CATALYST
Re-Ignite your Life and Career
The CATALYST Leadership Program by Another Way is a transformational leadership program for executives, entrepreneurs and leaders ready to find their purpose and blaze their own trail.
All programs kickoff with a Rite of Passage experience somewhere beautiful in the world and then support participants to take action and implement real-world changes in their lives for after the experience.
All programs include the experience itself, group coaching before and after and conclude with an online graduation retreat. Additional 1:1 coaching is also available.
OUR NEXT PROGRAM
Yarra Valley, Victoria - MEN’S EDITION
RETREAT EXPERIENCE (IN-PERSON)
2nd - 6th October
GRADUATION EXPERIENCE (VIRTUAL)
16th November 2024
Do you answer yes to any of these questions?
Are you an executive, entrepreneur or leader that is looking for your next challenge in life and career?
Do you feel like you’re at a crossroads or stuck in a rut and you’re not sure how to move forward?
Have you tried conventional personal development or wellbeing practices and you’re ready for another way?
Do you want to get clarity on your career and get connected to what you’re truly meant to be doing with your life?
Are you ready and open to trying another way of accessing your full potential and power as a leader?
Are you ready for an experience that will CATALYSE change in your life and career?
If yes, the Catalyst Program is for you!
Testimonials
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Pete - Photographer, Adventurer, Hockey Coach & Leader
“CATALYST was truly, truly profound. I’d never been on a retreat before, so I didn’t really know what I was in for. What I got to experience with Matt & El was truly life-changing. Not only their facilitation experience but also the other people I got to connect with.
The most pivotal moment of the retreat was the challenge part, under the guidance of Matt and El. They were both there to guide me, hold me, support me, through what I needed to work through.
I can’t recommend the retreat enough. It’s changed my life, made me a better man, better friend, better partner and a stronger person. I’m so clear on what I want to do with my future now and so at peace with myself.”
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Charles - Senior Manager, PwC
“I came to CATALYST because I was at a real crossroads in my life. I was looking for that spark, guidance and help with taking that next step in my life.
I now feel loved and a real sense of community that we built over such a short time. I felt like i was in safe hands, that the facilitators cared and that the other participants really helped me with where I’m at now at the end of the retreat.”
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Janelle - Director, PwC
“I am so glad I made the decision to go on this retreat - I wasn't sure what to expect but I had immense trust in Matt, so I threw myself in and have undoubtedly come out a different person the other side.
I would highly recommend this retreat to anyone feeling in a rut with their lives / careers / relationships and seeking clarity, and also anyone looking to be part of a community of like-minded individuals who are going to have your back through the process.”
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Evan - Entrepeneur / Digital Nomad, Co-Founder ‘The Art of Monday’s’
“I didn’t fully know what I was getting myself into, and 48 hours later I’ve come out a different person. I’m so grateful for what this experience has taught me.
CATALYST has allowed me to understand more about myself and what gives me that spark in my life. I didn’t know I needed it until I was here.
It was a wild and transformational few days. It’s been highs and lows and everything in between, and non-stop learning.
While the learning has just begun I feel a sense of freedom and ease. Sometimes in life you’re faced with a choice or a crossroads or some uncertainty, and you don’t know where to go and where to be and you just need something to tell you that you’re heading in the right direction. That was this for me.
I’d recommend this for people who want change, who want growth and want to discover themselves but are maybe too afraid to start or too overwhelmed by what they might discover.
If you want to be your best self and lean into the uncomfortable and grow, then CATALYST and anything that Matt does, is the place to go.”
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Sam - Software Engineer
“I was brought to CATALYST looking for a different space that I didn’t have in my everyday life with my mates and family.
Ir was a place for me to be vulnerable and open when I wasn’t yet ready t do that with my mates.
As a result of being here, I’ve experienced and felt a release that I’ve so desperately needed. It feels great and I can honestly say that for the first time in a long time.”
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
CONVICTION
You’ll become a man that follows through and does what he actually says he’s going to do.
You’ll have greater levels of confidence and trust in yourself, earned and developed through the experience
CONFIDENCE
CLARITY
You’ll know where you want to go in your life and career, without needing to know how, plus you’ll have practical tools to maintain this.
COMMUNITY
You’ll have a community of like-minded men who also care about living with purpose and integrity
The Team
You’re in very safe hands.
Matt Defina - Retreat Lead, Founder - Another Way, Psychologist
Matt has worked with and spoken to over 25,000 men and women globally about how to grow and evolve into the best version of themselves.
As a trained Organisational Psychologist, Matt has conducted research on burnout, psychological safety, adaptive leadership, and gender stereotypes. After completing his studies, Matt started a career at PwC as a change management consultant, but quickly realized corporate life wasn’t for him.
Inspired by the social impact sector and wanting to do more, Matt became Head of Programs at The Man Cave, a charity dedicated to equipping young men with emotional intelligence skills and tools they needed to become healthy men. For five years, he developed a curriculum on healthy masculinity, created and delivered retreats, and expanded the organization's research on masculinity.
