My Gold Standard & Real You Leadership
THE COLLECTIVE CREATION RETREAT
IN OAXACA CITY, MEXICO
The world is unraveling -- disasters, injustice, grief, and rage surround us. The weight of our communities being under attack is heavy, survival mode and overwhelm is rampant, and the urgency to act feels endless.
Let this retreat be a deep, nourishing exhale. A space to reconnect with your creative heart and purpose -- not as an escape, but as a way to sustain your work as a leader, artist, and changemaker.
What if your grief and rage weren’t burdens to carry alone but fuel for collective power and transformation?
What if you could create, heal, and lead -- without shrinking your voice, diluting your dreams, and burning out in the process?
What if collective liberation wasn’t just a dream but a daily practice we build together through art, activism, and deep community care?
The Collective Creation Retreat is a sanctuary of creativity and activism for QTBIPOC women, femmes, and nonbinary friends where we will ignite radical change, dismantle systems, and build a future rooted in liberation and community care.
May 12 - 16, 2025
Dear Leader, Artist, Activist, & Healer,
You feel overwhelmed by the world’s suffering and long for a community where you can both give and receive support.
You’re tired of the spiritual bypassing in coaching and wellness spaces and yearn for a place where your rage and grief are not only welcomed, but seen as sacred.
You want to be celebrated for exactly who you are: queer, nonbinary, trans, indigenous, Black, brown, asian *insert all the things* that this world deems as ‘other’.
You desire a space where you can break free from the oppressive systems that have kept you small, and instead, create the life and future you’ve always dreamed of.
You hear the call to step the fuck up and create meaningful impact—but you know you can’t do it alone.
Imagine being nourished, rested, and resourced while embracing and stepping into your role as a:
🔥 Leader taking bold action toward collective liberation, knowing every move you make -- no matter how big or small -- shapes the future.
🎨 Artist unapologetically creating as a an act of resistance, beauty, and inspiring movements.
✊🏽 Activist alchemizing grief, rage, and hope into fuel to create lasting change.
🌿 Healer sharing your magic and medicine as a form of community care.
This is your space to be poured into, to reignite inspiration, and rejuvenate as you create new possibilities -- for you, your people, and our world.
This retreat is not about fixing yourself
Because you were never broken. It’s about remembering, reclaiming, and reimagining who you are as a leader, creator, and human being.
You learned to abandon parts of yourself for survival for too long--but now you’re ready to reclaim those neglected parts of you through unapologetic self-expression.
You’ve tried other spaces doing “the work” but have left feeling more lost, disappointed, and unsupported.
You’ve been told to ‘show up authentically’ and ‘be the change you want to see in the world’ but stepping into that power feels terrifying. What if you’re not ready? What if you’re rejected? What if you fail? What do you do if you achieve that?
But what if the way forward isn’t about pushing harder and grinding through it all -- what if it’s about being held, heard, and seen? What if transformation isn’t just about surviving the struggle, but about thriving through community, creativity, and care?
THE COLLECTIVE CREATION RETREAT
THE COLLECTIVE CREATION RETREAT
The Collective Creation Retreat is a sanctuary of creativity and activism where we will ignite radical change, dismantle systems, and build a future rooted in liberation and community care.
Join Nadia of Real You Leadership & Stella of My Gold Standard for a week immersed in Oaxaca City alongside other QTBIPOC women, femmes, and nonbinary friends, in May 2025.
This is not your average retreat or vacation.
Vacations are often treated as an escape. They also tend to exploit the land and cause harm to the local communities when not done ethically and with intention.
Joining our collective is entering a radical space for healing, creation, and liberation. This experience is designed for you to reconnect with your creative power, process grief and rage, and step into your leadership with clarity and purpose.
At the same time, we will center the land we’ll be guests of, honoring the indigenous and local people, using money as a resource that empowers local businesses, guides, teachers, and practitioners.
We will be holding this container for 8 aligned attendees only. We have 4 more spots left.
✨Save the dates: May 12 - 16, 2025✨
Through 5 days of guided practices in grief work, creativity, & leadership, you will:
✨ Embrace your innate creativity so you no longer hide your art from those who need it.
✨ Redefine leadership not as a title or an ‘authority’, but within the everyday moments when you choose radical honesty over perfection, repair over avoidance, and bravery over comfort.
✨ Cultivate self-trust by learning to hear your own voice beneath the noise—so you can set boundaries without guilt, make bold decisions (like speaking out against transphobes and racists without second-guessing), and stand in your truth even when others don’t understand.
✨ Expand your capacity to hold space for grief, healing, and transformation not just for yourself, but for those around you so you can be a witness – without the urgency to fix. You will know that grief and rage are portals to be processed in community, not burdens to deal with on your own.
✨ Step forward with bravery into a future built on deep love, justice, and collective care—by taking action against fascism, by organizing mutual aid networks to resist capitalism, by disrupting the white supremacist status quo, and by becoming ungovernable.
This is your invitation to create something new—not just for yourself, but for the world. Are you ready?
