How a Company Retreat in Mexico Became a Masterclass in Connection (and Proved Culture Is Built in Moments, Not Meetings)
This past September, our team packed their bags and headed to Valle de Bravo, a small lake town tucked into the hills outside Mexico City. Every year, we choose a new destination for our company retreat, but this one felt different. It wasn’t just another offsite. It came at a time when we needed to reconnect, rebuild energy, and remind ourselves why we do what we do.
After a year of change, new systems, new roles, and honest growing pains, the energy across the team had dipped lower than usual. I could feel it. Normally we’re a nine out of ten on the energy scale, but lately we’d been hovering around a seven. For someone who values culture as much as I do, that was a wake-up call.
This year’s retreat wasn’t just about celebrating our anniversary. It was about rebuilding connection and remembering who we are as a team.
The Plan: Connection Through Creativity
A few months before the retreat, Andrea from our team and I got together to plan something that would bring everyone closer. We didn’t want a classroom-style session or another PowerPoint presentation. We wanted fun, laughter, and collaboration.
After tossing around ideas, we landed on game shows.
We created a Jeopardy-style competition with categories like Core Values, Company Vision, Zipdev Facts, and Random Trivia. Each team competed for points, buzzing in and answering in true Jeopardy fashion. Then, we built our own version of Family Feud, called “100 Zipdevelopers Said.”
To make it work, we surveyed the entire company ahead of time, asking 20 questions like:
What’s your favorite thing about Zipdev?
What’s your favorite core value?
What does Daniel do for fun?
What’s one thing every Zipdeveloper has on their desk?
The answers were gold. They gave us a window into how our assigned team members see Zipdev and what really matters to them.
The Moment It All Came Together
Fast forward to the retreat. We landed in Mexico City, took a two-hour bus ride to Valle de Bravo, and started breaking the ice with conversation cards. The questions were personal, about goals, fears, and fun facts, and by the time we arrived, the energy had already shifted.
The first evening was a casual welcome dinner. The next morning, after a yoga session and breakfast, my co-founder Mike led our quarterly “State of the Company” session. He walked the team through our wins, growth, and progress over the past 12 months. Seeing the numbers side by side reminded us how far we’ve come.
And then, the magic happened.
Andrea and I had a plan to surprise everyone. We disappeared for a bit, came back dressed as Harry and Lloyd from Dumb and Dumber, and walked into the conference room in full character. The room exploded with laughter. I’ve never seen smiles that big at a company event. It set the tone perfectly for the Jeopardy game that followed.
The energy was electric. Teams were shouting answers, cheering each other on, and playfully arguing about who buzzed first. It was the most fun I’ve ever had leading a workshop.
When it came time for Andrea’s Family Feud session, she absolutely crushed it. Through the responses, we learned so much about our team:
Their favorite core value is Continuous Learning.
Most describe Zipdev as an awesome company.
Almost everyone loves coffee.
Many are gamers.
And while people knew who the founders were, they didn’t know much about us personally.
That last one stuck with me. It reminded me that leadership isn’t just about vision. It’s about connection. Our people want to know us as humans, not just as founders.
Reconnecting Through Adventure
After the workshops, we spent the next day exploring Valle de Bravo. Team members got to choose their own adventure, riding ATVs through the hills, sailing across the lake, or relaxing poolside with a view.
I’ve always believed in the intersection of adventure and challenge. That’s where real growth happens. It’s also where people form the strongest bonds.
That night, we gathered for dinner at a beautiful restaurant, toasted to our progress, and returned to the hotel for our 10-year celebration party. The rooftop was decked out with lights, music, fog machines, and champagne. We danced, sang karaoke, and laughed late into the night.
It was one of those moments where you stop, look around, and realize how lucky you are to be surrounded by people who care.
What This Trip Taught Me About Culture
Company retreats are not just perks. They are investments in alignment and trust.
If morale feels off, no amount of strategy slides or team meetings will fix it. People reconnect when they laugh together, share stories, and see that their leaders are human. A few things I took away that any company can apply:
Design for connection, not content. Nobody remembers the PowerPoint deck, but they’ll remember how they felt.
Give your people a voice. Our “100 Zipdevelopers Said” survey revealed insights we never would have known otherwise.
Add adventure. Shared challenges create stronger teams than any training ever could.
Be human. Let your team see who you really are. Culture grows through authenticity, not authority.
Culture is not a department. It’s how people show up when no one is watching. The more connected your team feels, the more likely they are to go out and deliver for your clients.
Somewhere between the laughter, the games, and the music, I had this full-circle moment. My mom immigrated from Peru, and I’m half Peruvian, half American. I realized that part of the reason I’m so passionate about our culture is because it reflects who I am. It’s community, music, joy, connection, all of it.
That’s what makes this team special. That’s what makes this work meaningful.
If you’re planning a company retreat or looking to rebuild connection on your team, I’d be happy to share ideas. I’ve got plenty of stories, some lessons learned, and even a “Zipdev Game Show Playbook” that might just help you bring your team closer too.
Bests,
Daniel
