A glance into Swapcard’s Advertising & Development offsite 2023

In relation to efficiency, the proof is obvious – the highest-performing groups are well-connected.  

Swapcard is all about constructing significant connections, and as a global firm with many remote-working teammates, we’re extremely intentional with regards to this. We provide many alternatives for our groups to attach, from enjoyable workplace events to area of interest Slack channels (#just_for_fun), however the largest alternative is at our firm offsites.

At offsites, groups collect collectively to participate in enjoyable actions and group working classes. Not too long ago, 18 teammates from the Advertising and Development group united for a six-day journey.

We caught up with Laura Vellozo and Grace Patricia Mime to listen to all about their expertise and see how these offsites contribute to the tradition of collaboration and resilience that outline Swapcard.

Introduce your self!

[Grace Patricia]

Hello, I’m Grace Patricia, and I’m primarily based in Paris, France. I’m a part of the Development Crew, working to develop our PLG technique on our Free and Starter plans.

[Laura]

Hey, I’m Laura Vellozo. I’m primarily based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and I work within the Advertising group as Head of Product Advertising. 

Inform us about this 12 months’s offsite.

[Grace Patricia]

The Advertising & Development offsite theme was “BondVoyage: Teamwork By no means Dies”, and it happened in Cyprus. We stayed in 2 poolside villas in Larnaca.

The organizing group was superb! They did an excellent job from the preparation to the post-offsite. Earlier than the offsite, they created a local weather of dedication and collective decision-making, proposing locations and actions and letting individuals select. They organized a dream keep for us with brainstorming classes, actions, and restaurant outings, completely synchronized.  After the offsite, they saved the reminiscences alive with quizzes, jokes, and movie sharing.

Throughout this offsite, I noticed a few of my colleagues for the primary time, and it was a pleasure to satisfy these nice individuals. All of us shared a typical spirit of togetherness, studying, and pleasure.

[Laura]

Because it was the primary time in 2 years that we met face-to-face, you’ll be able to think about how excited all of us have been. And we weren’t dissatisfied! 

As soon as there, we spent superb sunny days by two poolside villas in Larnaca, the place we loved every others’ firm and did some significant work for the 12 months forward. All inside our official theme, “BondVoyage: Teamwork By no means Dies”, which was spot on.

You talked about that the Advertising & Development offsite was primarily based in sunny Cyprus. Share your favourite image!

[Grace Patricia]

The picture most likely did not catch a sunny day, however it’s very atmospherically lit. It was our “Bond: Swapcard Sapphire” themed get together, and everybody shone like a sunray!

[Laura]

My favourite shot must be on the day we went scuba diving for the primary time. The water was crystal clear, the solar was shining, and it was such a particular second shared with the group.

16 colleagues in two poolside villas – that is a recipe for journey! Are you able to share a hilarious or memorable second out of your villa keep that completely captures the spirit of our offsite?

[Grace Patricia]

Large hug to Matt. This touching second reveals simply how close-knit the group is and the way a lot affection is proven for Matt, the Advertising group chief for thus a few years.

[Laura]

Having everybody collectively 24/7 was fairly intense but additionally very enjoyable. In all probability my prime decide must be the late nights speaking by the pool. Though we have been all drained from the packed schedule, there was all the time time to speak about our day, have some good laughs, and be taught much more about one another. 

What have been your prime 3 actions on the offsite? 

[Grace Patricia]

Spa and therapeutic massage: It was so good to disconnect and chill out 
The Swapcard Sapphire get together: within the footwear of a Bond spy for one evening. So thrilling!

[Laura]

Scuba diving for the primary time, exploring the capital metropolis of Nicosia throughout a treasure hunt, and having fun with the Cyprian ocean views from a non-public boat tour! 

Did you uncover any hidden skills or expertise amongst your colleagues throughout the offsite that stunned you?

[Grace Patricia]

Julien on the prime of a human pyramid, with Tui and Carlos.

They shared with us their hidden skills of stability, agility, flexibility, and power. It was a lot enjoyable!

[Laura]

The human pyramid on the seaside was not anticipated in any respect. I used to be impressed and a bit of involved, however it all labored out properly! 

