Making the Case for Getting Away

Episode 34

225 seconds

Convincing leadership to fund company retreats can be a challenge, especially when the return on investment is hard to quantify.

With Guest

June 26, 2025

Retreat location: Country of retreat

Convincing leadership to fund company retreats can be a challenge, especially when the return on investment is hard to quantify. In this episode, Sharath Abraham, Global Strategy Manager at Jabra, explains why retreats are worth the investment and how they create value beyond traditional metrics. Sharath shares his perspective on designing offsites that encourage vulnerability and authentic connection. By taking teams out of familiar office settings and into environments where guards naturally come down—whether that’s a pool, a cabin, or even a teepee—retreats can spark conversations and relationships that simply don’t happen in day-to-day work. His advice offers a practical lens for leaders seeking to justify and maximize the impact of team gatherings.

Nacar Design

With Belén SuárezNacar DesignJul 10th, 2025Retreat location: Barcelona, Spain

When planning a retreat, understanding your team’s unique profiles can make the difference between a good event and a transformative one. In this episode, Belén Suárez, Culture and Internal Communications Lead at Nacar Designs, shares why aligning retreat activities with team expectations—and involving employees in the process—creates a deeper sense of purpose and connection. Belén reflects on lessons from hosting biannual retreats, including how thoughtful planning and open communication help translate leadership goals into meaningful experiences for everyone. Her insights provide a framework for organizers seeking to create retreats that feel inclusive, intentional, and impactful from start to finish.

Episode 36

Work Forward

With Brian ElliottJul 8th, 2025Retreat location:

Annual offsites can be transformative—but only if they’re designed with balance in mind. In this episode, Brian Elliott of Work Forward shares insights from his work with senior executives on why gatherings matter, what makes them impactful, and how to avoid common pitfalls. Brian explains why quarterly retreats can lift engagement by nearly 30% and why the benefits last months beyond the event itself. He also challenges the overstuffed agenda approach—often nicknamed “death by PowerPoint”—and advocates for blending strategy discussions with social connection and unstructured time. His guidance offers a roadmap for leaders who want retreats to inspire action rather than exhaustion.

Episode 35

IMG.LY

With Michael TaubenheimIMG.LYJul 1st, 2025Retreat location: Marmaris, Türkiye

Structure might not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning a retreat, but for Michael Taubenheim, it’s the key to unlocking meaningful connection. In this episode, the People Experience Manager at IMG.LY shares how creating a transparent framework transformed their annual retreat at the Cooks Club Atakoy in Turkey. By defining goals like growth, connection, and feedback upfront, Michael and his team were able to design everything—from onboarding to daily check-ins—around those priorities. Simple rituals such as opening and closing each day helped foster psychological safety, ensure participation, and keep the retreat adaptable in real time. His insights reveal how intentional structure can elevate a gathering from a series of events to a truly transformative cultural experience.