Her Story ZA

Weekly Newsletter

A Note From The Table, Every Week.

Reflections, invitations and news from the Her Story community — delivered every week.

Week of September 6, 2026

THREE DAYS OF MOVEMENT, CHALLENGE AND REDISCOVERY

THREE DAYS OF MOVEMENT, CHALLENGE AND REDISCOVERY

I have just returned from a Retreat in Andermatt, Switzerland, a three-day SANCTUM/The Unit experience designed to challenge the body, quiet the mind and create space for deeper personal reflection.

Set against the extraordinary beauty of the Swiss Alps, the programme combined movement, breathwork, physical challenge and stillness. I arrived expecting a demanding physical experience. I returned with something much more valuable: renewed clarity, deeper self-awareness and a powerful reminder of what it means to keep rising.

Day One: When the Conditions Change

Friday brought heavy rain and strong winds, and the planned outdoor programme had to be moved indoors to The Chedi Hotel, Andermatt.

The setting changed, but the purpose did not.

Through intentional movement and breathwork, we began to release the demands, noise and responsibilities we had carried with us.

The weather presented the first lesson of the retreat:

We cannot always control the conditions, but we can choose how we respond to them.

It would have been easy to focus on what could no longer happen. Instead, the change of venue demonstrated the power of adaptability. The experience continued, not as originally planned, but with the same energy, intention and commitment.

This is equally true in life and leadership. Plans change. Strategies are disrupted. Circumstances move beyond our control. The real test is whether we lose our sense of purpose when the conditions change, or whether we adapt and find another way forward.

Transformation does not require perfect conditions. It requires presence, flexibility and a willingness to continue.

Day Two: The Unit—Rise at Gütsch

Day Two took us to the breathtaking heights of Gütsch for The Unit: Rise.

Even the name carried a powerful message.

To rise is to move beyond what is familiar. It is to meet resistance without allowing it to define you. It is to continue when the experience becomes uncomfortable and to discover that you may be capable of more than you believed.

Surrounded by the scale and beauty of the Swiss Alps, the programme demanded physical effort, focus and presence.

At altitude, there was nowhere to hide from the conversation between the mind and the body. Every movement required attention. Every breath mattered.

The experience reminded me that our perceived limitations are not always accurate measures of our capacity. Sometimes they are simply the boundaries of what we have attempted before.

But rising is not about competing with anyone else.

It is about meeting yourself honestly.

It is about recognising your starting point, finding your rhythm and remaining committed to your own progress. It is knowing when to push, when to regulate your pace and when to draw strength from the people around you.

The mountain reinforced an important truth:

Progress does not always happen through one dramatic breakthrough. More often, it is created through small, deliberate choices repeated with courage.

One breath.

One movement.

One decision to remain present.

One more step.

The Unit: Rise was a physical experience, but its message extended far beyond the session. In our careers, organisations and personal lives, meaningful growth asks us to move beyond comfort. It requires courage, discipline, self-awareness and trust.

It also requires compassion.

Sustainable transformation is not achieved by driving ourselves without regard for our limits. It happens when we learn to distinguish between the discomfort that signals growth and the warning that tells us to pause, adjust or ask for support.

True strength includes both determination and wisdom.

Day Three: Going Inward

The final day took us to Sasso San Gottardo, the historic fortress hidden within the mountain.

Moving from the openness of the mountain landscape into the coolness and stillness inside the fortress felt deeply symbolic.

After two days of movement and physical challenge, Day Three created space for another kind of experience, an inward journey.

Leadership and personal transformation often follow a similar path.

We begin by focusing on what is visible: our performance, responsibilities, achievements and the expectations placed upon us. But lasting change requires us to go beneath the surface.

It invites us to examine the beliefs, habits and fears that influence how we live and lead.

It asks:

  • What am I carrying that I no longer need?
  • Where have I become too comfortable?
  • What part of myself requires greater attention?
  • What must I release to make room for what comes next?
  • What would it mean for me to rise in this season of my life?

The stillness created space to listen, not for the loudest answer, but for the most honest one.

What I Am Taking Home

I returned from The Ascent physically tired, deeply grateful and more conscious of the importance of creating intentional pauses in our lives.

When we are constantly working, leading, solving problems and supporting others, it is easy to lose our connection with ourselves.

