Dent:Explore events are intimate gatherings that combine talks, workshops, and local exploration over the course of three days. Mixing activities with in-depth workshops, interactive sessions, and dining experiences, the blend of scheduled and intentionally unscheduled time allows us to absorb and process the skills and perspectives that push us in our development and allow us to get out of our heads.

Whether you're looking for inspiration or just some time away from the daily grind, Dent:Explore Maui will provide the perfect opportunity to explore and reset.

Join us for a chance to explore the topic of collaboration and the wonders of Maui. Dent:Explore Maui 2023 will immerse you in professional talks and workshops, sublime dinners, and socializing, as well as fun and public-spirited activities in the Valley Isle. We will converge at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and have negotiated unequaled room rates there.

Dent:Explore is not your typical conference—it's a transformative experience. For example, we'll delve into the intricacies of Personal User Manuals with Stewart Ugelow, learn to re-frame our relationship with pain through a body-focused workshop with Mandi Headrick, and touch on the recipe for enabling a high performance team with Gary Ware.

And yes, there's also time for snorkeling with turtles, a private photo tour with world-class photographer Asa Mathat, and delicious Hawaiian feasts. All while making and deepening connections that could very well last a lifetime.

Join us: If you're a Passport member, it's just $899 to unlock this bucket-list experience. Non-members, you're welcome too for $1,499. But act fast—space is capped at 35 participants to keep things intimate.

Ready to swap the mundane for the magical? Register now and secure your spot in paradise.

Here’s the schedule as currently planned:

Our exceptional hosts: the Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua is rated as a 5-star luxury hotel and has been voted the No. 1 Resort on Maui in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards. At The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, Denters will encounter a primal landscape of lava rock bays, lush mountain ridges, and tropical waves.

You’lll immerse yourself in an authentic Hawaiian experience deeply rooted in local culture, environmental adventure, and a warm aloha spirit at the newly transformed Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. Breathtaking, natural oceanfront beauty inspires all senses as redesigned guest rooms and suites bring the colors and textures of Hawaii's lush tropical landscape inside to create a natural and restorative sanctuary. An enhanced lobby and pool experience and new dining venues feature a fresh design approach reflective of Kapalua’s lush surroundings, while award-winning culinary experiences and a Hawaiian-inspired spa culminate in an unforgettable escape.

Talks and Workshops

Gary Ware on "Making Collaboration a Piece of Cake: Gary Ware on the Recipe for Enabling a High-Performing Team"

We’re all part of a team in one form or another. And being part of a team implies working together towards a common goal - collaborating.

Yet that’s often the hardest part. How do we avoid the pitfalls of the school-group project where only one team member pulls the heaviest load? And how do we respect team members’ individual talents and skills?

Join Gary Ware, Founder of Breakthrough Play, a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach and author of the book Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through the Power of Play. Gary assists teams with unlocking creativity, confidence, and collaboration via experiential methods that drive peak performance.

Stewart Ugelow on Personal User Manuals (2.0)

Wharton School professor Adam Grant has written about the value of creating a personal user manual to communicate your work style to your teammates. These manuals have been praised for their potential to improve communication, team cohesion, and personal understanding in professional settings. Five years ago, Dent board member Stewart Ugelow introduced Dent:Explore Maui participants to this management tool, and a number of Denters now implement personal user manuals at their companies.

At Dent:Explore Maui 2023, Stewart, an entrepreneur and management consultant, will delve into the additional insights he has gained since his first presentation. With over 25 years of leadership experience ranging from journalism to entrepreneurship to consulting, he has an extensive background in working with various professionals, from entrepreneurs to investors. He has co-founded four companies, consulted with venture-backed startups on multiple fronts, and has even been featured in esteemed publications such as The Wall Street Journal and Rolling Stone, the latter recognizing him as a “Master of Business.”

In this talk, attendees will learn from Stewart's experience on how to enhance collaboration so coworkers can better increase their self-awareness and improve their interactions with others, taking the concept of personal user manuals to the next level.

Andrea Umbach on Systems, Power, and Partnership Dynamics in Business

Executive coach Andrea Umbach has worked with leaders and senior managers from diverse sectors, including global technology corporations, startups, media firms, private equity companies, and non-profit institutions. Her coaching focuses on fostering self-awareness, intent, and effective leadership practices. In Maui, Andrea will delve into power dynamics in business. Informed by The Organization Workshop, which was developed by Barry Oshry's company, Power + Systems, her talk will offer an analytical exploration of power dynamics and systemic roles within organizations. By delving into these dynamics, business professionals and leaders will gain insights into how individuals often assume distinct roles and how these roles influence decision-making and engagement. Such understanding is crucial for teams aiming to better collaborate, as it fosters empathy and a more systemic approach to challenges, ultimately paving the way for enhanced collaboration across all levels of an organization.

