Maude Labs successfully brought its flagship Maude Method experience to a global audience for the first time through Sacred Authority, a 90-minute virtual leadership session held on July 22, 2026.
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Co-presented with The Authenticity Institute and Dr. Katrina Gisbert-Tay, the session welcomed founders, executives, entrepreneurs, and purpose-driven leaders from across the region to explore what it means to reclaim personal authority and lead from authenticity.
The virtual edition marks an important milestone for Maude Labs as it expands its signature leadership experiences beyond in-person events, making its programming accessible to a broader international community.
Reclaiming the Story Behind Great Leadership
At the heart of Sacred Authority was a simple but transformative idea: the stories we inherit shape the lives we lead until we decide to rewrite them.
Photo: Maude Labs
Throughout the session, participants explored how identity, leadership, and wellbeing are deeply influenced by the narratives they carry. Through guided reflection, practical frameworks, and interactive discussions, attendees learned that authentic leadership begins not with external validation, but with becoming the author of their own story.
Participants left the session with:
- Practical frameworks for building authentic authority
- Tools to reclaim their personal narrative and voice
- Greater clarity, confidence, and self-leadership
- Narrative intelligence as a critical leadership capability
“So much of leadership is about control. We look for authority in a title, a badge, a position, or a company,” said Dr. Katrina Gisbert-Tay. “But sacred authority is different. It is about leading yourself from within.”
One of the session’s defining ideas challenged participants to rethink what it truly means to have agency.
“Agency is not authorship. Agency is acting. Authorship is owning the story, deciding where it goes.”
Building on the work of renowned narrative psychologist Dan McAdams, Dr. Katrina reminded attendees that identity is built through the stories we continually tell ourselves.
“Dan McAdams said it best: ‘I am my story.’ If you never author yours, someone else is running it.”
The conversation introduced participants to narrative intelligence, the ability to recognize, question, and consciously reshape the stories that influence how they lead, decide, and relate to others.
Far from being a soft skill, narrative intelligence emerged as one of the defining leadership capabilities for today’s founders and executives.
“That’s where narrative intelligence comes in, seeing your story, questioning it, and revising it. It is no longer a soft skill. It’s a leader’s differentiator.”
Dr. Katrina also underscored the connection between storytelling and wellbeing, emphasizing that transformation begins not with changing circumstances, but with changing the narrative itself.
“The story changes first, and the storyteller gets better. The narrative has to shift first, and the wellbeing is going to follow. The story you are telling is not a reflection of your state.”
The session concluded with a powerful invitation to participants: “Rewrite the story. The state catches up.” Tin Santos, CEO and Co-founder of Maude Labs, added:
“Authority is not something you earn from the outside world. It is something you reclaim when your identity, values, and voice are finally aligned. Seeing leaders from different backgrounds come together around this idea reminds us why these conversations matter.”
A Growing Global Community
The success of Sacred Authority reflects the growing demand for leadership experiences that move beyond professional development and into deeper conversations around identity, authenticity, and purposeful leadership.
As founder-led storytelling continues to shape how organizations build trust, Maude Labs remains committed to creating spaces where leaders develop both the inner and outer dimensions of leadership, combining personal branding, narrative strategy, wellbeing, and community.
The virtual session also reinforces Maude Labs’ vision of building a global network of founders and leaders committed to leading with clarity, confidence, and authenticity.
Following the success of Sacred Authority, Maude Labs will continue expanding its portfolio of leadership experiences through future editions of The Maude Method, executive coaching programs, strategic brand collaborations, and immersive retreats.
Looking Ahead: The Weekend by Maude
Building on the momentum of Sacred Authority, Maude Labs now turns its attention to The Weekend by Maude, its signature immersive leadership and wellbeing retreat taking place October 2 to 5, 2026.
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Designed for founders, executives, entrepreneurs, and purpose-driven leaders, the four-day retreat offers an opportunity to step away from the pace of everyday leadership and reconnect with what matters most. Through expert-led workshops, meaningful conversations, wellness experiences, and intentional community, attendees will explore leadership from the inside out, strengthening not only how they lead others, but how they lead themselves.
Unlike traditional conferences, The Weekend by Maude blends leadership development with restoration, creating space for reflection, authentic connection, and personal transformation. The retreat reflects Maude Labs’ belief that sustainable leadership is built through clarity, wellbeing, and community as much as strategy and execution.
“At Maude Labs, we believe the best leaders are those who continue investing in themselves,” said Tin Santos. “The Weekend is designed to give leaders the space to pause, reflect, and return with greater clarity, purpose, and intention.”
Registration for The Weekend by Maude is now open, with limited spaces available to ensure an intimate and highly curated experience. Following the successful launch of Sacred Authority, the retreat continues Maude Labs’ mission of equipping leaders with the tools, relationships, and mindset needed to lead with authenticity and lasting impact.
