Embracing Quality In-Person Connections in a Virtual-First Workplace
By: Sophie Yoo
At Thumbtack, our virtual-first model is deeply rooted in the belief that in-person connections matter. As we continue on our Future of Work journey, we’re bringing Thumbtackers together on a regular basis to make connections that foster camaraderie, deepen team alignment and create opportunities to celebrate themselves, their teams and one another! Our second quarter (Q2) offsites did just that and more! And, we’re excited to share a recap of how we were able to do what we do best … connect.
During our Q2 global in-person events, over 700 Thumbtackers gathered for events in the United States and the Philippines. Thumbtackers residing in the U.S. and Canada, descended on Northern California for a series of offsite events called “TT Connect ‘’ that included awesome activities like painting, boat building, scavenger hunts, bowling, pasta and sushi making classes and silent discos!
In the Philippines, we kicked off our very first offsite event, bringing together 230 team members who impressed one another with their karaoke skills before participating in activities such as horseback riding, yoga, Go-Karting, painting, and a coffee lesson with a coffee master.
Choosing teamwork
Since our programming was centered on the theme of connection, we thought it was fitting to bring everyone together for a workshop focused on learning about their own working styles and those of their peers. In our DiSC assessment workshops — attendees discussed how to improve communications, decision-making, and collaboration based on their different DiSC framework. It was the perfect opportunity to deepen work relationships. Many attendees walked away with a deeper understanding of their colleagues and expressed that the experience made them feel even more connected to their teams.
New venues and cities
Our events also provided an opportunity for Thumbtackers to experience different cities and new and exciting venues! All attendees experienced a new location, and while the overarching event structure remained the same, we intentionally placed an added emphasis on connecting with one’s own department.
There were many opportunities for cross-functional introductions and bonding during meals and evening activities, but programming on Day 2 was centered around meeting with one’s own department. This prompted more meaningful breakout sessions that were tailored to specific team needs and built upon both existing and new connections. With over 400 karaoke songs sung between the two countries and over 1,500 photos taken, we think it’s safe to say our employees had a blast!
What’s on the horizon
What’s next for Future of Work? We’re hard at work preparing for our first North America Camp Thumbtack this September and our Philippines Camp Thumbtack in October! Stay tuned for a recap of these amazing three-day events focused on connection, our shared vision and most of all, FUN! We’re also gearing up to open our first custom-built library in San Francisco so stay tuned for more updates… we’re just getting started.
We’re hiring inspired folks who want to embrace the virtual-first, not virtual-only way of working. Check out our opportunities at www.thumbtack.com/careers.
Sophie is Head of Employee Events within the Thumbtack People Team.
