YPO International (Young President’s Organization)

ypo forum retreats

Roman collaborates with moderators and coordinators to craft transformative, theme-driven retreats that resonate deeply with participants' unique aspirations.

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YPO Forums and Moderator Training

Supporting forums by fostering solid foundations and effective leadership.

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YPO Family Workshops

Developing practical strategies to help families and young adults navigate challenges, build independence, and strengthen family bonds.

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YPO Forum Retreats

Roman partners with forum moderators or retreat coordinators to design transformative retreats tailored to the unique needs and aspirations of each group. These retreats go beyond the ordinary, centering on specific topics, themes, or experiences that resonate deeply with participants.

  • Before the retreat, participants complete a confidential online survey, providing insights into their personal and professional lives, as well as pressing challenges or goals. This vital "homework" shapes a bespoke retreat agenda that directly addresses the group’s priorities.

    Roman works closely with the retreat coordinator to refine the agenda, remaining flexible to adjust plans once the retreat is underway. This adaptive approach ensures the retreat evolves in alignment with group dynamics and emerging themes.

  • Although each retreat is uniquely crafted, a general flow includes:

    • Establishing Safety and Addressing Conflicts
      Facilitated exercises to build trust, resolve tensions, and strengthen the foundation of the group.

    • Exploring Common Themes
      Group-level activities designed around shared issues identified in the pre-retreat survey, fostering connection and mutual understanding.

    • Deep Dives for Individuals
      Opportunities for participants to address personal challenges or dilemmas. This might follow standard YPO presentation formats or delve into more profound, facilitator-led explorations.

    • Adventure and Play
      Engaging sports, games, or outdoor adventures that blend creativity and camaraderie, deepening authenticity and connection among members.

    • Integration and Sustainability
      Sessions to help the group embed retreat insights into future meetings, ensuring lasting impact.

    • Celebration and Fun
      Time to relax, enjoy, and celebrate the group’s journey together.

  • Roman continues to support the group after the retreat, staying in touch with the moderator or group leader. Together, they strategize exercises, discussions, and approaches to navigate ongoing dynamics and strengthen group cohesion.

  • Each forum has its unique dynamics, and Roman’s retreats address a variety of starting points, including:

    • High-Functioning Groups: Ready to deepen trust and take relationships to the next level.

    • Stagnant Meetings: Searching for a spark to revive energy and engagement.

    • Life Transitions: Midlife or transitional phases, seeking clarity and direction.

    • New Groups: Building trust and creating a foundation for deep connection.

    • Milestones: Honoring departing members or welcoming new ones.

    • Struggling Forums: Addressing low attendance, weak confidentiality, or unresolved tensions to rebuild trust and cohesion.

    YPO Forum Retreats with Roman offer a powerful blend of introspection, connection, and action—helping groups not only address their immediate needs but also build stronger, more authentic relationships for the future.

Milan Prenosil, YPO Gold Zurich

Roman Brunner is a truly talented forum moderator, retreat resource and coach.

He is characterized by the fact that he can empathize with situations and people very well and he listens. Without appearing intrusive, he precisely and analytically directs the discussion to the essential topics and possible problems that concern his conversation partners. Through his calm, discreet and personable manner, he creates an atmosphere in which people can open up and trust.

I would work with Roman Brunner as a coach and moderator at any time personally and also with employees from my company.

Brian Madeiros, YPO Bermuda

I’ve had the privilege of knowing Roman as a YPO peer which has over time  morphed into what I would describe as a friendship.

Roman has successfully facilitated two of our recent Forum retreats. I have found his style to be perfectly aligned with respect to being able to authentically create a safe and vulnerable space  to explore and facilitate personal growth opportunities within the group . He is able to read the room and participants in a way which allows him to subtly encourage exploration without judgement, in order to further define a shared issue and meaningfully drill down into associated feelings . Roman’s approach within our Forum group has resulted in a number of significant reflection moments for me and I am grateful to have had this opportunity.

Michael Fischbacher, YPO Zurich

Roman Brunner has been an exceptional retreat resource and forum moderator, leading our group with a remarkable blend of tact, sensitivity, and wisdom. He has an innate ability to foster a positive and inclusive atmosphere, ensuring that every member feels heard and valued.

His thoughtful and kind approach is complemented by a strong sense of discipline, striking the perfect balance between creating an open, collaborative space while maintaining structure and focus. Under Roman's leadership, our forum has thrived, not only improving in performance but also in cohesion as a team. His steady hand and empathetic nature make him an irreplaceable asset to our forum group.

YPO Forums and Moderator Training

Providing comprehensive support to ensure forums thrive by cultivating strong foundations and effective leadership.

Building a Solid Foundation for New Forums

For new or prospective forums, Roman guides members in creating a stable structure based on clear principles and expectations. This groundwork helps the group:

  • Establish norms and protocols that promote trust and engagement.

  • Build a shared understanding of forum values and objectives.

  • Set the stage for long-term success and meaningful collaboration.

Empowering Forum Moderators

Roman’s moderator training equips forum leaders with essential skills to excel in their roles. Training focuses on:

  • Strengthening facilitation and leadership abilities.

