Meet Shawn Dougherty | Founder & Executive Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shawn Dougherty and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shawn, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The whole idea behind starting our family business came from wanting to combine our strengths and create something meaningful that could actually make a difference. We wanted to open up our beautiful space to people from all over, giving them a place to heal, connect, and reset. It’s really about building a legacy of wellness and creating experiences that help people grow and bring them closer together.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My journey’s been a mix of film and commercial production, wellness, and entrepreneurship, all driven by a passion for creating meaningful experiences that spark growth and healing. I got my start working with Rob Zombie in music and film, then launched my own production company, SOKA Films, and co-founded The Malibu Retreat with my mom and sister. Our retreat is all about giving people from around the world a place to reset and reconnect through experiences that nourish the mind, body, and soul. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing—balancing family dynamics, finances, and business growth has taken a lot of resilience and flexibility. But those challenges taught me that failure is just part of the journey, and real success comes from trusting your vision and surrounding yourself with the right people. What keeps me going today is the drive to uplift, empower, and create—whether through film, wellness, or community work—and to leave a lasting impact by helping others align with their best selves.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came to visit, I’d make sure they got the full LA experience. We’d chill at The Malibu Retreat, spend a day at Venice Beach, and grab smash burgers at The Whaler. One night, we’d hit the Hollywood Comedy Club for some improv, and another night we’d catch a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. We’d stop for some street tacos from a random truck or stand, and if there’s a game going on, we’d hit Sofi Stadium to wrap it up.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a shoutout to my family—their love, support, and shared vision have been the backbone of everything we’ve built. Big thanks to my mom, Michele Clark, and my sister, Brittney Rose, who were right there with me creating The Malibu Retreat. Their passion for wellness and hospitality really helped shape what we stand for—offering a space for healing and connection. I also want to recognize the amazing community we’ve built along the way—our guests, collaborators, and friends who keep inspiring us to grow and give back.

Website: https://themaliburetreat.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themaliburetreat

Image Credits
Shawn Dougherty