wetransform Offsite Workshop 2025

The 2025 wetransform offsite once again took place in (snowy!) Saig, at the ever-hospitable Saiger Lounge.

Here is a log of our adventures, as chronicled by Flaminia Catalli.

Monday 6 January, 7:00

As I gaze out of the airplane window, the Berlin airport is already buzzing with early-morning activity. Outside, it’s still pitch dark. This morning started at 5:00 AM; as usual for early flights, I set two alarms - just in case - but I rarely sleep much on nights like these. Today, we’re heading to our annual team offsite, each of us traveling from different cities to meet in the Black Forest.

As the date draws closer, anticipation builds. For our remote team, this is a milestone event - a chance to step away from our screens, reflect on the year that’s passed, and align on the goals and challenges ahead. It’s not just a professional checkpoint; it’s also a deeply human moment of introspection.

John and I, the furthest from Saig, can’t afford to miss this flight.

This year’s offsite comes right after the holiday season, just a few days into the new year. The timing feels significant. The urge to reflect on the past year is even stronger, the need to take stock of lessons learned and transform them into actionable resolutions feels urgent and essential.

This is our time to look back, recalibrate, and gather the momentum needed to make the new year even better.

As the plane lifts off, I feel the dual weight and lightness of these moments: the closing of one chapter and the opening of another.

We take off.

Here’s to new beginnings.

Afternoon

We’ve arrived in Saig, a quaint village nestled in the heart of the Black Forest. The scenery around us is inspiring - forests, sparkling water, soft clouds, and, this year, a dusting of snow. It’s the kind of setting that quiets the mind and soothes the senses. Yet, amidst this natural serenity, our team is focused on our purpose here.

Thorsten sets the stage, sharing an overview of wetransform’s past achievements and future ambitions. Over the last year, we’ve grown, ventured into new industries, and successfully completed numerous projects. The goal ahead is clear: to continue growing, solidify our presence in areas where our expertise thrives, and bring forward innovative solutions that meet the ever-evolving technological needs of society, in particular in the environmental sector. It’s clear the road ahead won’t always be smooth, but that’s part of the journey. Challenges don’t deter us; they inspire us to pursue our goals with even greater determination.

Our first meeting wraps up with an open feedback session. It’s a space for honest dialogue, where everyone’s voice is heard, fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration. The day winds down with a shared dinner, laughter, and, for those who still have energy, an evening in the cozy lounge reserved for us. As for me, my energy has run out - my only plan now is to fall into bed and recharge for tomorrow.

Tuesday 7 January, Morning

Today’s morning agenda is all about revisiting our core values - redefining and adapting them to align with our growing team and ambitious new goals. An intricate yet essential task. It wasn’t an easy discussion - values and culture are deeply personal concepts, interpreted differently by each individual. Yet, they serve as more than just guidelines for fostering healthy interpersonal dynamics. They are also the foundation of a team’s shared identity, shaping every action and product we create together.

The conversation was challenging but enriching. Thanks to Chris, our impartial and witty moderator, we managed to navigate the complexities. While the final outcome might still need some refinement, we each walked away with a clearer and deeper understanding of what binds us as a team. Ultimately, our most important values center around who we are as individuals working together and our shared commitment to delighting our customers with innovative and excellent products.

With the groundwork laid, it’s time to embrace the lighter side of things. The afternoon promises a mix of fun activities to suit everyone’s taste. Some of us will hit the slopes for a skiing adventure, while others will dive into board game challenges or take peaceful walks in the stunning natural surroundings.

Late afternoon, the dinner

We’re about to start cooking together - a cherished tradition of our annual offsite. Each year, someone takes on the challenge of preparing a dish that reflects their country or family’s heritage. In no time, our shared kitchen transforms into a restaurant-level operation, where our ability to delegate tasks and share responsibilities seamlessly flows into one of the most unifying and heartfelt acts: preparing a meal for everyone.

This year, Morchid has outdone himself, meticulously recreating a special family recipe passed down by his aunt. Thorsten has crafted a hearty soup, perfect for a cozy evening in the mountains by the fire. As for me, I’ve taken on the challenge of baking a torta caprese to sweeten the occasion.

In many ways, our cooking mirrors the way we work: blending diverse ingredients, balancing flavors, and creating something greater than the sum of its parts. Whether in the kitchen or the meeting room, it’s these shared moments of collaboration and care that keep our team growing stronger.

As a primarily remote company, we deeply value these moments to come together. Remote work doesn’t mean we overlook the importance of team spirit. On the contrary, we recognize the need to regularly reunite to reinforce the sense of belonging and trust that’s essential for harmonious collaboration.

It’s days like these that remind me of the power of connection - both with our work and with one another.

Wednesday 8 January, our mission

I have been completely absorbed by the various meetings. The discussions have been often so complex, layered on multiple levels, that I needed time to digest them. Processing the various discussions - whether during meetings or while spending time together informally - has felt like exploring layers of meaning. Each conversation has offered its own perspective, both inspiring and thought-provoking, contributing to the broader picture we’re shaping.

We went from discussing and revisiting our values as a company and as individuals to debating and drafting our new mission statement. This last session, in particular, was explosive in terms of shared ideas and visions, leaving me both full of drive and brimming with doubts - the kind of doubts that spark curiosity and ignite creativity.

The whiteboard is bursting with colors, and it’s hard to group together all the ideas written on the sticky notes right now. But ideas generate more ideas and solutions, and organizing them will happen naturally, like an autonomous phenomenon, with its own time. At wetransform, we are driven by the desire to look beyond the horizon, to envision a future where data - our most precious gem - is harnessed as a resource for positive change, fostering a healthy and sustainable society. At this pivotal moment in our journey, our new mission statement is taking shape around the powerful intention to enable communities with data.

Guiding this session and our brainstorming is an attitude of balance: keeping our heads in the clouds to dream big, while staying firmly grounded to ensure our vision is actionable. With open minds and a shared purpose, we stand ready to embrace change and build a brighter, data-driven future together.

Thursday 9 January, flying back

My journey ends with the view of the Alps from the airplane window as I fly back home.
This morning, we wrapped up our conversations by identifying all the actionable items that emerged from our discussions.

Flying home thoughts become clearer and more tangled at the same time, reflecting on everything we discussed - serious and lighthearted topics alike. It was a human exchange that always leaves me feeling enriched.

Wetransform is made up of diverse, intelligent, curious people - sometimes stubborn, not always easy to decipher (and let’s be clear, I’m a good example of the flaws here!). Yet, every single one of us knows how to listen, embrace ideas, and come together to share a common aspiration for excellence and the pursuit of innovation. This shared goal binds us, driving us to create meaningful solutions for the environment and society. It’s the force that connects us, a system in motion powered by collaboration and purpose.

Do you think it’s all smooth sailing? Far from it - life is never linear, beautiful for this reason. But I can tell you this: this small wetransform team is in constant motion and repositioning, working against forces of attraction and repulsion like a brilliantly luminous solar system navigating the infinite expanse of space.