Building Bikes, Building Teams

All episodes

Episode 13

76 seconds

When remote-first companies gather in person, every moment counts.

With Karishma Barua

March 28, 2025

Retreat location: Cancun, Mexico

When remote-first companies gather in person, every moment counts. In this episode, Karishma Barua, VP of People at Fairmarkit, shares how a company-wide retreat in Cancun, Mexico created meaningful connection through a hands-on team-building activity with real impact. Using HBDI thinking style assessments, Karishma’s team was grouped for a high-energy bike building challenge, but the true magic came when local children arrived on-site to receive the bikes. The surprise reveal brought emotional resonance to the retreat, reinforcing Fairmarkit’s culture of empathy, teamwork, and global community. For people leaders planning large-scale offsites, this episode offers ideas for purpose-driven retreat activities, international venues, and creative ways to bring teams together across time zones.

From participation to purpose

With Pauliina LöyttyFluido GroupApr 11th, 2025Retreat location: Berlin, Germany

Planning a retreat for 250 people takes more than logistics—it requires intention. In this episode, Pauliina Löytty, Chief People Officer at Fluido Group, shares how giving employees a sense of involvement made their annual offsite at the Berlin Now Hotel more impactful. By inviting people into the planning mindset and helping them understand the structure of the day, the retreat created a stronger sense of alignment. Business sessions in the morning flowed naturally into an evening celebration, with everyone already bought into the purpose and rhythm of the experience. For companies looking to host large-scale retreats that go beyond surface-level engagement, Pauliina’s approach offers a simple but powerful strategy: make your people feel like insiders, not just attendees.

Episode 15

From Work to Salsa Magic

With Tobias HagenauAworkApr 8th, 2025Retreat location: Temnitzquell, Germany

At Awork, retreats are more than a quarterly ritual—they’re a cornerstone of company culture. In this episode, CEO Tobias Hagenau reflects on a favorite offsite memory at the Kemperhof in Germany, where what started as a casual evening turned into an impromptu salsa dancing session that lasted until 4 a.m. This spontaneous moment of joy and connection wasn’t part of the official retreat agenda, but it became one of the most memorable highlights—a testament to the unique energy that in-person team retreats can unlock. Tobias shares how these unscripted experiences are essential for building trust, encouraging cross-team relationships, and reinforcing the human side of work. If you're planning frequent company offsites, or exploring how to design retreats that go beyond business goals, this episode offers a fresh perspective on why creating space for informal connection might be the most powerful investment you make.

Episode 14

Teamwork In Action

With Betsy TuckerThe Brand GuildApr 1st, 2025Retreat location: Charlottesville, Virginia

Betsy Tucker, VP of People and Culture at The Brand Guild, shares a cornerstone activity from their annual company retreat at Boar’s Head Resort in Charlottesville, Virginia. With up to 55 employees attending, Betsy has helped lead seven offsites, each one featuring a unique team-building challenge called "Build a Brand." This retreat tradition blends creativity and collaboration: small groups are handed three random words and tasked with building an entire brand around them, complete with a visual identity, logo, and go-to-market strategy. It’s more than just a fun competition—it’s a powerful way to spark innovation, amplify cross-functional collaboration, and deepen engagement across the team. If you're looking for offsite activities that inspire creativity, or seeking ideas for hosting company retreats that blend strategy with culture-building, this episode offers a proven model that scales.