Mexico City Retreat January 2025

The Vision That Started It All

We created Creatrix Catalyst because we saw something missing. A lot of retreats existed, but few truly held space for creative women to show up fully, be seen, and walk away with tangible, business-shifting tools.

We didn’t want another weekend of inspiration without action. We wanted bold change. Business clarity. Sisterhood. And room to exhale.

So we built it.

As two photographers and educators who kept circling the same creative orbit, we (Sandy + Winni) teamed up to create something that went deeper. Less hustle, more heart. Less noise, more integration. Our January 2025 retreat in Mexico City became the first container for this vision, a gathering of brilliant women ready to rewrite the rules.

And wow, it was everything.

A Wild Ride In + A City That Held Us

We touched down in Mexico after a travel day we’ll never forget, Los Angeles was blanketed in wildfire smoke, and the Santa Ana winds made the air bumpy and chaotic. Poor Winni got pretty sick on the flight in (bless her stomach), and we arrived feeling a little rattled, but also wildly ready.

The moment we stepped out into the Mexico City air, everything shifted.

The colors. The life. The energy of the markets pulsing with local rhythm and vibrancy. We were instantly engulfed in a culture that felt both new and deeply nourishing. Safe. Warm. Unapologetically alive.

We wandered the neighborhoods. Tasted everything. Talked with artists, shop owners, strangers. We visited La Casa Azul (the Frida Kahlo Museum), and stood in awe of her life and legacy, her brushes and corsets, her bed and her grief. Also, yes! We heard they're opening Casa Roja (Museo Casa Kahlo) in September 2025, where her sister and parents lived. Soooo… should we go back?

These early days weren’t just sightseeing, they were soul-soaking.

The Women Who Made It Magic

Every retreat is made by the people who show up, and our very first Creatrix Catalyst gathering was no exception. These women didn’t just attend. They brought their full selves. Their curiosity. Their fears. Their questions. Their creative fire.

Jada came from Kansas City with flour-dusted hands and a heart full of humor. A baker with the spirit of a cheerleader, she kept us laughing, grounded, and feeling seen. Her presence was like a warm cinnamon roll for the soul, sweet, layered, and unforgettable.

Brittany, a longtime friend, is a book editor and copywriter with a voice worth amplifying. She came seeking clarity and connection, craving that brave leap from dreaming to doing. Her willingness to be vulnerable and real opened space for others to do the same.

Shardé flew in from Detroit, a professor of Religious Studies and a talented photographer. She came to reignite her creative voice and step back into the photography world after a hiatus. Watching her light up as she explored new ideas was a gift.

Lisa, also a photographer, joined us with a quiet confidence. She wasn’t lost, she just needed space. A space to be held, to reflect, and to integrate the deeper parts of herself back into her work. And that’s exactly what she found.

When women show up like that? You don’t forget it.

The Workshops That Woke Us Up

This wasn’t your average “sit and take notes” kind of retreat.

The workshops at Creatrix Catalyst were designed to stir something deeper, less about cramming in information, more about creating transformation.

Finding Your Creative Voice

I had no idea this session would go where it did. It was my first time teaching Finding Your Creative Voice in a live space, and it turned into something way bigger than I ever imagined.

What started as a handful of thoughtful prompts turned into hours of honest, soul-deep conversation. We reflected. We asked the hard questions. We held mirrors up to each other. And by the end, what we had wasn’t just a workshop, it was a healing circle. A collective exhale. A powerful unraveling and rebuilding.

I’m already counting the days to teach this again in Scotland. (Yep, we’re linking to that magic here.)

Content Camp

Okay, this one was a total hit.

Winni ran our Content Camp, where she taught everyone how to make the most of what they already had. Using your phone, simple tools, and a little planning, she showed us how to create scroll-stopping content for Instagram, websites, and beyond, without the overwhelm.

It was so good that by the end, we all had new headshots, new content for our feeds, and a few “aha” moments about what it means to actually show up online.

Social Media 101

Winni also brought it back to the basics, with a beautiful, visual workshop on social media strategy. From best practices to batching to finding your online voice, her session made it all feel doable.

In fact, we’re so obsessed with making this actionable that for our next retreat in Scotland, we’re building a whole workbook to go along with it. Think: prompts, checklists, best practices, and space to make your own plans in real time. (Yes please, Creator’s Companion.)

Website + Google SEO For Creatives

This session was a full-on deep dive.

We pulled back the curtain on how search engines actually see our websites and walked through every person’s setup, from backend structure to on-page SEO, to Google Business Profiles. It was technical, yes, but also empowering. Because understanding how your online presence works is a kind of creative clarity too.

And it didn’t stop at the retreat. I’m still helping some of these women months later, reviewing their sites, cheering them on, making sure the work we started sticks. Because visibility isn’t a one-time thing, it’s a practice.

Automations + Client Experience

Finally, we talked about automation, not the cold, sterile kind, but the kind that nurtures.

We broke down how thoughtful workflows (like using Dubsado or other CRM tools) can actually enhance the way we serve our people. Not to make your biz robotic, but to free up your time so you can pour energy into what matters: creativity, relationships, rest.

Need a deeper dive? I’ve written more about that here.

The Unexpected Magic

Some of the most unforgettable moments weren’t on the itinerary.

We rode the Mexico City Metro like locals, grateful for the women-only cars, laughing at missed stops, and marveling at the movement of the city. We wandered through markets scented with incense and lined with colorful beadwork, weaving between stalls filled with handmade candles, fresh florals, and (yes) the occasional live animal.

One evening, we stood under the arches of Zócalo and just exhaled. That kind of shared silence that only happens when people feel held.

We battled through belly aches with good humor and hot tea, gathered around tacos from Taquería El Califa de León (yes, that Michelin-starred taco place), and watched the movie Frida after visiting her home. We sprawled across couches in our big, sun-drenched mansion, sharing reflections, stories, and big, deep belly laughs.

It wasn’t just a retreat. It was a reckoning. A reminder that showing up for yourself, and doing it in community, is a kind of art, too.

What’s Next? Scotland, Baby

This retreat lit the fire. Now we’re taking it across the ocean.

In May 2026, we’re heading to Scotland’s highlands for the next chapter of Creatrix Catalyst, where misty cliffs, golden hour shootouts, and soul-deep strategy sessions await.