Escaping Wi-Fi to Find Real Connection

Let’s face it: The work in our industry has gotten too safe. Taking chances has gotten more complicated. The day-to-day can feel like a nonstop grind. And pushing ourselves is not as comfortable as it once was. So, getting off the merry-go-round and reminding ourselves of the power of where we can go, particularly when we go together, has never been more important.

That’s why we decided to gather 130 creative minds deep in the Arizona desert. Being together in person and off the grid helped remind us why we do what we do. The conversations between sessions, the laughs shared over meals, and the spontaneous connections. All the amazing possibilities became apparent when we took time to reconnect outside of our daily responsibilities.

Our agency summit was focused on three key renaissances that will define our future.

The Creative Renaissance

In our industry, unexpected ideas are currency. We spent time exploring how to push beyond conventional thinking, challenging ourselves to break patterns and find those magical moments where creativity transforms into impact. Our teams shared stories of campaigns that started with "what if?" and ended with "holy shit.” We brainstormed ways to bring proactive ideas to our clients that could move their business forward.

The Cultural Renaissance

Culture isn't just what happens inside our walls or on long zoom meetings – it's the foundation of everything we create. We doubled down on our core value of having each other's backs. When we support each other, amazing things can happen. The energy was palpable as teams from different offices and disciplines found new ways to join forces.

The Innovation Renaissance

AI is of course a tool to amplify our human creativity. We explored concrete ways to harness AI's potential to streamline our processes and accelerate our work. The goal isn't to replace what makes us unique but to give our teams more time to focus on what they do best.

Now back at our respective offices, we are carrying forward not just action plans but a renewed sense of possibility. Our goal is to Make Unexpected Ideas Unstoppable.

As budgets get tighter, finding the dollars and the time to get the entire company together is always challenging. And working on pulling off a summit is a significant tax on the already busy leaders of any company. However, I highly recommend it as a critical jumpstart to a New Year or new quarter to lay out your vision and goals, and get everyone on the same page. The camaraderie is always worth the investment.

And that, my friends, is priceless.

As Seen In…

Rosetta Stone “Now We’re Talking” Campaign by Mekanism

From The Soul