A look inside BoomPop’s Q1 team offsite
A look inside BoomPop's Q1 team offsite
Riley Leight · 1/25/2023
We believe offsites are the cornerstone of remote work. From kick offs to leadership retreats, we’ve planned every kind of team experience you can imagine—but the most special offsites we get to create are the ones for our own team.
We’re a fully remote company distributed across the globe. From San Francisco to Philadelphia, Pakistan to the Philippines, we’re no stranger to the many benefits and challenges of a virtual-first workplace.
We have an offsite every quarter to bring people together; we talk strategy, solve problems, eat incredible food, and always have fun. It’s more than a work trip, it’s a reminder of the meaningful moments we’re creating for customers.
Earlier this month, the team ventured to Camp Lucy, an event venue in Dripping Springs, Texas, for our latest offsite. Here’s a look at how we design events
Reconnecting with each other + refocusing on our goals
Our offsites always have a theme that defines how we focus our energy for the week we’re together. This time, we oriented the event around customer obsession.
“Everyone came to the offsite with stories of incredible, memorable customer service and shared them,” said our CEO, Healey Cypher. “The leadership team offered some case studies of what customer obsession looks like at various organizations, and I shared some principles that could serve as our north-stars for making it part of our daily practice.”
In the spirit of focusing on customers, we decided to try out one of the most popular venues we recommend to teams: Camp Lucy, a beautifully-designed retreat and event destination nestled into the hills of Texas.
Our past offsites took place in Miami and San Francisco, which made Camp Lucy’s vibe a first for the team. “This offsite felt unique because we weren’t in a bustling city,” said Marketing Specialist, Victoria Kwon. “Being so close to nature with my team allowed me to recharge, take a step back from my day-to-day tasks, and gain more focus and clarity on my contribution to the overall company.”
The natural setting of Camp Lucy set the stage for unique outdoor activities like stargazing with an astronomer, spontaneous games on the sprawling grounds, and laid-back morning hikes where team members could connect and chat. “Our fireside s’mores night was my favorite,” said Kelsi Roberts, Head of Supply and Partnerships. “It’s fun to chill and chat with people you don’t interact with regularly.”
While the outdoors were a highlight, what happened indoors was just as memorable: ice breaker bingo, a hands-on ceramics class, Q&A sessions to help each team align on goals, delicious meals cooked on-site, and much more. All of it came together to form the perfect experience for our team’s preferences and vibe, just like we try to achieve for each company we work with.
Why we love offsites
When we plan our offsites, the biggest priority is how we can make the most of these rare moments spent together in person. We always learn valuable lessons and get a lot done, but that’s not always the part that leaves the biggest impression on people.
Often, what people remember most is the connections the event helped them build with one another. “It gave me the chance to feel like a real team member and an important addition,” said Tiffany Rockman, an Event Designer who joined BoomPop just a short time before the offsite.
No matter the distance between our day-to-day home offices, we know we can look forward to making more memories together as our company grows. Our Q1 offsite gave us everything we needed to recharge, reconnect, and continue creating incredible experiences for other teams.
If you want to see more, you can watch a quick recap of the offsite on our Instagram.
Featured resources
8 Steps for Planning Your Company Retreat
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