The Ascent — A Gathering of Extraordinary Women
Five days. One castle.
A world outside the ordinary.
Join women from around the world for five days in a castle in Poland. Reconnect with yourself, explore new possibilities, and discover what it means to lead on your own terms.
MARCH 10–14, 2027
MOSZNA CASTLE, POLAND
What if, for five days,
nobody needed anything from you?
NO TITLE.
NO ROLE.
NO EXPECTATIONS.
JUST CURIOSITY.
A gathering of
EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN
Wonder, connection, and momentum for your
personal and professional life.
Step outside the usual and into extraordinary experiences, conversations, and moments designed to spark curiosity, open up new possibilities, and give you space to think about what comes next.
The goal isn’t to tell you who to become.
It’s for you to reconnect with what’s already yours:
YOUR VISION.
YOUR VOICE.
YOUR AUTHORITY.
THIS EXPERIENCE IS FOR YOU IF YOU’RE LEADING…
A company
A team
A movement
A business
of one
Family or
community
A transition
Your own
authority
This is an open invitation to women globally.
Wonderful things happen when you give yourself
permission to step into the unknown.
STEP INTO
THE UNEXPECTED
A five-day gathering of women from around the world, in a castle that feels like stepping into a story.
Expect experiences that awaken your sense of wonder, conversations that spark curiosity, and plenty we’re intentionally leaving for you to discover.
Designed and produced by:
The College of Extraordinary Experiences in partnership with members of the alumni network.
Wake up somewhere extraordinary.
Follow your curiosity.
Make space for something new.
Wake up to do it again.
WHAT STAYS
WITH YOU
More than memories.
Like any meaningful experience, what stays with you will depend on what you’re open to exploring. But the experience is designed to create space for greater clarity, deeper connection, and new ways of seeing yourself and the world around you.
Perspective
New ways of seeing yourself and the world around you.
Connection
A broader network and new opportunities.
Clarity
More clarity and actionable steps towards your goals.
HOSTS
THE WOMEN BEHIND
THE EXPERIENCE
Meet the women designing and guiding the experience. Get to know their approach, their work, and what each of them brings to the gathering.
Together, we’ll rethink power, purpose, and play and reimagine what’s possible.
Frances Vieras Blanc
Experience Designer & Immersive Strategist
VIEW BIO — Frances Vieras Blanc
Frances Vieras Blanc is a creative director, experience designer, and immersive strategist who has spent over 30 years using story to shape perspectives, spark wonder, entertain, and bring new ideas to life across stage, film, video games, and live events.
That foundation became the engine behind Eat the Cake Studio, her immersive design studio based in France, where since 2019 she has been channeling three decades of storytelling craft into bold brand activations, destination experiences, narrative events, and cultural programming – designing immersive experiences with real impact, making brands impossible to ignore and audiences authentically engaged.
Now, she is taking everything she has learned and translating it into what inspires her most: designing intentional gatherings in narrative settings. As a designer of narrative gatherings, Frances creates immersive, story-based retreats, festivals, and seminars where personal and professional transformation is the heart of the design – gatherings built to change how people connect to themselves, each other, and the world around them.
Frances first walked through the doors of the College of Extraordinary Experiences in 2019 as a participant, and never really left. What began as a profound encounter with what a gathering could be became a years-long co-creative relationship: Co-Prefect in 2023, producer of the inaugural Cabaret of Curiosity that same year, and creator of the Imaginarium – the College’s closing immersive celebration – in 2024 and 2025. This year, she leads the College’s first-ever Experience Team, designing the on-site experiences and supporting participants in building their own.
It is out of this community, and this conviction, that the College’s first women’s leadership event was born. It is a gathering for women, by women, designed for authentic storytelling, deep transformation, and the kind of connection that only happens when women come together with intention.
A recognized leader in the immersive industry, Frances is also a founding member of the World Experience Organization (WXO) and its Global Experience Council, co-founder and president of JeDI Immersif, and co-creator of Les Journées de l’Immersif, France’s largest immersive industry gathering.
Natalia Haichuk
Creative Producer
VIEW BIO — Natalia Haichuk
Natalia believes that extraordinary experiences are created through curiosity, thoughtful details, and genuine human connection. She is passionate about designing environments where people feel welcomed, inspired, and free to discover something new about themselves and each other.
