FIRST™: Building a Solid Foundation for Your Executive Team

Strong organizations don't struggle due to a lack of smart, well-intentioned leaders — they struggle because their Executive Teams aren't fully aligned, connected, and leading as one. FIRST™ is DillonMarcus's executive retreat experience designed to fix exactly that, and it's the first step in our signature Way to World-Class offering.

The Pain: Why Executive Teams Get Stuck

A lack of shared purpose leads to competing priorities, weakening focus and overall organizational performance. Silos in senior leadership create silos everywhere else in the organization. And low trust limits critical conversations, causing delays in decision-making and leaving opportunities underleveraged.

The Promise

With a solid foundation, your Executive Team will work better together, make smarter decisions, and be better equipped to lead the organization.

What FIRST™ Delivers

Shared Purpose & Stewardship

Leaders rally around a collective sense of purpose, seeing themselves as stewards of the organization — resulting in clearer priorities and a more unified direction.

Increased Trust

As senior team members come to know and care about one another, trust deepens, creating greater transparency, openness, and a willingness to be real. Silos soften and collaboration strengthens.

Smarter, Faster Decision-Making

Shared leadership norms empower leaders to openly share perspectives and arrive at better solutions, faster.

How FIRST™ Works

FIRST™ is a three-month process comprised of four steps. First, pre-retreat interviews are conducted with each executive to surface perspectives, priorities, and agenda topics, ensuring the retreat addresses what matters most. Next, the agenda is custom-built, thoughtfully crafted and informed by those interview insights. The team then experiences a facilitated retreat, creating space to pause, align, and strengthen relationships. Finally, post-retreat activation sessions are scheduled to complete outstanding agenda items and sustain momentum.

What Clients Say

"A great executive retreat leaves your team stronger long after it ends. As a construction company, we're used to putting up walls. FIRST™ helped us break them down. We walked away more connected, more collaborative, and genuinely surprised by how much we enjoyed the experience." — Edward DeAngelis, CEO, EDA Contractors

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the FIRST™ retreat process take?

FIRST™ is a three-month process, from pre-retreat interviews through the retreat itself and post-retreat activation sessions.

Who participates in a FIRST™ retreat?

The organization's Executive Team participates, with each member interviewed individually before the retreat to help shape the agenda.

Is FIRST™ a standalone offering?

FIRST™ can stand on its own, and it also serves as the first phase of DillonMarcus's broader Way to World-Class leadership journey.

Learn more about building strong, connected leadership teams on our Leadership Teams page.

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