Crooked Monkey 2024 Retreat Announcement!
Every year, our team gathers in an exotic location for a blend of fun, work, bonding, and creating lasting memories. The Crooked Monkey retreat is a cornerstone of our company culture. As an international remote company from the start, our culture is as strong, if not more so, than many in-person companies.
The retreat at Crooked Monkey has become legendary. Why? It’s our incredible team. When we get together, it’s always a blast. Picture guitars, asados, hugs, and spontaneous cold plunges.
We avoid cliché trust-building exercises and focus on authentic connections and real experiences to reinforce our company culture and values. This approach has helped us build a culture that’s both strong and genuine. Read all about it firsthand in the words of our CEO and founder on his LinkedIn post.
Revealing the Location
In previous retreats, we’ve chosen stunning locations like Buenos Aires and Mendoza, adding to the magic. The location for this year’s retreat was a well-guarded secret until the entire team received a video call invite with the subject “Announcement.”
At Crooked Monkey, we don’t just communicate, we create experiences. We love the drama! The internal chats and memes flew—what was all the mystery about?
On that Monday morning, an all-company calendar invite titled “Announcement” was sent for 3 PM. Suspense built as the time approached. Our design team crafted a spectacular presentation, with each slide offering a new clue about our destination: a map of South America, a beach, passports… until finally, we revealed the city—RIO DE JANEIRO! True to Crooked Monkey style, we even modified our monkey logo to fit the moment. By the end of the call, we were all filled with joy, feeling like our journey had already begun, even before landing in Rio.
The Journey Ahead
Our retreats are not just about fun; they are about celebrating our culture and values. We build rituals into our retreats, making each one unique and memorable. Some of our classic retreat rituals include:
• Theme & Preparation: Although our retreat will take place in September, it has already begun in many ways. The journey starts with brainstorming the theme, designing the swag, booking flights and accommodations, planning activities, and preparing presentations. All this work and anticipation are part of the adventure and the fun, bringing our team together long before we even set foot in Rio.
• Snack & Sip Show and Tell: Our team spans the globe, from the USA to Brazil, Israel, Argentina, Colombia, the Philippines, and beyond. What better way to bond than sharing our favorite hometown snacks and drinks? It’s a delicious journey through cultures and tastes, and trust us, the snack game is strong.
• Monkey Talks: If we can personalize your swag, we can definitely do our own custom TEDx Talks. This is where the Managers of our team share their philosophies, ideas, and tips. It sparks conversations that last all week, inspiring us to always seek the best ways to do things, a cornerstone of our values and culture.
• Swag Presentation: You guessed it. Swag isn’t just a perk; it’s a story. Each piece is designed with our retreat theme in mind, creating tangible memories that we carry back with us.
• Work-Fun Balance: We are experts at blending work and play. At retreats, we do ¾ of the usual hard work, while the other quarter is all about hanging out and having fun. And one day is entirely reserved for adventure! Whether it’s hiking, sailing, or samba dancing in Rio, it’s all about stepping out of our comfort zones and making memories.
Our retreats aren’t just about the location; they’re about bringing our unique chemistry to life, no matter where we are. Rio, here we come! Stay tuned for more updates on the retreat. We’ll soon reveal the theme, and there will be more exciting announcements to come. For more updates, visit our LinkedIn and Instagram.