Originally from Ukraine and now based in Copenhagen, Natalia brings a background in hospitality and immersive event production, with a deep appreciation for beauty, creativity, and the small moments that often leave the biggest impression. She believes that while individual details may seem simple on their own, together they create the feeling people remember long after an experience ends.
Natalia first joined the team of College of Extraordinary Experiences 4 years ago, driven by curiosity about the community and a desire to explore her own potential. She is honored to now co-create the Extraordinary Women Retreat, helping bring ideas to life and creating spaces where women feel a sense of belonging, inspiration, and wonder.
Sara Mirza
Leadership Coach & Change Consultant
VIEW BIO — Sara Mirza
Sara’s background in organizational change management and leadership development spans organizations ranging from high-growth startups to global enterprises.
Today, she helps individuals, couples, teams, and organizations initiate and navigate change personal and professional transformation.
Sara facilitates educational and coaching experiences that help people approach life, career, and workplace dynamics with curiosity, wonder, and courage.
She joined the College of Extraordinary Experiences as a participant for the first time in 2024, returned as a crew member in 2025 and currently serves as an Advisor to the College.
In addition to her work as a Leadership and Change Consultant, Sara is a Psychology Instructor at Laney College in Oakland, and a certified hypnotherapist, and intuitive development coach with a practice in Berkeley, CA.
Whether it’s through a Psychology class, a podcast episode, a 1:1 coaching session, a team workshop, couples coaching, or women’s retreats, Sara helps her clients become conscious creators and strategic designers of their life and work experience.
PLAN YOUR
EXPERIENCE
A gathering of extraordinary women
MARCH 10–14, 2027
MOSZNA CASTLE, POLAND
FOR PLANNING YOUR EXPERIENCE
participants are responsible for their travel to Wroclaw or Katowice.
We will arrange transportation from the airport or train station to the castle.
REAL PEOPLE.
Lasting Impressions.
You may know us from 10 years of castle experiences, 700+ participants with reviews like this one:
“This was in the top five experiences of my life. It was transformative. It was beautiful. I met so many wonderful people who’ve influenced me in the most amazing ways.”
Christie Cleveland
FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS
Something else on your mind?
When is The Ascent?
The Ascent takes place Wednesday, March 10 through Sunday, March 14, 2027.
If you're traveling from far away, we recommend arriving in Poland a day or two early. Giving yourself time to recover from jet lag will help you feel rested, present, and ready to enjoy the experience.
Where does it take place?
We'll gather at Moszna Castle in Moszna, Poland, a beautiful historic castle that sets the stage for five extraordinary days together.
Specific arrival locations and pickup times will be shared as we get closer to the event.
How do I get to the castle?
We'll arrange transportation from designated airport or train station pickup locations to the castle.
You'll just need to make your way to one of those locations. We'll provide pickup details ahead of time so you can plan accordingly.
What's included in the price?
We've taken care of the essentials so you can focus on the experience.
Your participation includes accommodations, meals, activities, and transportation from designated arrival pickup locations to the castle.
Travel to the designated pickup locations isn't included. Private room upgrades, when available, are an additional cost.
Is this experience exclusively for women?
The Ascent is designed for women and those who identify as women. All classes and learning experiences will be led by women.
There will be some male staff working behind the scenes at the venue, but the experience itself is centered on creating a space for women to connect, explore, and grow together.
Can I come on my own?
Absolutely! You don't need to know anyone before you arrive.
In fact, meeting people from different backgrounds and walks of life is part of what makes this experience so special.
What are the accommodations like?
You'll share a room with another participant. Room sharing has been part of the College experience for years, helping people connect and build friendships in unexpected ways.
If someone you know is attending, you're welcome to request to share a room. As long as both participants agree, we can arrange for you to room together.
Prefer your own space? Private rooms may be available for an additional fee, subject to availability.
What if I have dietary restrictions or special requirements?
Please let us know about any dietary needs, accessibility requirements, or other special considerations during your interview.
We'll do everything we can to accommodate your needs and help you feel comfortable throughout the experience.
What if I don't consider myself a leader?
You don't need a leadership title to belong here.
We believe leadership isn't just about managing a team or running a company. It's about how you show up, make decisions, connect with others, and shape your own life.
We're bringing together women from different backgrounds, professions, and experiences because there's so much we can learn from one another.
If something about this experience speaks to you, we encourage you to apply.
IF YOU’RE CALLED, JOIN US AND
STEP INTO YOUR
EXTRAORDINARY ERA
A gathering of wonder, connection,
and possibility.
Let’s Talk.
Need more answers?