What’s one thing attention-grabbing you discovered about somebody within the group?

[Grace Patricia]

I discovered that Blessing is a hyperpolyglot, as she speaks seven languages! She’s simply fabulous and an inspiration to be taught new languages with confidence.

[Laura]

Surprisingly, a number of teammates had utterly totally different professions than their present roles at Swapcard. Somebody was once a Zookeeper, and somebody used to work as a residing statue! I’ll allow you to get to guessing ;).

What snack, dish, or drink would you put together to symbolize your tradition at our subsequent offsite? 

[Grace Patricia]

I’m initially from the coast of Cameroon, and my village is an island. In my hometown, the food plan is principally composed of fish and seafood like oysters. So, at our subsequent offsite, I might love to arrange grilled fish with fried plantain (a signature vegetable of sub-Saharan Africa).

[Laura]

On this journey, I made some conventional Brazilian caipirinhas, which I used to be fairly nervous about, however I used to be advised they turned out okay. Subsequent time, I would strive one thing within the meals division – possibly our well-known cheese bread known as “pão de queijo”.   

Talking of meals, there was an abundance of scrumptious eats on the offsite. I do know some individuals already miss the creamy garlic dip and smooth pitas.

What was your favourite dish or drink on the offsite?

[Grace Patricia]

Octopus! This was the second time I would eaten octopus in my life (the primary was on the Swapcard Sapphire get together). And it was an actual delight!

[Laura]

I really like Greek meals, so I could not be happier with the dishes we acquired to eat. Choosing one is hard, however the roasted lamb was simply divine. 

Quickfire spherical time:

[Grace Patricia]

Greatest swimmer: Rafa
Best: Blessing
Loudest chuckle: Caroline
Greatest group participant: Kendra
Funniest storyteller: Caroline
Most trendy: Merima
Greatest dancer: Carlos

[Laura]

Greatest swimmer: Julien 
Best: Blessing 
Loudest chuckle: Tui
Greatest group participant: Giulia  
Funniest storyteller: Caroline
Most trendy: Merima 
Greatest dancer: Carlos

It wasn’t all enjoyable and video games although! Every day, an expert workshop or exercise was organized to assist improve our expertise and teamwork.

Are you able to inform us extra about them? Did you be taught something attention-grabbing that you simply’ll apply in your work transferring ahead?

[Grace Patricia]

We had a group-organized problem. Every group needed to create probably the most partaking occasion on our Swapcard platform. It was very stimulating as a result of the problem was to make the occasion as interactive as doable. So, we had to make use of all of Swapcard’s options, which allowed us to discover the platform and higher perceive it from a consumer’s perspective. We might then give suggestions and reviews to the product group and assist enhance our beloved product.

[Laura]

We have been fairly bold in our schedule and deliberate working classes each day of the journey. The themes would range, however their objective was all the time geared in the direction of placing our heads collectively on a shared challenge. I would say the character take a look at was surprisingly eye-opening as we have been pushed to query our traits and share them with the group. The consequence was a wealthy dialogue about our contributions in addition to the group’s, which is extremely useful in our distant work setting.

What do you’re keen on most about working along with your group?

[Grace Patricia]

What I cherished most was the teamwork and the training expertise it provided. Working intently with my group, every of us needed to dive deep into the platform’s options, pushing us to suppose creatively and strategically. It was exhilarating to see how every Swapcardian’s distinctive strategy and understanding of the platform contributed to our collective objective. The problem not solely introduced us nearer as a group but additionally considerably enhanced our understanding of the platform from a consumer’s perspective. 

I believe the entire offsite expertise was invaluable in serving to us admire our group, the corporate, and the intricacies of Swapcard as a platform.

[Laura]

I really like how resilient all of us are. Working amongst such good, form, and adaptable individuals makes all of the distinction in how far we are able to go collectively.  

In the event you might sum up our offsite in a single catchy slogan or tagline, what wouldn’t it be?

[Both]

Teamwork by no means dies!

Wish to be part of our subsequent offsite journey?

Be part of our passionate group and revolutionize the occasions trade!