  • Enhancing conflict resolution and communication techniques.

  • Providing tools to foster a cohesive and productive forum environment.

Ongoing Support

Following the training or retreat, Roman collaborates with moderators to design various meeting agendas tailored to the forum’s unique needs and goals. This ensures continuity and momentum as the group implements new practices.

Roman’s commitment to forums and their leaders ensures they are not only well-prepared for success but also equipped with ongoing support to navigate challenges and sustain growth.

Darren Johnston, YPO Bermuda

A safe container; stretch; wisdom; fun; emotional challenges and growth are all parts of a successful forum experience.  I have been privileged to have Roman moderate two of our forum retreats and gained all of these. 

Roman has a great balance of commercial, family, and personal experiences which enable him to probe and find insights where they are hidden. I highly recommend him as a forum facilitator and more importantly, a person.

Corinne Fischer, YPO Le Mess Euro Gold

Roman has led our Forum for many years. Thanks to his moderating, coaching skills and conflict resolving skill we have evolved into a deeply connected group with a highly trusting culture. This, in spite of overcoming a few serious conflict situations.  Today we manage to unlock white spots and can discuss very private emotional topics which bring high value to all members. Every meeting is diligently prepared. For Retreats Roman uses his wide moderating toolbox to structure the preparation process and the time we spend together.

Roman is a rare combination of a very structured, analytic person with high empathy and emotional intelligence. Last but not least, he is also fun to be with!

Phil Corti, YPO Zürich 

Roman has the ability to always bring the forum into the right mood ready to go deeper. A mindful and creative listener, Roman sets the forum environment to its best.

He prepares, creates, leads and supports the flow of every session hiding his unique talent and ambitions thoroughly by keeping the forum in the center enabling you to find out the best solutions yourself.When it comes to forum moderation and retreat resource Roman is a true natural.

YPO Family Workshop: Empowering Young Adults and Strengthening Family Bonds

As a parent, it’s natural to observe—sometimes with concern, confusion, or even heartache—as your young adult child faces critical challenges, such as:

  • Searching for Direction: Feeling stuck, aimless, or disconnected from a clear sense of purpose in life.

  • Struggling with Expectations: Battling the pressure to meet parental standards, which can leave them feeling like nothing is ever good enough.

  • Lacking Identity: Grappling with the difficulty of defining or rediscovering their true self.

  • Being Overly Cared For: Having been nurtured or enabled throughout their life, they may now lack the skills to live independently and take on adult responsibilities.

  • Difficulty with Authentic Relationships: Struggling to build genuine connections with parents, siblings, extended family, colleagues, and even friends.

  • Uncertainty in Romantic Relationships: Unsure how to cultivate healthy, loving partnerships or how to leave unhealthy ones.

This practical and immersive workshop addresses the impact of these dynamics—for both parents and young adults—and provides actionable strategies to guide them toward maturity, independence, and responsibility.

Key Workshop Outcomes

  • Fostering Independence: Learn how to encourage and empower your young adult children to discover and pursue their own paths with confidence.

  • Balancing Support and Boundaries: Understand how to be a welcoming and nurturing presence without enabling or rescuing.

  • Healing Relationships: Explore techniques to repair strained or broken connections with your young adult children.

  • Interactive Role-Plays: Powerful role-playing exercises that reveal the inner struggles and heartfelt desires within parent-child dynamics. These immersive demonstrations provide practical insights into effective communication and relationship-building.

This workshop equips parents with tools to guide their young adults toward becoming self-reliant, emotionally intelligent individuals, while also fostering deeper, more authentic family relationships.

Thomas Kirchhofer, YPO Gold Zurich

Roman is, without a doubt, the best moderator I have ever experienced. In our Forum, we traditionally rotated the moderator role annually among the group members. However, after Roman took on the role, it became clear that his exceptional skills and approach were unmatched.

We unanimously decided to keep him as our moderator for life! Roman has an unparalleled ability to create an environment of trust, openness, and depth. His mastery of the forum process and his ability to guide discussions with both empathy and clarity have elevated our Forum to new heights. I cannot recommend Roman highly enough to any Forum seeking truly exceptional leadership.

Markus S., YPO Gold Zurich

Roman is an exceptional forum moderator and retreat resource who masterfully balances professionalism with empathy and a genuine sense of humility. He has a remarkable ability to take a step back, never placing himself at the center, while remaining fully engaged and attentive to the needs of the group. Roman approaches even the most challenging and emotionally charged situations with calm confidence, using his ample experience and clear processes to navigate complexity without becoming rigid or overly procedural.

His preparation is always thorough, reflecting his high standards and commitment to excellence. At the same time, he remains flexible, open to feedback, and deeply focused on the impact the group can achieve collectively. This has led to important progress of our group over the years and makes forum each time a worthwhile experience. Roman’s presence fosters trust and collaboration, enabling participants to contribute while he skilfully guides the flow without needing the spotlight. His dedication to meaningful outcomes and his respect for each individual makes him an indispensable asset in any of our forum sessions.