Leaders in Tech FAQ

What will I learn at Leaders in Tech?

Leaders in Tech programs focus on experiential learning. People take away many different things from the experience, including learning how they impact others, when they are most influential, and how effectively they lead.  Many participants have described the experience as intense, eye-opening, and profoundly valuable professionally and personally.  We recommend you take a look at alumni testimonials and watch panels with our Fellows alumni to learn more.

What programs do you offer?

We offer Retreats and Fellows. Our retreats are 4-day in-person immersive experiences for approximately 12 participants at a venue in or around the Bay Area. We organize retreats for investors, early-stage founders, late-stage founders, executives, and influential leaders in the tech ecosystem. Our Fellows program is only for founders and senior executives at seed to pre-IPO startups. Fellows begins with a retreat and includes a year of monthly learning groups afterwards.

What happens at a Retreat? 

Leaders in Tech retreats are based on the Interpersonal Dynamics (“touchy feely”) class at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. They take place over four days at a retreat venue in or around the Bay Area and include one or two groups of approximately 12 participants. During retreats participants spend the majority of the time in T-Group, a form of experiential group training where participants learn about themselves through interactions with others. We also provide didactic learning and exercises between T-Group sessions that focus on themes like influence, giving and receiving feedback, and navigating conflict.

I have a coach; should I participate in LIT?

Yes, you should still participate. The LIT curriculum is group-centric and the focus of the program is on the value participants can get through reflection, feedback, support, and being challenged in a group setting. In our experience, one-on-one coaching is a complement to this kind of learning. In addition, the LIT program seeks to develop and foster a tightly bonded community of values-aligned peers that can be valuable for the rest of your career.

I’m going through a hard time; should I participate in LIT?

Leaders in Tech programs can be emotionally intense. If you are having a hard time, we recommend you consult your therapist and/or close friends about participating in a T-Group before joining the program, as well as let us know so we can discuss the opportunity with you. In some circumstances we recommend that people wait to participate in LIT until their lives are more emotionally stable and they have the energy for what can be an intense and rewarding experience.

Should I participate if I’m not located in the Bay Area?

Yes, LIT participants come from all over the world. As long as you are able to commit to the travel required for your program (travel to and from retreats, plus once a quarter travel to San Francisco for our Fellows program) you shouldn’t think twice about participating if you live outside the Bay Area.

What happens after the retreat?

Most groups stay in touch for many years and some organize their own recurring programming with LIT facilitators. We’re in the process of formalizing an ongoing offering for the community and hope to share more information on this soon.

What if I don’t qualify for the program I’m interested in?

You can find the qualifications for the program you are interested in on the respective program page. If you are unsure if you qualify, we recommend applying anyways and our team will route you to the right program for you.

Can I participate with my cofounder, investor, or partner?

We do our best to avoid placing investors and founders in programs together due to the impact power dynamics can have on vulnerability and peer learning. We also avoid placing colleagues and partners together for this same reason. However, we encourage your investors, cofounders, and/or partner to participate in a separate LIT program.

How can I nominate or refer somebody (or myself) for your programs?

Nominations and referrals can be made at any time using this form. This includes self-nominations.

Can I leave the program early or step aside for a meeting?

The LIT program is based around the creation of highly intimate trusted groups with a lot of shared knowledge.  As such, it is very important that all members make a firm commitment to attend the retreat and all peer learning group sessions (for Fellows), as your absence will hinder the value of the experience for everyone in your group. 

What is the admissions process?

The admissions process for retreats consists of being nominated for LIT by a partner or alumni, submitting an application, interviewing with our admissions team for 30 minutes, and then being invited to join. If the applicant requests financial aid or has additional questions about the program, we’re happy to schedule additional calls as needed. For Fellows, which is a more selective process, not every applicant will be moved to the interview stage.

What if I can’t afford the participation fee?

We offer payment plans and scholarships to qualified candidates and do our best to never turn anyone away due to their ability to pay. All applicants have the ability to request a scholarship as part of the program application. If in doubt, we recommend you apply and discuss your situation with our admissions team.

What makes a good participant?

We look for participants who are on a trajectory to make a large positive impact in the world and who are open to learning, along with being open to the vulnerability and experimentation that learning frequently entails.

How often do you hold programs?

Each year we run eight to ten retreats for founders and executives, one to two retreats for investors and influential leaders, and one cohort of Fellows. If you are interested in participating but don’t see a time that works for you, email hello@leadersintech.org and we will notify you when we announce a new program.

What is your refund and cancellation policy?

Please see our full refund and cancellation policy here. We email this to all applicants prior to payment.

What if my question wasn’t answered here?

Email hello@leadersintech.org and we’ll get right back to you!