Align Your Career With Purpose
A 3-Day Career Transition Retreat for Senior Women in Education & Philanthropy
Kefalonia Island, Greece | 29 September – 2 October 2026 | Limited to 8 Participants
For Women Who Are Ready to Pivot Their Career. Now It's Time to Define Your Own
You've built a meaningful career in education, philanthropy, or international development. You've managed programs, led teams, created impact. But somewhere along the way, the work that once energized you has started to feel misaligned with your purpose, goals and values.
Are you looking at your successful career in an exciting position and are nonetheless questioning if this is what you wish to do for the next 10 to 20 years?
Are you wondering about the purpose of your engagements?
Are you curious about different work paths, like consulting, or designing a portfolio career that aligns more with your values but don't know where to start?
Are you ready for more strategic work but cannot yet quite articulate what that could look like?
You're at an inflection point, and that is the start of a new path forward.
And you deserve more than circling the same questions alone.
We have created a space where you can reflect on your own and in a trusted community of peers who share the same questions and are willing to start on the same path as you, finding your own individual mission.
Three Days to Discover Your North Star
Set at the beautiful, tranquil Rodi Studios boutique hotel on the island of Kefalonia, this is an immersive retreat designed specifically for senior level women navigating career transitions in purpose-driven sectors (such as global education, philanthropy, MEL or research), combining strategic clarity with coaching and free time, peer support with expert guidance, reflection with action planning.
You'll find:
✓ Your clear North Star – Your directional career purpose that guides decisions for years to come
✓ Pathway clarity – Understanding whether traditional employment, consulting, or portfolio career aligns with who you are now
✓ Your decision-making compass – A framework for assessing the alignment of opportunities with your values
✓ Confidence to advocate for yourself – Fully owning your expertise and asking for what you deserve, without apology
✓ An authentic professional voice – Your unique perspective and visibility strategy for LinkedIn, networking, and writing
✓ A 90-day action roadmap – Concrete next steps with brave first moves
✓ A peer network – Connections with 5-7 other women on similar journeys who understand your context
The Experience
The Retreat Journey at a Glance
This immersive 3-day experience is designed for senior and mid-career women navigating a professional inflection point, ready to realign work with purpose and values, redefine direction, and design what comes next.
Set in the lush surroundings of Kefalonia Island, the retreat takes place in the tranquil, intimate setting of the Rodi Studios boutique hotel, a space intentionally chosen for its calm, natural beauty, and reflective atmosphere. Surrounded by olive groves, sea views, and the slow rhythm of island life, participants step out of their everyday environments and into a setting that allows for spacious thinking, honest reflection, and meaningful conversation.
Through a blend of strategic frameworks, guided reflection, peer dialogue and a trusted community, you will move from questioning to clarity, and leave with a grounded action plan and a supportive peer community.
Throughout: Space for Integration
Afternoons (Free Time):
The spaciousness is intentional. Career transitions require time to integrate, reflect, and let insights settle. Rest by the pool overlooking the Ionian Sea, walk among olive trees or to nearby beaches, process in your journal.
Optional Cultural Experiences (book separately):
Gentle hike on Mount Aenos overlooking the Ionian Sea
Wine tasting at local vineyards
Olive oil press tours
Organic honey maker visits
Excursion to Myrtos Beach (ranked among world's top 10)
Cooking classes with local chefs
Transformation happens in unexpected moments: the afternoon walk where yesterday's insight clicks into place, over morning coffee when your North Star crystallizes, in conversations where the right question unlocks what you already knew.
Your Facilitator: Nora Marketos
Nora Marketos is the founder of PurposePhil Career and mentors senior professionals navigating career transitions in education, philanthropy, and international development, particularly women exploring portfolio careers, consulting, or strategic leadership. In her 1:1 and cohort mentoring sessions, she uses a blend of coaching exercises, strategic planning and expert mentoring incorporating existing frameworks such as Ikigai with sector-specific and personal reflections.
Her approach is grounded in 15+ years leading multi-million dollar social impact initiatives across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. As a Director at the Jacobs Foundation, she managed a CHF 30M+ annual portfolio and built strategic alliances across UN agencies, foundations, NGOs, and the private sector.
She lives what she teaches: Nora splits her year between strategic consulting, partnership facilitation, talent work and managing a boutique hotel in Greece, a portfolio career model she helps participants design for themselves.
Currently conducting research on female leadership in education and philanthropy, Nora brings sector-specific expertise no generic career coach can offer. She founded PurposePhil Career, serving 630+ professionals across 100+ countries.
EMBA, MAS in International Development, MA in Social Anthropology | Speaks 5 languages
Combining senior leadership in the philanthropic and humanitarian sector with certified systemic-psychological coaching, Philine Zimmerli coaches leadership professionals through career transitions, organisational change and complex professional challenges.