Activities and Social Events

Maui Photowalk with Asa Mathat

“A camera is the save button for the mind’s eye.” Join award-winning photographer Asa Mathat, and bring a camera - no matter the type - as we walk through the beautiful Ritz-Carlton grounds and area. We'll leave from the hotel (location TBA) and explore. As we soak in our surroundings, we will stop to take a closer look at the world beneath our feet as we offer the opportunity to get some fantastic snapshots of the breathtaking Maui landscape.

Book Club: What Are You Reading?

We’ll grab a couple cabanas poolside at Sheraton Maui to discuss the books people have brought with them to Hawaii. The group will split into smaller conversations depending on size; please plan to share a five minute summary of a book you’ve brought with you or have read recently and one key lesson or takeaway from the read.

Turtle Excursion to Honokeana Cove

The Dent team will escort a group of snorkelers to Honokeana Cove. Iit is considered one of the best spots on the island to view and swim with green sea turtles. Note: The bay is devoid of sandy beaches, with entry and exit necessitating careful navigation over lava rocks. Its conditions will pose challenges for beginning snorkelers or those with limited mobility/swimming ability.

Befriending Pain with Mandi Headrick

Mandi Headrick, MS, ATC, earned her Masters in Athletic Training from the University of West Alabama and has since transitioned her focus from athletes to everyday workers, emphasizing her specialization in flexibility and ergonomic coaching. As the founder of Home Stretch Seattle, Mandi offers a unique perspective on the challenges arising from posture misalignments and inflexibility, common in individuals due to prolonged sitting, lifting, and routine activities.

In her workshop on "Befriending Pain", attendees will embark on an in-depth exploration of pain, its classifications, and the importance of recognizing and addressing bodily signals. With an emphasis on the pivotal roles of flexibility, ergonomics, and posture in pain management, Mandi will introduce the Posture Assessment Approach, shedding light on prevalent postural mistakes and their consequences.

The session will offer practical techniques in counter stretching and ergonomic training, equipping participants with tools to navigate and address their discomforts. Attendees will be guided through a series of movements that Mandi has created to counter gravity's pull in everyday activity that create an overall sense of lightness and buoyancy in the body.

Catamaran Snorkel/SCUBA Cruise

Join Denters for a full-day snorkel and/or SCUBA cruise on the “Hula Girl” Catamaran. Cruise along Maui's scenic coastline to premier snorkeling destinations such as Honolua Bay Marine Sanctuary. Knowledgeable captains and crew are marine naturalists who are happy to share information on an informal basis throughout your sailing excursion. (This is an optional activity with an additional charge; the cruise will sell out, so book early.) Alternative: for those who get seasick, wait too long to purchase their seats, or simply prefer a different activity -- some Denters will head to the Maui Aquarium for the day.

Rebuilding Maui

We’ve blocked time to help give back to the community. Our local hosts (hotel, activities, and so on) have insisted that our event is welcome and wanted; at the same time, we want to be able to give back to the community that has so warmly welcomed us through the years.

We have arranged suggested service opportunities where attendees can work to help rebuild Maui and support its residents after this year’s catastrophic Lahaina fires.

And Even More

We’re planning a snorkeling tour one morning - location to be announced. And if you’re a golf buff, there are plentiful opportunities to fit in a round - or three. Additionally, we’re planning a walking tour - and there’s never a shortage of things to do in this spectacular spot.

Logistics

Flying to Maui

Maui’s major airport is in Kahului (airport code of OGG.) There are several airlines who fly from the US mainland directly into OGG. If you can take one of those flights, that would likely be optimal. If not, you’ll probably have to connect in Oahu’s Honolulu (HNL) airport.

You may notice there’s a small regional airport in Kapalua that appears to be convenient to West Maui resorts, but only inter-island flights land there; we recommend you fly into Kahului (OGG).

Transportation on the Island

While Uber is available on the island, we recommend either renting a car or teaming up with someone who is. At this time of year rental car rates are not prohibitive. The ride from OGG to Kaanapali Beach will take close to an hour, and several of our activities and meals are in areas that are not walkable from the hotel.