By Daniel Oppong, Limeade EX Strategy Specialist
I joined Limeade in August 2019. Not long after my first week on the job, I was on a plane to Bellevue, Washington, for my first-ever companywide event. Given I was the new kid on the block, this experience would serve as an important catalyst for my integration into all things Limeade. It felt like summer camp … Limeade edition. Side note — if your company doesn’t have its own version of “summer camp,” maybe it should.
AIP, named after our core value Anything Is Possible, is a unique experience designed to:
- Bring employees from all over the world together
- Reconnect our people with our vision, mission and purpose
- (Re)inspire and (re)invigorate our employees with fresh insights and perspectives to further support the incredible work they’re already doing.
Coming into the 2020 event, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. With the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions still in full force, our event would be a fully virtual employee conference, which was a unique challenge — especially considering the amount of time we all spend on Zoom or Teams calls these days. But I have to say, our team nailed it!
The Event Team did an exceptional job creating a rich and meaningful experience for all 270 employees from six different time zones, which is quite the feat, if you ask me.
5 things that stood out at the virtual employee conference
The event included a combination of virtual sessions and breakout groups that enabled employees to consume content and discuss it with each other. The whole experience was fantastic, but here are a few of my favorite parts:
1. Employee Care Packages
The AIP Event Team put together care packages filled with Limeade swag and shipped one to every employee! It really is the little things that show care, and let me tell ya, this one was a gem.
2. Topical Discussions
Three colleagues and I led a session focused on Race & the Employee Experience. There are few issues in 2020 that have been as magnified as the issue of race in America. Our session explored ideas like identity and intersectionality, and took a deep-dive into what research has to say about diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as how underrepresented minorities experience the workplace. It was a valuable conversation and felt well-aligned with our continued efforts to create a more inclusive culture.
3. Employee Breakout Groups
One of my favorite parts of any company event is connecting with people I don’t work with on a day-to-day basis. Each breakout group included about 20 LimeMates from across the organization. During our breakout discussion, where we talked through topics like resilience and company values, I was reminded of how incredibly thoughtful and talented my colleagues are.
4. Virtual Guest Speaker
Alex Sheen is the founder of because I said I would, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the betterment of humanity through promises made and kept. He joined our virtual employee conference to share a motivational talk about the personal experiences that led him to start the organization. The main theme was simple: Promises Made and Promises Kept. He challenged us to identify areas where we could make and keep promises and explained how something so simple could have a profound and lasting impact.
5. Company Strategy Session
Led by our CEO and Chief People Officer, a strategy session gave us a peek into what’s ahead of us at Limeade. And while I can’t spill all the tea, what I will say is wait and see. Whether you’re a Limeade employee or Limeade customer, we’re in for an exciting ride.
Of all the things 2020 has shown us, one of the most poignant has to be this: Life is made meaningful by experiences we share with the people we care about. I’m grateful to be part of an organization that consistently shows care for all employees, and exemplifies the value of relationships — both personal and professional. Our virtual Anything Is Possible event served as a great reminder that at Limeade, we’re quite fortunate to work with incredible colleagues and customers alike, as we pursue our mission to measurably improve well-being in the world. And AIP 2020 was most certainly another positive step in that direction.
Ready to take your employees’ experience to the next level? The Limeade ONE platform empowers organizations to create an intentional employee experience that demonstrates care by reaching every employee, listening to them, and offering activities, resources and programs.