AJ&Smart Guide-Led Program
The Facilitator's Edge
5 days. 3 workshops. 20 facilitators. Portugal.
AJ&Smart Guide-Led Program
5 days. 3 workshops. 20 facilitators. Portugal.
You got the certificate. You watched the modules. But when it's time to stand in front of a real room — the anxiety kicks in. Because knowledge without practice is just theory.
My first workshop: everything went wrong! There was a moment when I seriously thought about calling the emergency hotline for facilitators…
— Facilitator Pro community memberAfter 13 months of trying to launch as a solo facilitator and just about to trudge back to the world of permanent employment…
— Facilitator Pro community memberI know the theory inside out. I've rewatched the modules three times. But every time I get in front of a real group, my mind goes blank and I freeze.
— Workshopper Master graduateThe #1 thing facilitators are asking for isn't more theory, more modules, or more certifications. It's practice. Real, in-person, feedback-driven practice. And they can't get enough of it.
The Facilitator's Edge exists because of this gap. Five days. Nothing but practice.
From corporate boardrooms to unconferences — real workshops with real teams, every time.
Future Green Monthly Meetup — Hong Kong
Tenant engagement workshop
Corporate boardroom workshop — full house
Heidi presenting to the room
Brainstorming in action
Our Food Our Future UnConference 2024
Icebreaker — getting started
Sailboat exercise — live facilitation
Cross-industry collaboration
Team workshop — Hong Kong
Heidi & Katie — post-session
Building roadmaps — UnConference
Facilitating Q&A — UnConference
Always remember to enjoy the moment
Five enriching days. Real business cases. Bespoke feedback for everyone from everyone including AJ&Smart Guides.
Crowd-sourced business challenges from real companies. No hypotheticals.
Personalised feedback on style, timing, energy, and room command — from your Guide and peers.
Beginners learn from experienced facilitators. Experts deepen mastery by teaching — we retain 90% of what we teach others.
At The Facilitator's Edge, you get this level of expert support in person, in real time.
Now imagine getting this kind of help in person — instantly — for five days straight.
No waiting for replies. No guessing. Just real-time, expert facilitation guidance.Real feedback from workshops, strategy sprints, and unconferences Heidi has led across Asia and beyond.
"Getting a 2-day strategy sprint done with the leadership team definitely helped us drive our sustainability roadmap further. Being a member with Future Green connected us with various like-minded people, connecting dots across businesses!"
"Heidi expertly facilitated the session, guiding us through a well-organised process where all participants could clearly identify key challenges and collaboratively prioritise solutions. The workshop culminated in a highly effective priority map of actions."
"A brilliant facilitator and host who creates belonging in her projects. Heidi's research, practical tools, and ability to energise crowds make her sessions both structured and genuinely transformative."
"The energy, the expertise in Sustainable Food Systems, and Heidi's ability to bring a group along on the journey in an inclusive way was outstanding. The 2-day Sprint sessions were very structured while allowing flexibility."
"I worked as a facilitator with Heidi during Unconference 2.0. It was very well-organised and structured. As Table Captain, I had all the tools and frameworks needed to guide my team through the innovation process."
"A real pleasure to work with the Future Green team — very passionate, approachable and adaptable. They animated and engaged very well the teams into collaborative thinking and learnings!"
"Heidi is a really experienced and inspiring trainer. I'm pleased with the positive impact on our team dynamic — the workshops helped everyone align on shared goals and feel energised about sustainability."
"We partnered with Future Green Global to organise capacity building workshops engaging 70+ F&B tenant representatives. Heidi's facilitation made complex sustainability topics accessible and actionable for every participant."
"Heidi facilitated the bridge between concepts and action beautifully. My students loved the experience — she brought real-world examples and engaging exercises that made sustainability leadership tangible."
By the end of the week, you'll have facilitated each one multiple times — with real feedback loops.
Replaces unproductive meetings with structured decision-making. From chaos to action steps in under an hour — using silent ideation, dot voting, and effort/impact mapping.
Free LDJ Resource →
Turns strategy into actionable roadmaps. From vague goals to clear ownership, timelines, and priorities — collaboratively, not top-down.
Helps leadership teams define their North Star, identify success metrics, and choose the best strategic direction. This is where facilitation becomes premium consulting.
Every day is designed with intentionality. Arrive clear, practise deep, leave transformed.
Designed using proven frameworks for how adults learn and how gatherings create lasting impact.
We curate the cohort, personalise every detail, and protect the space so everyone contributes equally. No passengers. No generic experiences.
The breakthrough when your facilitation clicks. A silent disco after deep work. Personalised touches you won't see coming. You'll remember this week for years.
We retain 5% of lectures but 90% of what we teach others. That's why this programme is built on practice and peer teaching. The mixed-level cohort is the method.
This isn't generic group coaching. Every time you facilitate, your AJ&Smart Guide is watching — your timing, your energy, your transitions, your room command. Then you get personalised, written feedback you can actually use.
