Launched in 1997 and nestled on the serene shores of Cortes Island, British Columbia, Hollyhock is a retreat center and leadership institute dedicated to personal growth, inspired leadership, and positive change. Over four decades, the organization has provided transformative programs to thousands of social change leaders from environmental and social justice organizations, First Nations communities, nonprofits, and social ventures, offering nearly 100 annual programs that weave together innovation, wellness, and deep commitment to the human experience. In 2008, Hollyhock became a registered nonprofit charity with permanent legal protections on the land, and launched its Leadership Institute Conference series connecting progressive leaders across sectors and generations through peer-to-peer learning and skill-building. The Dana Bass Solomon Scholarship Fund, established in 2018, provides full-ride scholarships for emerging leaders in community innovation, arts and culture, and social and environmental change. Hollyhock’s foundational belief is that personal growth and social transformation are inseparable—lasting change in the world begins when we renew our connection with ourselves, each other, and the living world.
Why this matters for Conscious Leadership and Leading Organizational Transformation: Hollyhock demonstrates how leadership development becomes most powerful when it integrates personal transformation, connection with nature, and peer learning in immersive environments away from daily pressures. Their long history of convening leaders across movements creates cross-pollination of ideas and practices while their commitment to scholarship ensures diverse voices shape the future of conscious leadership, modeling how retreat-based learning can catalyze both individual renewal and collective capacity for navigating complex change.
