Three behind-the-scenes stories on what leaders really worry about—and what happens when they get it right.
When leaders book an “experience” for their people, it’s never just about the experience.
It’s about what they’re trying to avoid.
- The risk of low engagement.
- The fear of investing time and budget into something that falls flat.
- The weight of expectation to prove that culture work isn’t fluff—it’s business-critical.
What we’ve seen—across industries, continents, and teams—is that behind every great event, there’s a leader holding their breath. Hoping their people will connect. Hoping the idea works. Hoping they’ll look back and say, “Yes. That mattered.”
Here’s what it looked like behind the curtain at three very different events.
1. “Senior people, singing and dancing? That won’t work…” — Regional Manager, Frontline, Global Bank
When this senior leader brought together 160 frontline relationship managers from across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, the brief was clear: “They need to connect. Quickly. Meaningfully. Authentically.”
But traditional team building? Too forced. Too awkward. Too slow.
His fear was real…
Would senior leaders participate?
Would cultural differences hold people back?
Would this feel like cheesy karaoke in suits?
What happened instead was transformational. Music became the bridge. A shared focus on customer experience became common ground. And comfort zones were gently, powerfully stretched—onstage.
By the end, he’d witnessed what few corporate experiences deliver:
- Real connections across geography and hierarchy
- High energy that lingered long after the last note
- A shared memory that’s still played (and talked about) at company events
“I’ve never seen my boss and the global CEO dancing, shouting, and singing on stage like that. The format worked on every level – connection, engagement, and energy in the room.”
2. “We didn’t want values on a wall. We wanted them in people’s hearts.” — People Director, UK Hospitality Brand
Just two years into the UK market, this hospitality team had crowdsourced a new set of values from employees. Now came the hard part: making those values real.
The risk?
- That it would feel like corporate entertainment, not team building
- That people wouldn’t engage
- That “fun” would be reserved for extroverts, and the introverts would shrink back
They started by asking themselves the question: What if we launched our values not with a PowerPoint, but with something different – like a song?
The result was an experience that turned words into ownership and community.
- Mixed teams from different locations collaborated with purpose and joy
- A catchy, earworm of an anthem (which is still stuck in people’s heads) brought “Bring the Fun” to life
- Two months later, engagement scores hit record highs—and they won a workplace award
Best of all? Every single person found a role in the process, whether they were writing, performing, or just keeping time.
“That song is still stuck in my head! It was catchy, engaging, uplifting, and it really captured what we stand for as a company.”
3. “It was the biggest gamble I’ve ever taken.” — Group Events Manager, National Hotel Group
Planning her first-ever conference for a network of franchisees and partners, this event lead knew one thing: it had to feel different.
Not just a bigger version of past events. Something bold. Emotional. Unifying.
And above all, unforgettable.
Her concern wasn’t the size of the investment. It was the unpredictability. “I normally know every single thing that’s going to happen. With this… I didn’t.”
Over three days, the experience unfolded in layers:
- A few musicians at first, then more, building anticipation
- A surprise band performance during the closing celebration
- A collaborative song that’s now legendary—still sung in offices, referenced at other events, and even turned into a birthday video.
Her reward? Franchisees re-committed to the brand. Senior leaders were blown away. And delegates voted it the best conference in 34 years.
“We achieved our objective. And the song lives on. People still quote it and sing it in our offices. It’s become legendary…. it was more than I could have imagined.”
The common thread?
These leaders weren’t chasing applause. They were chasing belonging. They wanted people to feel seen, heard, and part of something bigger. They knew that connection feeds sustained commercial success and fuels brand value.
That takes imagination and a genuine sense of care and purpose. It takes trust. And it takes the right kind of experience—one that lifts people out of the ordinary and into a story they want to share and keep telling.
So if you’re wondering whether something this bold will land, you’re not alone.
And maybe—that’s a sign you’re on the right track?
Let’s talk. You don’t have to go it alone.
Have you ever taken a creative risk with your people? What happened? What would you change next time?
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