Autonomy-Driven Team Building

All episodes

Episode 22

62 seconds

For a company that's been fully remote for over a decade, in-person time is rare and valuable.

With Joshua Olson Kerrigan

giantswarm.io

April 29, 2025

Retreat location: Obonjan Island, Croatia

For a company that's been fully remote for over a decade, in-person time is rare and valuable. At Giant Swarm, Head of Recruitment Joshua Olson-Kerrigan explains how their biannual retreats rely on one powerful framework to drive connection: the open space format. In this episode, Joshua shares how employee-led, self-directed sessions align with Giant Swarm’s core values of autonomy and trust. With the “rule of two feet,” team members are encouraged to walk away from sessions that aren’t serving them and join ones where they can contribute or learn more. The result is a retreat culture where ownership, energy, and engagement thrive naturally. If you're building offsite programs for distributed teams, this is a standout example of how to turn a retreat into a space for real-time collaboration, not just consumption.

Retreats That Drive Strategy

With Gershwin ExeterThrasioJun 3rd, 2025Retreat location: Toronto, Canada

Hosting a partner summit for a global team requires more than presentations—it calls for clarity, emotional connection, and follow-through. In this episode, Gershwin Exeter, Chief Experience Officer at Thrasio, shares how their annual gathering at the Marriott Toronto City Centre achieves all three. The retreat is structured around three key stages: preparation, emotional engagement, and practical takeaways. From equipping partners with pre-read strategy materials to immersing them in Toronto’s multicultural energy, Gershwin’s approach ensures attendees arrive informed, leave inspired, and continue collaborating long after the summit ends. This conversation offers a blueprint for leaders planning retreats or summits that aim to align diverse teams, strengthen partnerships, and translate inspiration into action.

Episode 24

Purpose-Driven Retreat Planning

With Rafaelle StaviskySwapcardMay 29th, 2025Retreat location: Albufeira, Portugal

When planning your first company retreat, it is tempting to focus on venues and activities right away. In this episode, Rafa Stavinsky, Workplace Experience Manager at Swapcard, shares why starting with purpose leads to more meaningful outcomes. Their annual retreats at the VidaMar Hotel Resorts and Spa in South Portugal are designed around clarity of intent, whether the goal is team connection, business alignment, or inspiration. Rafa also explains why the most powerful moments often happen outside the formal agenda. Informal conversations over coffee or during downtime can leave a deeper impact than any keynote. For people leaders planning their first offsite, this episode offers a thoughtful reminder that purpose and unstructured time are just as important as logistics when creating retreats that truly resonate.

Episode 23

Cultural Moments, Team Impact

With Tanja StojicRelaiMay 15th, 2025Retreat location: Barcelona, Spain

At Relai, creating memorable retreat experiences means combining fun with purpose. In this episode, Tanja Stojic, HR Lead, shares two standout moments that brought her team closer, starting with a lively wine tasting at Aromar Plata in Barcelona. The setting gave everyone a chance to unwind, laugh, and connect beyond work conversations. Another highlight came during a retreat in Budapest, where the team visited the Satoshi Nakamoto statue. For a company rooted in crypto, the moment struck a meaningful chord. It wasn’t just sightseeing—it was a reflection of their mission, and a shared point of inspiration. Tanja’s approach shows how thoughtful retreat planning can foster both team chemistry and cultural alignment, especially for small, growing teams.