with curiosity and discovered new ways to influence those around them with energy and fun.
All achieved whilst making new friends-for-life.
Laughing, concentrating, even crying at times, all in the name of growth.
Everyone discovered the leader they truly wanted to be.
Immediate Feedback
An immediate post-Camp, 'off-the-cuff' request for single word feedback from Camp delegates, provided powerful simplistic immediate aftermath feelings.
Single word feedback included:
Energising.
Impactful.
Rewarding.
Challenging.
Introspective.
Empowering.
Inspiring.
Provocative.
Eye-opening.
Enlightening.
Awesome.
Exceptional.
Profound.
Considered Feedback
A day or two after Camp we asked for more considered feedback to help shape the future journey of others and in a quest for continual improvements . Considered feedback from June 2026 delegates included:
"I felt very lucky to be a camp member, it reminded me why I became a leader and helped me to re-energise my leadership brand. I met some fab people and had a lot of fun!"
"I'd do it all again in a heartbeat - I met some amazing people, those random strangers soon became my team (the best team, of course 😉), and the activities really stretched and developed us."
"Great experience, great coaching, meeting new enlightening people that all in all take you on a trip into possibilities that you didn’t fathom before."
Recognition
A special mention goes to our Camp Gold Award winner, Victoria Hodson (Alchemy&I), recognising the individual who travelled furthest on their leadership journey during the three days.
Victoria exemplified what many would describe as a "leader from the middle". While others naturally pushed the pace and brought energy to the challenges, Victoria demonstrated the often-overlooked skill of creating the conditions for success from inside the team, rather than standing aloof or on-high above the team effort.
She consistently checked that her team were with her, ensured everyone was heard, and quietly coordinated activity behind the scenes, allowing others to take the spot-light. Rather than driving from the front, Victoria's leadership style was to navigate, steer and create alignment. And at times, it was a masterclass of being aware of what was around her, while still lazer focussed on the goal.
Her calm influence, self-awareness and commitment to the team's success made her a worthy recipient of the June Gold Award..
What's Next ?
The Camp may be over, but the work is just beginning.
Delegates return to their organisations with:
• Greater self-awareness
• Enhanced communication skills
• Increased confidence
• A stronger leadership network
• A clearer understanding of their own Leadership Brand and how to use it
The challenge now is to put those insights into action.
To continue the conversations.
To lead with greater intention.
And to create the conditions for others to thrive.
AND - new to Elephant Leadership Camps for summer 2026, look out for the launch of our on-going one-2-one coaching offering to augment the Camp experience
Thank you, Class of June 2026.
You were a pleasure to work with.
Elephant Leadership Camps
Developing leadership from shop floor to top floor.
Come join the herd 🐘
Class of June 2026 — TrailBlazers all.
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