The Institute brings together three disciplines that shape extraordinary leaders:
Efficient, disciplined problem-solving that strengthens margins and builds clarity.
Learning from nature’s genius to design more sustainable, elegant, breakthrough solutions.
Cultivating emotional intelligence, presence, and resilience so leaders can inspire trust and well-being.
Carlton Leadership Institute is unlike any traditional business school because it takes corporate leaders out of the boardroom and into nature. Courses are held in iconic settings (redwood forests, mountains, coastlines around San Francisco, Seattle, Boulder, Denver, etc.), blending hands-on adventure with leadership training. Experts report that well-designed outdoor retreats “inspire, educate and bond [the] team in profound ways,” with structured debriefs to ensure an “exceptional ROI” on the experience. By working through real challenges in teams on a whitewater raft or wilderness trek, participants rapidly build trust, communication and creative problem solving—far beyond what classroom lectures achieve. In fact, studies show that highly engaged teams (often developed by immersive programs) deliver dramatically better outcomes—one report cites roughly 4× higher profit in companies with such teams. Our hands-on, experiential approach thus drives measurable business impact, making it very attractive to corporate clients.
On the economic front, we emphasize profit-margin expansion and lean management skills. Corporate leaders demand training that delivers a clear bottom-line benefit, and lean methodologies are proven to do just that. Research has shown that lean problem-solving can significantly raise profitability while improving workplace culture. For instance, one case study of a restaurant using lean methods saw profits improve by 2.2% (closing an 8% profit gap) in just nine months—largely by cutting waste and labor inefficiencies. Crucially, the lean process transformed managers from “commanders” into coaches, eliminating conflict and boosting collaboration. More broadly, leadership development itself correlates with financial gains: top-tier leaders drive better decisions and productivity, so much so that companies with the strongest leadership teams enjoy nearly double the EBITDA of their peers. By concentrating on lean tools and margin improvement, we directly address the economic pressures facing businesses, ensuring a strong ROI for the training.
Another key differentiator is our focus on biomimicry and creative problem-solving. Biomimicry is the practice of emulating nature’s designs to inspire innovation. For example, scientists invented Velcro by mimicking burr seeds and developed early aircraft by studying birds. Our programs immerse leaders in ecosystems, prompting them to observe natural “genius” (like efficient structures, energy flows, teamwork in animal groups, etc.) and translate those lessons to business challenges. Experts emphasize that this kind of field immersion is “essential” to unlock nature-inspired ideas. This approach not only sparks breakthrough thinking but also instills a sustainability mindset – exactly the kind of resilient, well-adapted solutions that forward-thinking leaders need. In short, we train leaders to be pioneering and conscientious by showing them how nature’s wisdom can solve tough problems.
Our Institute is also unique in our MindWell (mindfulness and well-being) emphasis. Modern companies recognize that mental resilience and emotional intelligence are critical leadership assets. Research shows that mindful leaders are “more attuned to their own emotions and those of their team,” which helps them make better decisions, foster resilience, and cultivate a high-performing workforce. Mindfulness training enhances leaders’ self-awareness and communication skills, creating cultures of trust and innovation. By integrating meditation, reflection and stress-management techniques into the curriculum, we develop leaders who are compassionate and grounded as well as strategic. This Social aspect (caring for people and purpose) meets growing corporate demands for ethical, inclusive leadership.
In practice, our Institute appeals across industries (healthcare, technology, manufacturing, etc.) because all sectors need innovation, efficiency and engaged leadership. Our combination of hands-on, nature-immersive training with cutting-edge content (innovation, lean, mindfulness) creates leaders who are conscientious, pioneering and entrepreneurial – perfectly aligned with what corporate clients will seek in 2026 and beyond.
Natalia Carlton, PhD., is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and IO Psychologist with decades of Fortune 500 executive education and business transformation experience. She led curriculum strategy and deployment teams at GE’s Global Learning and Leadership Development Center, Crotonville, where she developed unforgettable learning experiences to build high-performing, strategic and entrepreneurial leaders.
She founded Crotonville Makers® in 2019, a makerspace and community of GE entrepreneurs, innovators, and designers to support the Product Manager’s Academy and promote FastWorks® a framework for rapid innovation cycles and start-ups. Under her directive, the community delivered over $2B in costs saving and new revenue. She now offers these programs to organizations who need a breakthrough in performance, profitability and market positioning.