?? New year, building better culture: strengthening bonds in a remote-first world.

Hello Friend,

After our annual closure and holiday break, many of us returned feeling recharged and reflective. That time to rest reminded us how much moments of pause and connection contribute to our well-being. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re contemplating a critical question: How can we foster meaningful human connections while embracing the flexibility of remote work that so many of us value?

Looking back on our last away days in Philadelphia, we saw firsthand how powerful informal, in-between moments can be in building culture. While structured sessions focused on strategy and collaboration, it was during casual walks to Reading Terminal Market, shared lunches, and chats about favorite TV shows and personal interests that the deepest connections were made. These unplanned conversations opened doors to candid discussions about professional goals, challenges, and how we can better support one another.

The impact of these connections has been lasting. Getting to know each other as people first strengthened collaboration and trust, motivating us to work more effectively as a team. It’s a great reminder that culture isn’t just built in meetings but in those small, everyday interactions that help us bond.

With these insights in mind, we’ve carried these values into our remote work environment. At CPI, we prioritize initiatives like regular “coffee chats”—informal calls that allow us to pause from formal work and connect on a more human level. We’ve also embraced Slack channels based on shared interests. My personal favorite is the Pets channel (thank you, Arthur, for the daily dose of adorable updates!), and the latest hit is Brian’s Radio Radar, where colleagues share their favorite music discoveries.

As we begin the year, we’re excited to continue building a culture rooted in trust, collaboration, and meaningful connections—proving that flexibility and strong bonds can coexist beautifully in a remote-first world.

Here’s to a year of building an even stronger culture and deeper bonds!

Best wishes,

Vicky Gomes-Boronat

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How does your organization build culture and maintain connection in a remote or hybrid setting? We’d love to hear your thoughts and strategies for fostering collaboration in flexible work environments!?

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