Julie Schniers
Keynote Speaker | Leadership Coach | Strategic Facilitator | Co-Host of The Bravo Bravery Retreat
Hi! I’m Julie Schniers—speaker, coach, people-builder, and co-creator of The Bravo Bravery Retreat.
I help leaders, entrepreneurs, and teams grow with purpose—because I believe that when you build up people, you build everything else better, too. Communication, connection, and confidence are at the core of everything I teach, because let’s be honest: that’s what actually moves the needle in our personal and professional lives.
My journey started in the classroom, where I spent 13 years coaching student leaders and building nationally recognized teams. I learned how to manage chaos, rally people around a vision, and create culture that actually works—without the fluff. Since then, I’ve built a business that reaches across industries, from fast food teams to Fortune 500 leaders, guiding individuals and organizations through keynotes, strategic planning retreats, and leadership coaching that’s as actionable as it is inspiring.
But here’s what I really love: helping people believe again—in their voice, in their vision, and in themselves. I’m not interested in performance leadership or “fake it till you make it” culture. I’m about real growth, real strategy, and real impact. I believe you already have what it takes—sometimes you just need someone to help you uncover it, own it, and activate it.
I live in San Angelo, Texas, with my husband Brett (a school board member who leads with heart and grit), our kids, and a life that’s full, loud, and fueled by good coffee, spontaneous dance parties, and a ridiculous amount of passion for helping people thrive. I’m also the host of The People Priority Podcast, where I talk all things leadership, team dynamics, and why people—not policies—are the greatest lever for change.
Co-creating The Bravo Bravery Retreat has been one of the most aligned and life-giving projects of my career. It’s not just a retreat—it’s a reset. It’s strategy and sisterhood. It’s where bold dreams meet real plans. And it’s the space I wish existed when I was stuck in survival mode, spinning my wheels and needing a spark.
If you’re looking for clarity, community, and a space where you don’t have to have it all figured out but are brave enough to want more… then hey friend, you’re in the right place. I’ve got you.
Lauren Cecil
Entrepreneur | Hospitality Visionary | Experience Curator | Co-Host of The Bravo Bravery Retreat
Hey there, I’m Lauren Cecil—founder of Rio Bravo Ranch, desert dreamer, experience creator, and co-host of The Bravo Bravery Retreat.
I run a boutique hospitality collective tucked along the Rio Grande in the stunning Big Bend Region of Texas. Rio Bravo Ranch isn’t just a place to stay—it’s a place to come alive. Whether you're soaking up the sunset from our luxe short-term rental La Centinela, kicking up dust in one of our Big Bend Jeeps, or roasting marshmallows under the stars at our rustic campground, everything I create is built around one goal: to help people reconnect—with nature, with each other, and with themselves.
I’m based in San Angelo, Texas, where I live with my husband Charlie and our three fierce and fabulous daughters: Channing, Holland, and Reagan. Our lives are full of movement, laughter, and a deep-rooted belief in community. That’s why Rio Bravo Ranch isn’t just a business to me—it’s a platform to give back. From fundraising efforts to economic development in nearby Presidio, we believe in using what we have to support the places that shaped us.
I use Rio Bravo Ranch to host unique events that blend beauty, grit, and meaning—like our annual RIO BRAVO SONGS Songwriters Festival, a Texas Tech adventure photography camp, artist residencies, competitive Run n’ Gun weekends, and now, intimate elopements under the West Texas sky. The energy out here is powerful, and when you combine it with the right people and a bold purpose? Magic happens.
That’s exactly what led me to co-create The Bravo Bravery Retreat. I wanted to create a space that feels as wild and sacred as the land I steward—where women could gather, dream, build, and breathe again. This retreat isn’t fluff. It’s real growth, bold vision, and a sisterhood that reminds you that you’re not alone in the building, the dreaming, or the figuring-it-out-as-you-go.
If you’re ready to step out of the noise and into a space that meets your ambition with support, strategy, and a little desert magic… welcome to the place where it all comes together.
Lauren is the current President of Friends of Big Bend Ranch State Park, the official non-profit partner of Big Bend Ranch State Park, a group of dedicated volunteers who support the park through fundraising, volunteerism, education, and local outreach.