In 2022, Matt endured a series of panic attacks, depression, anxiety and eventually burnout that forced him to look at his own life and work. After taking some time out, Matt founded Another Way and decided it was time to start helping other purpose-driven professionals create a meaningful life and career.
Matt’s journey has included summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, trekking to Mt. Everest Base Camp, completing an Ironman Triathlon, scuba diving with sharks and whales, completing a 10-day silent meditation retreat and participating in or leading over 25 transformational retreats worldwide.
With this extensive experience, Matt is well-equipped to guide others through their own Rite of Passage - he knows what it takes to walk through the fire and is here to show the way.
Elli Norris - Somatic Breathwork Facilitator
El has traversed through numerous adversities from childhood through her teenage years. Without any education or awareness of how traumatic events impact emotional wellbeing and everyday life, she went on to University to study Outdoor Education and eventually achieved a managerial position in Outdoor Education, where she reached a pivotal moment necessitating change.
Whilst she was making an impact working with students and teachers, her experiences included emotional outbursts, uncontrollable anger and frustration in stressful situations, alongside avoidance tendencies and numbing emotions with substances. Despite career success, she felt unfulfilled and sensed a deeper calling in life. Facing nervous breakdowns and panic attacks, El embarked on a healing journey that led her to discover the transformative power of breathwork somatic therapy.
Now, El is dedicated to creating healing spaces using somatic approaches—breath, movement, sound, and touch. She offers compassionate, intuitive guidance through a blend of these elements, along with emotions and meditation tools, to release physical blockages, regulate the nervous system and connect people back into the wisdom of the body to foster holistic wellbeing.
With over a decade of experience in outdoor education, specializing in boys' schools, El is deeply committed to creating nurturing environments for men to heal and grow. Her passion for this work stems from both personal experiences and extensive interactions with teenagers, giving her profound insights into how societal norms and cultural expectations shape men's lives.
Adam Pipakis - Men’s Embodiment Coach
‘Pipa’ is a holistic health and wellness coach committed to helping men live in alignment with their heart’s center and embrace their true power. Currently studying holistic health and wellness under the Chek Institute, Adam integrates a wealth of knowledge from his extensive experience in movement, breathwork, and bodywork. As a certified personal trainer, he focuses on building functional strength, improving mobility, and correcting posture to foster strong, happy, and healthy men.
Adam is a certified Rites of Passage instructor, guiding men through life transitions and helping them release limiting stories that no longer serve them. As the founder of The Warriors Way Men's Retreats, Adam creates transformative spaces where men can reconnect with their innate strength and cultivate emotional awareness to become better partners and members of the community.
A lover of the outdoors, Adam finds joy in camping, adventuring, and exploring nature. He deeply values re-wilding and believes that reconnecting with nature plays a powerful role in grounding and reawakening one's true self. This love for the wild fuels his commitment to integrating nature into his coaching practices, encouraging men to rediscover their primal connection to the earth.
Drawing from his own life experiences and years of expertise, Adam empowers men to connect with their dream, create a vision, and make the adjustments necessary to live a fulfilled life. He operates multiple successful businesses with the same drive and devotion he brings to his clients. Through his work, Adam educates men to be more powerful leaders and aligned individuals, ready to embrace the life they were meant to live.
FAQs
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If you can't make one of the calls, you can speak with us during your discovery call or during the program. While part of your commitment to the program is that you make all calls, we also know that life happens and will work with you on this. That being said, we also know that accountability is a key part of this program.
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Yes, we'll work with you to cater for your dietary needs. Please note, we will be eating a wholefoods / paleo diet on the retreat. If you have any specific needs or requests, you can let us know when you book your place.
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Unfortunately you cannot just participate in the retreat. When you commit to Catalyst, you're committing to the 1 group call, the preparation work, the 1:1 calls with Matt, the entirety of the retreat, the 6 integration calls, the final group experience and participating in the Whatsapp group. This has been designed to give you the best chance of actually making change in your life and requires your commitment.
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You can refer to the program outline above to see all key dates.
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Yes, we do offer payment plans. A $2,000 deposit will be required to confirm your place. After this, a payment plan of 3 x $1,333 is available. This is required to be paid before the program commences on the 16th September.
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The last chance you have to join the program will be Sunday 15th September, as the program commences on Monday 16th September.
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We are entirely supportive of people that identify as non-binary or a trans-man, and we're open to you attending the retreat. Please book a call with us and we can speak with you about whether the retreat will be a good fit for you.
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Ensuring that we have the men that are fully committed and aligned to the Catalyst container is critical to ensuring it's success. The application process is designed to ensure that the Catalyst program is the right fit for both you and us.
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Yes, this program is suitable for men that are struggling with or have struggled with their mental health. However, before participating in the program, we do require that you have stable mental health. If you are currently experiencing experiencing intense depression, anxiety or addiction we suggest you seek out more specific support via a health professional, such as a Psychologist or a Counsellor. We will be happy to refer you to effective practitioners if needed. If you're not sure where you fit on this spectrum, book a call with us and we can discuss.