Retreat Details
Oaxaca Land Acknowledgement
We would like to begin by acknowledging the land on which we will gather, Oaxaca, Mexico, and the Indigenous Zapotec, Mixtecos, Mazatecos, Mixes, and Chinantecos, among 120+ many others who have been stewards of these vibrant lands for many generations.
We honor the Indigenous caretakers of these lands and waters – the elders who lived here before, the Indigenous today, and the generations to come.
As guests, we commit to giving more than we take, being respectful in our presence, and dedicating time and resources to empowering the Indigenous and local communities.
What’s included:
🌱 Lodging nestled in the heart of Oaxaca City's Centro (private bedroom w/ A/C, wifi, outdoor space, washer & dryer)
🌱 9 meals: Welcome dinner, breakfast Tue-Fri, lunch Tues - Thur, completion dinner on our last night
🌱 Guided activities, ceremony, workshops, and movement
🌱 Tips & gratuities for meals and scheduled activities with local and indigenous practitioners and teachers
🌱 Other surprises to be shared and plenty of spaciousness to enjoy Oaxaca, rest, and rejuvenate.
🌱 1 virtual “meet & greet” gathering pre-retreat with all retreat attendees, so you can meet people beforehand to ease any nerves around not knowing anyone! We will also connect everyone via a group chat to begin building relationships.
🌱 1 integration focused virtual gathering post retreat to stay rooted, connected, and supported by community in your day to day lives.
What’s NOT included:
▶︎ Your flight to/from Oaxaca Airport
▶︎ Personal, medical or trip cancellation insurance
▶︎ Transportation to/from Airport and our retreat space
▶︎ Additional activities during free time (but we will share an extensive list of recommendations for you to do!)
▶︎ Dinner Tuesday & Wednesday, so you can explore the many incredible restaurants and food stands Oaxaca City has to offer!
Who This is For
QTBIPOC women, femmes, and nonbinary friends that want to step into sacred and liberatory leadership that centers the collective.
Changemakers who want to embody what it means to dream and have hope for radical transformation and impact.
Creatives who desire a space to play, take risks, and dismantle internalized perfectionism.
Activists & Healers who are ready to share the responsibility of collective care in a world that glorifies martyrdom and individualism.
Those who have the financial capacity to invest in this retreat experience.
Who This is NOT For
You just want a vacation in Oaxaca without participating in the collective creation work.
You have no desire to learn basic Spanish to be respectful to the local community and culture where we are guests.
You are not ready to commit to this work and be a participant in the community. Think of this container as a community garden that requires tending to flourish and grow into a supportive ecosystem that supports YOU and the collective.
You believe that gender is restricted to a binary and do not want to honor peoples’ pronouns.
You are not ready to be in a space that addresses potentially activating/triggering topics around capitalism, generational trauma, and the oppressive systems we live in. It’s completely okay if you’re not ready (this is not a bad thing)! We share this as a disclaimer and so you can make an informed decision around your own boundaries and limits.
You expect a get “healed” quick process - liberation, healing, grief work, and leadership is a lifelong journey that requires honoring a slow and steady process that we have carefully and intentionally cultivated in our retreat planning.
You are unable to respect the unpredictability of local infrastructure. Water shortages, electricity outages, limited Wi-Fi access, and other disruptions can occur due to rapid tourism growth without adequate infrastructure support. Roads may be unpaved or affected by weather conditions, and transportation delays are common. As a responsible guest, it’s crucial to approach these realities with awareness, adaptability, and a commitment to sustainability. Being mindful of your resource consumption—such as conserving water and electricity—helps support the local community and ensures a more ethical and respectful presence. This experience requires letting go of westernized expectations and embracing the local environment with humility and care.
Applications are open for enrollment.
Space is limited:
We will be holding this container for 8 aligned attendees and have 4 spots left.
Investment: $4,250
Option 1: Pay-in-Full with Bonuses
Total: $4,250
Bonuses included:
A 50-minute 1:1 coaching session with Nadia ($650 value).
A 90-minute 1:1 coaching session with Stella ($500 value).
We’d love to spend this bonus 1:1 time with you before or after the retreat—your choice! Together, we’ll bring our unique expertise to help you feel fully supported and aligned with your goals.
Option 2: Monthly Payment Plan
The payment plan adjusts based on your start month (e.g., 3 months of $1416.67 if starting in February, etc.)
No interest! Just simple, predictable auto-payments
Client Testimonials
Meet Nadia (she/her) – Founder of Real You Leadership
Nadia De Ala is a leadership and negotiation coach for BIPOC women and femmes, with a soulful approach to human-centered leadership. Known for 'keeping it real' and cutting through corporate jargon, she’s been featured in Teen Vogue, HuffPost, and CNBC for her empowering work. As a consultant, speaker, and facilitator, she focuses on growth, healing, and overcoming systemic oppression, with a passion for leadership, advocacy, and reimagining work environments.
