The One Where Foundations Went Onsite 🌱

Every great company needs something solid to stand on. At Fullscript, that’s us: The Foundations division. Our work might not always be in the spotlight, but it’s what keeps everything else standing tall. We focus on building for today without boxing ourselves in for tomorrow, finding solutions that make life easier for everyone, and taking real ownership of what we create 💪.

Our recent three-day onsite was the perfect reminder of what these principles look like in action. Between creative challenges, heartfelt conversations, and a few unexpected moments of laughter, the experience brought our values to life in the best possible way. ✨

🏗️ Day 1: A Tower, a Talk, and a Touch of Bollywood

If Day 1 had a theme, it was building things together, sometimes literally.

The Ice-Breaker Tower Challenge

Our three-day onsite kicked off with my favorite activity right out of the gate: the ice-breaker. Everyone across the Foundations division was split into groups of six and handed a secret envelope. Inside were ten sheets of paper and a single roll of tape. The mission? Build the tallest free-standing structure in an hour.

What followed was a flurry of ideas, folded paper, and questionable engineering choices (some more stable than others). Our group clicked instantly as everyone threw ideas on the table, natural leaders emerged, and laughter filled the room as towers collapsed left and right.

When the clock ran out, our creation proudly stood as the second tallest. But let’s be honest, it was also the most resilient. Long after others had surrendered to gravity, ours kept standing tall. What can I say? We clearly had the strongest foundation (pun very much intended) 😄.

My First Ever In-Person Presentation

The afternoon brought something that was both terrifying and thrilling: my first in-person presentation. My teammate and I shared some of the new features our pod, Dora (yes, inspired by Dora the Explorer), had been working on.

I was nervous at first, heart pounding and hands a little shaky, but what struck me most was how supportive everyone was. Smiles, nods, and words of encouragement made it feel less like a presentation and more like a conversation. By the end, I felt proud not just of our work, but of myself for showing up 🙌💬.

Dinner, Conversations, and Career Perspectives

The day wrapped up with dinner at The Natural History Bar in Ottawa, a cozy, buzzing place that quickly became the backdrop for some surprisingly deep conversations.

Somehow, I ended up chatting with a teammate who was on their first day at Fullscript. Between industry stories and laughter, they casually mentioned being a huge Bollywood fan. Hearing that from someone with no South Asian roots? Mind blown 🎬💃 .

Later, I had the chance to talk to my director, which I’ll admit felt intimidating at first. But she was incredibly warm and approachable. What started as small talk evolved into one of the most impactful conversations I’ve had about my career. She reminded me not to shy away from challenges or fast-paced teams and to view growth as something exciting rather than daunting.

I walked away from that dinner feeling inspired, confident, and oddly content. Day 1 had filled my cup in every possible way, professionally, personally, and maybe even philosophically 🌟.

🕯️ Day 2: Cozy Vibes and Candlelight

Day 2 took us out to the Kanata office, affectionately known as The Monk House. It was my first time there, and honestly? It felt like walking into a Pinterest board. Cozy corners, soft lighting, and a touch of rustic charm. It had that perfect “I could totally work (or nap) here” kind of vibe ☕🌿.

The Big Surprise 🎁

After a hearty BBQ lunch, the long-teased surprise activity was finally revealed: a candle-making workshop! I was instantly hooked. The instructor explained how it tied into aromatherapy, and the whole process: from picking the cup to blending fragrances and decorating with pressed flowers and mini pumpkins just felt incredibly grounding.

For that one hour, I was completely present. No Slack notifications, no emails, just warm wax, soothing scents, and contentment. If you ask me whether we should do this again, my answer is a very enthusiastic HELL YES 🕯️💛 .

🌍 Day 3: Stories, Cultures, and Connection

The final day, the Pod Day, was bittersweet. It’s funny how time feels during on-sites: one moment you’re just getting comfortable, and the next it’s already the last day.

The 3H Activity

We started the morning with an activity called 3H: Hero, Highlight, and Hardship. Each of us shared personal stories beyond our work lives, and it turned into a surprisingly heartfelt session. When it was my turn, I spoke about how embracing challenges has shaped my journey, and somewhere between sharing and reflecting, I realized how much I’ve grown. A few tears might have slipped out (no shame) ❤️.

It was beautiful to see everyone open up. We learned things about each other that don’t usually come up in sync calls or planning meetings, like how many of us are secret athletes. The conversation left the room lighter, more connected, and more human 🤝 .

Mapping Our Cultures

Next up was the Culture Mapping activity, which was honestly fascinating. Since our pod has members from five countries : India, Brazil, Canada, Malaysia, and Ukraine. It was a deep dive into how our cultural backgrounds shape the way we communicate, decide, lead, and trust.

The tool, based on Erin Meyer’s The Culture Map, breaks workplace behaviours into eight areas: communicating, evaluating, persuading, leading, deciding, trusting, disagreeing, and scheduling. We each took a 24-question quiz, and the results were spot on. Most people’s profiles reflect the countries where they’ve spent most of their lives. Seeing our collective cultural map was like watching our team’s global DNA come to life 🌐✨ .

Later in the afternoon, the energy took a fun turn as other pods jumped into their own Office Olympics. The laughter, cheering, and friendly chaos were contagious, and before long, I was right there in the mix. It was the perfect way to balance all that introspection from earlier in the day 🎯🎉 .

We closed the onsite with a cozy Malaysian dinner. My pod (Dora) bonded over spicy food, travel stories, and plenty of laughter. It felt easy, warm, and just right. As I walked back that night, I felt that quiet sense of joy and gratitude that lingers when something truly meaningful wraps up.

Day 3 didn’t just mark the end of the onsite. It reminded me how connection, empathy, and shared moments are really the foundation of everything we build together 🌸.

Wrapping It Up 💫

Three days, countless memories, and one big reminder that the best part of working in Foundations isn’t just what we build, it’s who we build it with. From paper towers and candle wax to deep conversations and spicy dinners, this onsite had it all. I came back feeling inspired, connected, and maybe just a little too confident in my candle-making skills 🕯️😄.

Here’s to strong foundations, resilient teams, and many more moments that make the work we do feel a little less like work and a lot more like purpose 🌿🤍.