Howdy 👋
We come from opposite ends of the world—Felix grew up globetrotting with his family and now calls Ojai home, having spent years in the fast-paced world of tech startups. Corey was raised in a small farming community in Southern Ontario and devoted her life to feminist leadership and advocating for women in rural communities. On paper, we shouldn’t have crossed paths. But polarity, it turns out, can be magnetic.
Our Co
We believe the best work and fulfillment comes from true partnership built on a foundation of trust and vulnerability.
We call this our “co”.
As partners in business and friends, we embody a supportive, complementary approach to doing deep work.
— Corey
A year ago, under the starry Baja sky—at the very same retreat center where we now host The Leaders Retreat—we found ourselves side by side on a couch with an ocean view, sipping tequila and trading stories. We shared our hopes, our heartbreaks, our visions for a better world, and the invisible weight of leadership.
There were tears, laughter, long silences that said everything, and a surprising sense of familiarity—as if we’d known each other for lifetimes. That night, something sparked. Beyond logic, beyond background, we felt the unmistakable tug of co-creation. We left that retreat committed—not just to supporting one another, but to building something together.
Despite our different paths, we share a deep belief: leadership belongs to everyone.
It’s not about titles; it’s about taking responsibility for your impact and showing up fully, consciously, and courageously. Our work together is about helping people remember their aliveness—at work, yes, but also in life. The Leaders Retreat is the expression of that vision: a place where heart-led humans can reconnect to what matters most, and lead from the inside out.
Corey Allison
Co-Host & Open Hearted Leadership Guide
I’m a small-town girl at heart, raised in a rural farming community in Southern Ontario, where the values of hard work, community, and care run deep. My leadership journey has taken me through decades of work in the violence against women sector. I’ve had the honour—and heartbreak—of walking alongside resilient women and courageous communities. I’ve led organizations, built coalitions, and stood in tough rooms, always believing that leadership rooted in compassion, clarity, and courage can change lives.
Today, I’m a Co-Active Professional Certified Coach and organizational development consultant, working with leaders and entrepreneurs across the globe who are ready to lead with more heart, presence, and purpose. I bring to this work a deep sense of possibility and a fierce commitment to creating spaces where people feel safe to be real. I believe when leaders feel connected to themselves, each other, and the world around them, they lead differently—and the ripple effects are powerful.
I’m also a fiercely loyal mother, partner, sister, and daughter. My friendships are sacred ground. I love to host and gather, share nourishing food, and be out in nature—barefoot when possible, preferably under the stars.
The Leaders Retreat is a culmination of things I love: real connection, meaningful work, beauty, belonging, and the deep remembering of who we are when we lead from the inside out.
Felix Desroches
Co-Host & Open Hearted Leadership Guide
As it turns out, I’m also a small town boy at heart - despite having lived in 9 countries! Throughout my childhood and career I’ve placed a ton of value on social connection, empathy and deep understanding of what drives people and makes them light up.
I started my work life as a consultant in sustainability, working with NGOs and the US government to invest intentionally in triple bottom line development. I transitioned to product design when I became fascinated by the objects and experiences we interact with every day - I had to see how it all worked!
My leadership journey began early, first as a young consultant telling CEOs how to invest (!), then as a co-founder of a rapidly growing startup - but my awareness came later. And as I moved up the corporate ladder and then became a mentor to people earlier in their careers, I realized this is not an uncommon experience. My work with Corey is all about helping raise awareness about one’s leadership journey, and learn how to act from a place of authenticity and intention. It’s meaningful work, and I love it.
I try to live a life that reflects my values: living in quiet community in Ojai, nurturing friendships even if they’re spread around the globe, regularly communing with nature (surfing!), and pursuing creative endeavors to keep my spirit alight. I can’t wait to help you live and work in alignment, too.