PRPL Summit Weekend
At PRPL, we work hard to create an environment that fosters team-building and encourages people to be their most authentic self — but with over 50 employees distributed across 12 states, it can be challenging to establish and maintain a sense of closeness and community.
Enter PRPL’s first ever company-wide summit: A 3-day experience that would allow our distributed team to connect, recharge, and get inspired. From the location to the activities to the officially branded swag and artwork, our team covered every aspect of planning down to the last detail. Surrounding the team with inspiration was a must, so we settled on the The Wave Hotel in the beautiful city of Lake Nona. With art, design, technology, and adventure at every turn, we were able to create a team-bonding experience like no other, and without having to go way off property.
The itinerary:
Day 1: Meet + Mingle
With so many people flying in from across the country and so few having ever met in person, there were lots of intros to be made. We did so over a happy hour at the delicious Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen.
We started day two with a meditation class at the Lake Nona Performance Club so our team could recenter before our epic two-hour Town Hall. It was our first in-person town hall in over 2 years. We celebrated workiversaries, company wins, personal milestones and then wrapped it up with a show-stopping presentation from PRPL veteran and VP of Experience, Mark Malta. Next up we headed over to the Lake Nona Adventure Park where our team members took turns tackling a 60-foot ropes course and water sports. We ended the night at Boxi Park for food and drinks until it (okay, we) closed it down.
Day 3: PRPL Team-Bonding
We kicked off day three with a yoga class then went into department team bonding. From escape rooms to indoor golf, PRPL creatives, project managers, strategists, developers, and leadership got to choose their own adventure for a little one-on-one time and a lot of fun. Then we packed up and came together for one final farewell party at Dockside where we sipped, snacked, and danced till we dropped.
All the thoughtful planning and hard work paid off. We had an amazing and memorable time meeting some for the first time, reconnecting with others and bonding in new ways. And feedback from the team was everything we hoped for and more.
The response:
“Summit 2022 has been a highlight of my time at PRPL because it allowed us to bond, explore, and create memories with our colleagues — beyond the computer screens. I may or may not still be recovering from the nonstop dancing, laughing, and fun we shared and am counting down to Summit 2023”
Natalia Mojica // Associate Digital Strategist
“While at the summit, I suddenly realized how many friends I have in Orlando.”
Nimo Singh // Senior Product Designer
"Finally meeting in person was a game-changer for me. I'm so grateful for this trip and treasure the connections and friendships I made in such a short time. And now I'm counting down the days till we get to do it again."
Mercedes Reinhard // Senior Copywriter & Strategist
“The summit allowed our fully remote company to come together as one family and engage in some awesome bonding opportunities. I was able to meet and interact with my colleagues without worrying about zoom connections or work in general. It was awesome to get to know everyone on a different level. I can't wait until the next one.”
Anibal Cruz // Lead Experience Strategist
“Some work functions can be a drag and you dread going to them... But this was not that. All the events were fun, interactive, and inclusive. Somebody won a stack, we all danced several nights away, and drank to our heart's content. Queue TikTok sound "We had a time last night!”
Sherise Rogers // Developer
“Since I was a very recent new-hire at PRPL I was very anxious to meet so many new friends and co-workers that I had only known via Slack and Zoom. Everyone I met was very friendly, engaging, and grateful to be there getting to know each other better.”
Gerald Bullard // Developer