One of 35 AJ&Smart Guides worldwide. Founder of Future Green (B Corp certified). Facilitator across 7 countries. Proof that having a niche isn't a limitation — it's your competitive edge.
"No matter what niche you're in, facilitation is the skill that unlocks everything. I built my entire consultancy on these three workshops. This programme exists to help you do the same — faster, and without the anxiety."
Passive learning delivers the lowest retention. Teaching others and immediate practice lock knowledge in permanently. That's why The Facilitator's Edge is built entirely around doing. No slides. No lectures. Just structured practice with real stakes.
We retain 90% of what we teach others.
That's why our mixed-level cohort isn't a compromise — it's the method.Not a PDF and a certificate. Everything here is designed to make you more confident the moment you leave Portugal.
The complete online programme included in your ticket. Complete it before you arrive. Includes:
Leading and observing across all three workshop formats
Lightning Decision Jam, Plan-O-Rama & Strategy Signal
Personalised notes on your facilitation style, timing & presence
Report templates, landing pages, email templates & ready-to-sell workshop formats
Your own customer-facing chatbot, trained & maintained (valued at €3,000/yr)
Access a chatbot trained on all AJ&Smart materials as a live reference tool
Personalised massage or bodywork sessions throughout the week
Forest walks, beach hikes & guided yoga in Sintra's natural landscape
Beer, wine & gin from surrounding Sintra farms and producers
Farm-to-table lunches, welcome dinner & drinks at Heidi's home
Crowd-sourced challenges from participants & Heidi's consulting portfolio
Organised daily transport from accommodation to Quinta da Bufala
Bespoke materials crafted just for you. We can't say more — but you'll want to keep these
15 minutes from the farm
A 21-hectare regenerative farm in the Sintra hills — ancient tree canopies, citrus orchards, and the Atlantic coast 15 minutes away.
We mix experience levels deliberately — both groups benefit. Haven't done the Workshopper Master programme yet? No problem — it's included in your ticket (€5,000 value).
We deliberately mix experience levels because everyone grows faster that way. Identify where you are — and see what you'll leave with.
You understand the theory behind the workshops and have maybe run an LDJ or two — but you still feel nervous leading a room. You want practice, structure, and honest feedback so the knowledge sticks.
You know the steps and can run a session, but you want to refine your delivery, handle curveballs with ease, and learn the subtle craft of reading a room. You're ready to go from "good" to "great."
You've got strong reps and can lead workshops confidently. This week, you'll practise coaching and mentoring others through their facilitations — the highest level of mastery and where the deepest learning happens.
These are the real-world scenarios where facilitation creates the biggest impact — and exactly what you'll practise at The Facilitator's Edge.
20 spots. One week. An experience designed to permanently shift your facilitation confidence.
One evening: A guided tasting of local whites, reds and rosé from partner wineries — hosted on the sunset porch overlooking the farm and Sintra hills, with views toward Pena Palace. Paired with seasonal canapés.
Why practice beats theory: The Learning Pyramid shows we retain just 5% from lectures — but 75% from practice and 90% from teaching others. That's exactly what this week is built around.
Access to the full Workshopper Master programme is included in your ticket (€5,000 value). You must complete it before arriving in May 2026. We accept both fresh graduates and experienced practitioners already running these workshops with clients.
Not at all. The mixed-level cohort is intentional — beginners learn from experienced facilitators, and your Guide provides bespoke feedback throughout. The most anxious participants often report the biggest breakthroughs.
Two AI tools: a shared chatbot trained on all AJ&Smart materials for quick reference during the week, plus your own customer-facing business chatbot — built and maintained for 12 months (€3,000/yr value).
Accommodation isn't included. We provide a curated list of nearby hotels and Airbnbs (boutique to budget). Daily transport to the venue is included.
It's an intensive professional development programme in an extraordinary setting. Structured facilitation practice is the core — wellness and tastings support sustainable high performance. Your L&D budget should cover this.
Yes. We provide invoices, programme outlines, and learning outcomes documentation suitable for L&D budget approval. Many participants fund this through their employer.
May 2026 is our inaugural edition. Future editions may run in Spain, Hong Kong, and Japan — but this first cohort will always be the smallest and most personal.
Get a taste of the frameworks you'll master at The Facilitator's Edge. These free resources from the AJ&Smart ecosystem are where every great facilitator starts.
The complete breakdown of workshop facilitation — what it is, core principles, and how to run sessions that actually produce results.
Read the guide →The free book that started it all. The antidote to busy-work, endless meetings, and pointless discussions. Essential reading before Portugal.
Get the playbook →The free community where facilitators share workshop tips, ask questions, and connect. Many of your future cohort members are already here.
Join for free →Watch exactly how AJ&Smart run a Strategy Sprint from start to finish — the step-by-step process you'll practise live in Sintra.
Watch the video →May 18–22, 2026 · Early bird ends 31 March
20 spots. One transformative week at Quinta da Bufala, Sintra.
Apply Now — Save €1,000 → I'm Ready — Secure My Spot →
