The 81st minute passed and then the 82nd, still 1-1. The entire Emirates stadium stood tense, cheering, yelling, singing, as the full-time whistle and a deflating tie loomed. With only seconds to play, the ball was corralled by Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka at the top of the box and instantly seemed to explode off his famous left foot. All you could see was the ripple of white netting as Arsenal took the lead over Manchester United. The crowd erupted. I erupted. With a hoarse voice and beer-soaked attire, I hugged countless strangers as the final whistle sounded. Arsenal had won!

This was my "Five Year Experience."

Three weeks prior to game day, I was driving home from the Kogquarters when Kognitiv’s CEO called and asked what I was doing for the Arsenal v. Man United game. He essentially said to grab my wife, pack a bag, and get over to London (yep, we're talking international travel). We had discussed Five Year Experiences, but I was still in awe at the opportunity to cross something off my bucket list.

Aside from my first Premier League game, my wife and I were able to explore London for a few days and take in some of the touristy and not-so-touristy activities, making our time truly memorable. I attribute our experience to Kognitiv and the company’s endless pursuit to put employees first. Kognitiv understands that employee happiness comes from appreciating and recognizing the amazing work employees do. Celebrating five years with the company by being offered a bucket list experience is more valuable than a cash payment or material gift. It shows the company sincerely cares about you, your contribution, and connects the company with employees on a more personal level.

Creating a "Five Year Experience" offering is a bold move, especially as the company ages and there are more and more employees hitting those milestones annually. It just goes to show how much employees are valued and Kognitiv's extreme element of care for employees. The "Five Year Experience" has become a fantastic moral boosting and culture building benefit—even new employees are talking about where they want to go and what they want to do for their "Five Year Experience". I personally am grateful (and still partially in disbelief), and I am excited to see the rest of Kognitiv employee's experiences over the years to come!

"If given the chance, what would you check off your bucket list?" Kognitiv provides a "bucket list opportunity" to employees upon their five year anniversary - something an employee has always wanted to do but may not have prioritized. This enables Kognitiv to thank employees in an incredibly unique, personalized way for their contributions to the company over the years.