Milka Milliance | Rethinking Retreats, Leadership, and the Power of Pivots

In this inspiring and thoughtful conversation, I sit down with Milka Milliance—entrepreneur, leadership development strategist, and founder of Simetras. We explore her career pivots from journalism to nonprofit work, then into consulting, and ultimately entrepreneurship. Milka opens up about burnout, bold moves, and building businesses rooted in purpose and people. Now leading Simetras, Milka is designing immersive team retreats that go way beyond offsite fun—they’re built to transform teams, fuel strategic thinking, and strengthen leadership. This episode is a powerful listen for anyone navigating career changes, seeking inspiration to go out on their own, or thinking differently about the way we work and gather. 💡 What We Talk About: The value of “failed” ventures (in quotes for a reason) and how they build resilience Milka’s evolution through media, nonprofit, consulting, and entrepreneurship Burnout, near-death wake-up calls, and the power of the pause The business case for intentional, well-designed team retreats Reimagining leadership development in a hybrid/remote world Honest thoughts on higher ed, emotional fluency, and Gen Z's career future (Spoiler alert: It’s bright!) Personal growth, parenthood, and living life with intention 💡 Memorable Quote: “You get back up every time you fall. And that's been one of the biggest lessons. Even if I fall or make a misstep, I don't see that as a failure. I see that as, ‘Yeah, OK, I've learned this.’ So, I feel like in each phase of my career, there is something I've had to learn. And when I've learned it, I've been able to graduate to the next phase or whatever other thing that I'm learning.” 🔑 Key Takeaways Burnout can be a launchpad. Milka shares how a string of near-death travel experiences led to a major life and career reset—ultimately redirecting her toward purpose-driven work and founding Simetras. Intentional retreats are the new power move. Done right, team offsites can go beyond bonding—they can align strategy, foster real leadership growth, and unlock collaboration across silos. Pivots aren’t failures—they’re upgrades. Milka’s story is a reminder that reinvention is a strength, and curiosity can be your best career compass. Young professionals: Take a beat. Milka advocates for more gap years, less blind debt, and more self-discovery before jumping into college or career paths that aren’t a fit. Start investing early. Whether it’s your savings or your well-being, think long-term. That future version of you will thank you. 🎧 Tune in if you’re a leader thinking about team development, an entrepreneur in the making, or someone reflecting on how to make their next move more meaningful. 🔗 Learn more about Milka’s work: Milka on LinkedIn Simetras - Corporate Retreats Columbia University, Dept. of Anthropology Babson College, MBA Music by Lidérc. #careeradvice #careerpivot #corporateretreat #leadershipdevelopment