She brings over 15 years of leadership experience in international development and humanitarian cooperation. As a member of the senior leadership team of a global humanitarian organisation, she led international programmes in 10 countries, managed medium-sized teams and contributed to organisational restructuring and strategic transformation. Before that, she spent more than a decade developing and implementing programmes and advocacy strategies in child and youth development across Europe for a large philanthropic foundation and served as co-managing director in the field of labour market integration for a public institution in Switzerland.
She understands from her own leadership journey how organisational transformation and career transitions affect direction, identity and purpose. Participants value her empathetic and clear presence, combining strategic clarity with open and direct dialogue.
Certified Systemic-Psychological Coach | MAS in Children’s Rights | Fully Qualified Lawyer (Germany) | speaks 3 languages
The Setting: Rodi Studios, Kefalonia
Nestled among olive trees with breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Aenos, Rodi Studios offers the tranquil setting essential for transformation.
Why this matters: Career transitions require separation from daily routines. When you're physically removed from your inbox, others' expectations, and routine momentum, you finally have permission to ask: What do I actually want?
What you'll experience:
Fully renovated rooms with minimalist design
Stunning sea views, large swimming pool and peaceful surroundings with olive trees
Multilingual hospitality (English, German, French, Spanish)
Minutes' drive from a variety of sandy beaches and traditional tavernas (transport is required and can be organized by us)
Family-run boutique hotel with authentic Greek warmth and great pool bar
Who This Retreat Is For
You're the right fit if you:
Have 10-15+ years in education, philanthropy, development, or MEL
Feel misaligned with your current role
Are curious about other career options, such as fractional work, consulting or portfolio careers
Want to develop your authentic professional voice and visibility
Are willing to be vulnerable and do deep self-reflection and peers
This retreat is NOT for you if you:
Want quick fixes or job placement services
Need tactical help (CV review, interview prep) vs. strategic clarity
Aren't ready to invest in yourself
Don't feel comfortable reflecting in a trusted group
Women-only format: Creates space for conversations about ambition without apology, asking for what you deserve, navigating caregiving and career, and designing work that honors both impact and sustainable rhythms.
Why This Investment Is Worth It
You've been thinking about making a change for how long? Six months? A year? Longer?
Every month in misalignment costs you: Sunday night dread, missed opportunities, the gap between the impact you could have and the impact you are having.
This retreat compresses years of circling into 3 focused days of clarity.
What Makes This Different
✓ Strategic clarity of expert career coaching
✓ Peer support and vulnerability of group work
✓ Sector-specific insights no generic coach offers
✓ Concrete roadmap, not just inspiration
The Expertise You Can't Find Elsewhere
Generic coaches don't understand foundation cultures, MEL pathways, nonprofit-to-consulting transitions, or why you can't just "ask for more money."
Nora does. She's guided 50+ senior professionals in this sector, built her own successful portfolio career, and researches female leadership in this space.
The Peer Cohort Is Transformative
Spend three days with women who understand your trade-offs, speak your language, and are equally invested in change. These connections become collaborators, accountability partners, and sounding boards for years.
The Long View
What you decide in the next 6 months shapes the next 10-20 years. You've invested years building expertise, this is the investment in clarity about where that expertise takes you next.
Investment & Booking
Early Bird (until March 31, 2026): €1,250
Standard Pricing: €1,500
Deposit to secure spot: €300
What's Included:
✓ All workshops (9 hours over 3 days)
✓ Welcome apéro riche with Greek specialties on arrival
✓ 45-min individual consultation
✓ 3 nights accommodation
✓ Daily rich breakfast, dinner + fresh fruits throughout the day
✓ Materials, templates, frameworks
✓ Post-retreat resource package
Not Included: Lunch, optional activities, travel to Kefalonia
Cancellation Policy:
90+ days before: 100% refund (deposit non-refundable)
Under 90 days: No refund (we'll attempt to fill your spot)
FAQ
Between jobs, is this still for me?
Yes! Perfect for employed and exploring, between roles, or actively searching.
Interested in consulting but don't know where to start?
We explore consulting pathways, pricing, positioning, and first clients.
Can my employer pay?
Possibly. Position as leadership development. We provide documentation.
Group size?
5-8 women for intimate, high-quality experience.
What if I can't attend after booking?
Deposits non-refundable. 90+ days: 100% refund. Under 90 days: no refund.
What should I bring?
Comfortable clothes, swimwear, walking shoes, journal, open mind.
Meals?
Rich breakfast included daily. Welcome apéro riche on arrival. Pool bar with healthy options and organized taverna dinners available for lunch/dinner.
How do I get there?
Kefalonia Airport (EFL): direct flights from London, Manchester, Milan, Amsterdam, Munich, Frankfurt, Vienna, Athens. Ferry from Italy also possible.
Can I pay in installments?
Yes. €300 deposit + remainder by June 29, 2026.
Future dates?
Email [email protected] to join waitlist.
Questions?
Email: [email protected]