Offsite January 2024 — Itatiba, Brazil
Thursday, January 11th, 2024. Half a year ago, we enjoyed the sunny weather in Ericeira. Since we like warmer climates and have team members in Brazil, we thought, “Why not have our next offsite in Brazil?” So, we did! After some long trips, we happily welcomed our international team from Belgium, the US, Andorra, and India to our new São Paulo office.
Learning from past offsite experiences, we decided to switch things up this time. Instead of the usual jam-packed schedule filled with internal workshops and team-building, we decided to take a breather. We divided our agenda into offsite and onsite activities. During the offsite, we dedicated half a day to reflecting on the previous year and acknowledging our highs and lows. Additionally, we focused on revisiting our mission, vision, and principles for the upcoming phase, but the remainder was reserved for team bonding and various activities.
In the week following, our attention shifted towards cross-team workshops and introducing fresh ideas. All of this unfolded in our newly established office in São Paulo.
Let me provide you with a glimpse of how we initiated the offsite with our entire team in Brazil.
On Friday, January 12th, our day kicked off with a delightful breakfast, setting the stage for a series of engaging workshops. A highlight of the offsite was the presence of Thomas Harris from Motive Partners, a key equity partner of Credix. He shared valuable insights with regard to Motive Partners’ thesis on partnering with Credix and answered all of our team’s questions.
After that our newly appointed COO, Stijn, led the opening session, looking back on the past six months, and outlining the key learnings including:
1. Operating Principles & Core values are not just catchy phrases or beautifully framed words adorning corporate walls and documents.
2. Our excellence is a reflection of our team’s collective strength.
Taking a moment to review the past year, our CEO & founder, Thomas, then stepped up to share insights on the Vision, Mission, and Principles for the year ahead, highlighting why it’s crucial to Build with Velocity.
Wrapping things up, our CTO & co-founder Maxim shared some interesting thoughts on where our product is headed in 2024 from the Product & Engineering perspective. We’re keeping the details to ourselves for now, but trust us, there’s some cool stuff in the pipeline!
“Olympian mindset is ingrained in our team. It’s clear by the effort and bravery our team displays during the activities (paintball, rafting) and the intensity and competitiveness that everyone shares.” John Casterline — New York City
On Saturday, January 13th, we left the venue after a satisfying breakfast for a day of rafting. The drive was long but worthwhile as upon arrival, a delicious lunch was waiting for us. The focus on Communication, Being Bold and Wise Judgement was evident as some of us were invited to take the driver’s seat, experiencing the leader’s difficulties and responsibilities. A unique trust-building exercise involved rafting while being blindfolded and following commands, highlighting the team’s reliance on their leader without vision. Looking back, it was a thrilling and enjoyable exploration of teamwork dynamics.
After an exciting rafting experience in the picturesque landscapes of Socorro, we gathered for our last dinner — a tasty Brazilian Picanha BBQ, accompanied by delightful caipirinhas, all while a pianist set the mood with rhythmic samba tunes in the background. Some of us made the Wise judgment to go to sleep, while others embraced the night by dancing away to the beats. Fortunately, the next day was booked for a laid-back day by the pool, complete with massages and homemade pizza.
These two weeks were really special — lots of bonding, interesting chats, and, of course, plenty of laughter. With our core principles in mind and everyone focused on what lies ahead, we’re all super excited about the next coming months!
Want to be part of this amazing team and join our next offsite in June? We’re currently hiring for a VP Credit, Risk & Structuring and Financial Operations & Portfolio Management Associate, both based out of our new São Paulo office!