A retreat does not remove life’s demands. It allows us to return to them with renewed clarity, energy and perspective.

My three days in Andermatt reminded me that:

Transformation requires presence.
We cannot change what we are unwilling to acknowledge.

Discomfort can be a teacher.
It can show us where we need to develop greater strength, trust or resilience.

Adaptability protects purpose.
A change in circumstances does not have to mean abandoning the intention.

Progress has its own pace.
We do not need to compete with another person’s journey.

Rest and reflection are part of the work.
They are not rewards to be postponed until everything else has been completed.

Rising begins within.
Before we can reach a new level externally, something often needs to shift internally.

Friday’s weather changed the plan, but it did not diminish the experience. If anything, it strengthened the central message of the programme:

The conditions will not always be perfect. Begin anyway. Adapt when necessary. Find your rhythm. Stay connected to your purpose—and keep rising.

I returned home carrying more than memories of mountains, movement and breathtaking scenery. I returned with renewed respect for my body, greater appreciation for stillness and a deeper commitment to living and leading with intention.

Sometimes we travel to the mountain expecting to conquer something outside ourselves.

Then we discover that the most important ascent is the one that takes place within.

#TheAscent #SANCTUM #TheUnitRise #PersonalTransformation #Leadership #Resilience #IntentionalLiving #GrowthMindset #WomenInLeadership #ExecutiveWellbeing #Andermatt #Switzerland

Week of July 27, 2026

WELCOME TO THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING MEANINGFUL

WELCOME TO THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING MEANINGFUL
Dear Remarkable Woman, Every woman carries a story. A story shaped by dreams pursued, challenges overcome, sacrifices made, lessons learned and moments of courage that others may never fully see. Some stories are shared openly. Others are carried quietly. But every story matters. Welcome to Her Story ZA, a community created for business, professional and entrepreneurial women to connect, learn, grow and inspire one another. This is more than a platform. It is a space where women can feel seen, heard, supported and reminded that they never have to walk their journey alone. Why This Community Exists? • Behind every achievement is a journey. • Behind every confident woman may be a season when she questioned herself. • Behind every successful business may be years of perseverance, uncertainty, and unseen sacrifice. • And behind every new beginning is a woman who decided to believe that more was possible. Too often, women meet only after they have “made it.” We hear about their successes, but not always about the courage, resilience, reinvention and determination that brought them there. Her Story ZA was created to change that. Here, we will share the whole journey, not only the polished moments, but also the turning points, lessons, setbacks and breakthroughs that shaped us. Because when one woman shares her story, another woman may recognise her own strength. What You Can Expect? Through this community, you will discover: • Authentic stories from women across different professions, businesses and life stages. • Meaningful opportunities for connection, mentorship and collaboration. • Practical learning and personal development experiences. • Resources to support career growth, leadership and entrepreneurship. • Conversations that encourage courage, confidence and possibility. • A trusted network of women who genuinely want to see one another succeed. This will be a community built not only on what we can receive, but also on what we can contribute. Your experience may hold the wisdom another woman needs. Your encouragement may restore someone’s confidence. Your connection may open a door. And your story may become the reason another woman chooses not to give up. Our Founding Belief. We believe that: • Every woman matters. • Every voice deserves to be heard. • Every experience has value. • Every story has the power to inspire another. We honour the journeys that have shaped us. We celebrate the strength that has carried us. And we look towards the future with courage, hope and intention. This Is Your Invitation. We invite you to become part of the journey of Her Story ZA . Come as you are. Bring your experiences, your wisdom, your questions and your dreams. Share your story when you are ready. Listen to the stories of others. Build meaningful relationships. Offer support. Ask for help. Learn, contribute and grow. Together, we can create a community where women are not competing for space, but creating more space for one another. Where success is celebrated, vulnerability is respected and no woman is made to feel that she must navigate her journey alone. The Next Chapter Starts Here! This first newsletter marks the beginning of something we believe can grow into a powerful movement, a movement of women who understand where they have come from, recognise the strength within them and intentionally shape the future ahead. This is Her Story. This is Her Strength. And together, we are building Her Future. With warmth and purpose, Loueen Jones-Paulsen Founder: Her Story ZA Share your story. Celebrate your strength. Shape your future.