Culture in Action: Reflections from our annual retreat

This privileged opportunity to share quality time with colleagues from all over the world made me reflect on what company culture really is. When people talk about company culture, they often picture the visible things: free snacks in the office, quirky slogans on the walls, or a fun team activity here and there.

But culture isn’t decoration. It’s the concrete foundation beneath the ground.

It’s not the company values on the website; it’s what shows up in the everyday choices people make for each other.

Over a few days, we didn’t just connect with each other, we also connected with our vision for the years ahead. We came from 12 countries, carrying our own perspectives, traditions, and stories. And we discovered again and again that it’s precisely those differences that make us stronger.

I saw culture in action when people huddled under shared coats to stay dry in the rain.

I heard it in the cheers as teammates tried something new – a shaky first arrow at archery, a wobbly start on a Segway, the launch of a homemade rocket. I felt it when we all stood up to applaud the people who served us so generously on the island. I noticed it every time someone turned to the organising team and asked: “What do you need? How can I help?”

And then there was my favorite moment of all.
After some serious ceilidh dancing, one of us twisted an ankle. He sat down with a freezing ice pack pressed against his foot, insisting to his colleague: “No, no, go back and dance, I’ll be fine.” But the colleague sat down on the floor next to him, simply smiled and said: “I’m not here to dance. I’m here for the vibes, and I’ll vibe with you until you’re better.”

We called our retreats Connect, and that name now feels like both a description and a promise.

The memories we created on the island will stay with us: the laughter, the lessons, the moments of care and celebration. But more importantly, what we learned will prepare us for the future. Connection isn’t something that happens once a year on a retreat. It’s what will sustain us every day in how we work, how we collaborate, and how we succeed – together.