Nadia is a proud Filipina, the daughter of immigrants, and is dedicated to supporting intentionally marginalized communities. She’s an advocate for living authentically, embracing abundance, and is committed to helping her clients step into their power with joy. When she’s not coaching or leading workshops, she’s traveling, creating art, and enjoying life in Oaxaca, Mexico.
“My intention for this retreat is to welcome you to my new home, Oaxaca, and create a space where you can bring your whole, real self — unmasked and unfiltered. I want you to rest, dream boldly, play freely, learn deeply, and create whatever is ready to emerge from within you. My hope is that you leave affirmed, with a renewed sense of power, clarity, and connection — to yourself, to each other, and to the future you are ready to build.” – Nadia
Meet STELLA (THEY/THEM) – Founder of MY GOLD STANDARD
Stella Gold is a Rebirth + Wealth Coach and Death Doula for changemakers and comes from a lineage of activists. They are the founder of My Gold Standard, a believer in wealth activism, pro liberation from all oppressive systems, and collective care.
My Gold Standard's work is a blend of wealth and business coaching, grief, death, and end of life planning, and spirituality. They believe in using business and financial literacy as an ecosystem for financial solidarity for ourselves AND the collective. What they are truly about is resourcing ourselves & the collective in creating a more just and liberated world, and rebirthing a new way forward.
Their ancestors are filipinx, romanian jewish, scottish, irish, chinese, italian, iranian, french, german, and british. They hold values and beliefs in abolitionism, anarchism, decolonization, and collective liberation. They are currently based in the Kingdom of Hawai’i. Outside of their business, you can find them freediving, painting, rollerskating, gaming, and communing with nature.
“Oppressive systems often try to erase our sense of agency and power. I’m here to remind you of the infinite possibilities that open up when we reclaim that power, both for ourselves and for the collective. The world needs you whole, centered, and resourced. My intention is to create a brave space alongside you—one where we can dream freely, beyond the limits we've been taught. Being alive is an art, and I’m excited to join you in co-creating and rebirthing beautiful pathways together.” – Stella
join the COLLECTIVE CREATION RETREAT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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No, air travel is not included. We recommend arriving before 4PM in Oaxaca City on Monday, May 12th. We will be checking out on Friday, May 16th by 11AM.
If you’d like to explore the city or surrounding areas before or after the retreat, we welcome you to! Both Nadia and Stella are happy to share suggestions.
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This is definitely a personal decision that only you can answer for yourself. But we can recommend what to think about when budgeting for your trip!
Taxis and rideshares, souvenirs, additional experiences and activities, additional tips and gratuities outside of what the retreat covers.
Please be mindful as well of your currency privilege. You may be charged “tourist” prices but in reality when you compare the currencies, it is not a lot more on your end and goes a very long way on their end. Be respectful and supportive of the local economy.
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Yes. If you identify as QTBIPOC, femme, trans, nonbinary – this space is for you.
If you are mixed, you are absolutely welcome, too.
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While we would love to offer scholarships or refunds/cancellations, we unfortunately do not have the capacity to do so.
Planning a retreat takes time and intention. Every dollar we receive goes into lodging, food, experiences, indigenous and local practitioners, and yes, even paying ourselves an equitable wage to facilitate/plan this retreat!
Your dollar goes to supporting the indigenous and local communities here in Oaxaca alongside two facilitators who identify as filipinx, first gen, mixed race, queer, and nonbinary. We are honored that you are choosing to invest in our vision – and that vision includes you!
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Nope! While we would love to have you participate in all the activities we have planned, we understand that not everything will be everyone’s cup of tea. This is why in the application we ask ahead of time what your preferences are so we can customize the experience. We will do our best to accommodate everyone’s preferences – but totally understand if you prefer to sit an activity out! We honor your capacity.
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We do recommend that you get travel insurance. Safety Wing is great if you need a recommendation! It should not cost more than $20. Depending on your credit card, you may also have some travel insurance coverage.
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We will be sending out a welcome PDF in March that outlines the itinerary, our activities, and yes – even a packing list!
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Being nervous is completely understandable – this retreat is asking you to step outside of your comfort zone! Rest assured that this experience is carefully curated and you will be alongside an aligned community that shares your values. Our hope is that you will leave this experience with life long friendships and memories.
We will be hosting a virtual “meet & greet” gathering with all retreat attendees, so yes! You will be able to meet people beforehand and we welcome you to exchange information to begin cultivating connection!
We both care deeply about community and that is exactly what we will be co-creating together.
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This experience does not end when you leave Oaxaca.
We know that you will be sharing the magic and medicine you give/receive from this experience out in the world and that can feel super isolating after being in such deep intentional community, in another country, separate from your day to day lives.
We believe in after care - post retreat you will be in a group chat with both Nadia and Stella, along with other retreat attendees so we can continue being in community together.
We will also have a zoom call within 2 to 4 weeks post retreat - where we will hold space for one another, give/receive support, and to continue nurturing our connections.
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Of course! We are here as a resource for you. You can reach out to stella@mygoldstandard.co and nadia@realyouleadership.com!