September 2026 Camp Report:
What Happens When You Mix It Up?
Another Elephant Leadership Camp completed. Another group of strangers who arrived at Woburn Forest on a Tuesday and left on the Thursday, having travelled rather further in three days than any of them expected.
And what a mix this one was.
We had senior and very senior execs and much more junior leaders too. We had seasoned experts in their fields working alongside rising talent, and high potentials. Some came to understand what the experience might offer the people they lead, but most came for their own growth and development.
Different industries. Different ages. Different levels of experience. Different personalities.
Exactly as we like it.
Because one of the things we believe strongly at Elephant Leadership Camps is that the mix is the value.
At Camp, we are people, not job titles.
And the class of Sept โ26 were special.
Hierarchy, experience and status disappeared into a rich blend of talent, challenge and learning.
Everyone had something to contribute. And everyone had something to learn.
Strangers very quickly became a team
The camaraderie, perhaps more than any other Camp, was noticeable from the start.
This was a particularly relaxed cohort, just as eager and ambitious to grow, but with a genuine determination to bond together and to raise each other up.
Despite the close bonds that forged so early, there was some seriously competitive spirit still on show. Perhaps a little too much competitive spirit at times!
We shared giggles, and tears, but always in the right proportions.
Under-pinning everything was exactly what Camp is designed to do: to uncover honest feedback, to create the environment for deep personal learning and provide great clarity about the impact we have on the people around us.
There was, at Camp Sept '26, almost equal amounts of challenge and stretch, feedback and reflection, laughter and hugs, progress and breakthroughs.
Leadership development shouldn't stop when your job title gets bigger and it doesnโt need to start at any particular point either.
We might all spend time alone sometimes wrestling with:
strategy,
pace
timing.
Or wondering about Imposter Syndrome, the challenge of leading Gen Z.
But with first-class leadership coaching from Greg and Victoria, lovely September weather and Woburn Forest as the backdrop, our September '26 Herd members travelled these thoughts as one, together, as a team, rising each other up all the time.
Musing became Clarity, Clarity became Insight, Insight became Breakthrough, and Breakthrough became Action Plans.
Camp Vibe
At Camp, we invite delegates to choose their own โvibesโ.
And this group chose vibes of togetherness: camaraderie, bonding and friendship.
Over the three days, they:
challenged assumptions with humour;
explored their leadership habits with curiosity; and
discovered new ways to influence and inspire those around them,
all within the psychologically safe environment they had deliberately created together.
There was energy. Lots of it. There was fun, plenty of laughter and some serious concentration along the way.
And alongside all the learning and the principles of Elephant Leadership Camps, everyone agreed they had discovered something else rather special:
New lifelong friends. ๐,
Feedback and thoughts
Always the best part of Camp is reading the feedback, both of the immediate kind and of the considered kind.
Here are a few thoughts that came in within a few hours of Camp closing - we look forward to reading more as reflections gently land and more reviews come in:
"Home safe but knackered. Great experience made greater by great people."
"Thanks for an amazing experience all!"
"Beyond the excellent curriculum, the highlight of the week was the incredible camaraderie built between the lodges. "
"Any decision I make in regards to my career from this point will be because of the influence and knowledge from Camp Elephant."
"So many popcorn moments, practical application, truly experiential learning. There's discomfort but safety, challenge with deep learning and a load of laughs with a fabulous group of new, amazing people."
"You are an inspiration ."
"Brilliant week with everyone involved. So much learning, so much laughter. Lots of reflecting to do now.."
"A powerful mix of leadership techniques, honest reflection, shared learning, and a little more emotion than expected."
"still have a lot of figuring out to do, but Iโm doing it with more clarity and more confidence in who I am and what I bring to the table, all thanks Elephant Leadership Camp"
"Sophie! I bloody loved you!"
(really not sure that we need THIS sort of feedback though, it will only go to her head ! - Andy)
And the Gold Award goes to...
Our September Camp Gold Award went to Jo Dimbleby from Axil.
Jo was a fabulous delegate who gave enormously to her team from the very beginning.
She was also managing a significant workload outside Camp, occasionally having to duck in and out to deal with the real world, while somehow remaining completely engaged with the Camp experience and the people around her.
Rather than allowing that pressure to restrict her learning, Jo built real personal momentum across the three days and left Camp with plenty to take back into the next stage of her career. A very worthy winner.
Another Camp done. More to come.
September '26 Camp was another reminder of why we deliberately bring together people who wouldn't normally find themselves meeting, let alone learning, together.
Job titles left at the door.
Leadership on full display.
Bring on the friendships.
Bring on the growth.
Next Camp: 13thโ15th October 2026.
There are still a small number of places available.
If you'd like one of them, reach out, and we'll see you at Camp. ๐
Thank you, Class of September 2026.
You were a pleasure to work with.
Elephant Leadership Camps
Developing leadership from shop floor to top floor.
Come join the herd ๐
Class of Sept 2026 โ well done all.
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