It was June 14th, 2023, a day full of excitement and hope. What is this day you may ask? Well, it was the first companywide retreat that Kognitiv had organized to celebrate all of our hard work and accomplishments.

All of the Koggers from different parts of the world flew to Quebec City in Canada to meet the people that they have been building and cherishing relationships with through digital platforms/remotely. The happiest moment began when we saw the shuttle waiting for us at the airport to take us to the resort. An experience which I am going to cherish for the rest of my life.

Day 1 was a “meet and greet” time for all of us. All of our kolleagues reached the resort at different times, some flights got rescheduled, some flights got delayed but “yes” – we were still excited to meet each other in-person, meet our team and spend time together. The Kognitiv Founders – Mark and Luke enlightened Day 1 with their presence. An organization where the founders are so grounded and reachable, makes us an employee centric organization all together. Mark and Luke lit up the stage with their professional charm and gave a presentation about Kognitiv and its growth, successes and how far we've come since day one. The idea to build a consulting firm started with 2 people (The Founders) and now we are 200+ employees working from various locations remotely. At the end of Day 1, we were able connect with our colleagues to watch a show and it was such a nice way to start this amazing retreat.

On Day 2, it was more of an activity day for all Koggers. This day was meant to partake in a large selection of activities, on and off the resort. We had a canyon hike, trail hikes, a cooking class, a wine tasting class, yoga, circuit training, circus classes and more. Some of our kolleagues went into Quebec City for some sightseeing, as for many, it was their first time traveling internationally, and for some it was their first-time visiting Canada. Day 2 had “Around the World” themed dinner which meant that all  Koggers can dress up based on their nationality/heritage or culture. Kognitiv has always been known for its people centric culture and experiencing this with everyone in-person was a different experience. There were some amazing outfits from different parts of the world adorned by all with some great photo sessions with our kolleagues. The day ended with the nightly show along with a bonfire that was  at the resort, and then got back into mixing and mingling with everyone.

Day 3 was another activity day, but was at a much slower pace than the day before. This day was more self-guided - people took to the trails, the pool, hot tub, steam room and gym. There was a soccer match that took place in the morning which was a lot of fun! The resort also had the option to take a gondola up the mountain to get some breathtaking views. A couple of our daredevil kolleagues did a polar plunge right into a creek that was on the resort. Needless to say, we all had a ton of fun being active while also meeting new faces. It was nice seeing people from different teams and disciplines interacting and making connections - this is what we wanted Camp Kog to be about! Our final evening included an awards ceremony where we collectively voted on our kolleagues for various titles. It was so much fun getting to celebrate everyone's accomplishments and recognizing the hard work that we do daily.

It was sad saying goodbye to everyone as it felt like we were just getting started, but I know I can speak for everyone when I say that this was such a special trip - albeit perhaps even a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It really allowed us to see Kognitiv's true culture, and I think as a result, we are even more unified. I know this was not an easy event to plan, so a special shoutout is owed to all of those who worked tirelessly to make this happen - thank you for such an amazing and unforgettable experience!

Once we got home and settled in, we spoke to a few kolleagues who shared with us their experience on the trip, and what it meant to them:

"Camp KOG played a vital role in my continuous contentment with Kognitiv. I think the cultural atmosphere set there was extremely well done, because everyone ultimately works for the clients, so internally we were able to be ourselves and get to know one another on a personal level, free from judgement. I left feeling more connected to Kognitiv and everyone working here. KOG is filled with extremely intelligent brains and I’m delighted to be one of those brains".

"I believe it is “the people” who make the organization. I had a lifetime experience with all the kind and beautiful people out there which I am going to cherish for the rest of my life. “Kognitiv” for me is not only an organization but it’s an emotion and I look forward to creating many more moments and memories with all of you".

"Just when I thought I couldn't love Kognitiv anymore than I already do, Camp Kog happened. Meeting all the peeps I collaborate with on a daily basis and getting to know them in person has deepened my appreciation to be a Kogger and the wonderful friendships that have resulted from being part of the Kognitiv family".

"I had the most amazing experience at Kognitiv's company retreat in Canada. It was an incredible opportunity to finally meet the people I had been working with virtually for so long. The retreat not only provided a refreshing change of scenery but also strengthened the bonds we had formed through out online collaboration. It was an absolute pleasure to connect face-to-face, sharing laughter, ideas, and building deeper connections. This unforgettable retreat has left me feeling energized, motivated and grateful for the incredible team I have the privilege to work with". 

All of those thoughts and experiences from our kolleagues make us happier as an organization and in the end, I would say, until we meet again!! Take a look at some of the photos we took to commemorate this amazing experience!