San Diego Meet Up

Last week we had the opportunity to do something we’ve been craving for the past three years. We dusted off our downtown San Diego office and invited 11 Minders from across the West Coast to enjoy a day of in–person co–working and team building! There was something truly special about meeting face-to-face and rekindling the camaraderie that even the greatest of Zoom Happy Hours can’t emulate. After three long years of virtual collaboration, it was a breath of fresh air to connect in real life, collaborate, and have a chance to strengthen the culture of our US team.

Co-working in Downtown San Diego:

The day began at our downtown San Diego office, buzzing with anticipation as team members arrived from various locations across the western US. The team was able to exchange ideas, brainstorm, and tackle projects together. Working in person has so many subtle benefits – the connections you build while chatting in-between phone calls, the laughs you share while grabbing a cup of coffee, and the experience of listening to music together. A day in the office weirdly felt like a vacation from working at home.

Bowling and Happy Hour:

What’s work without play? Next, we headed to the bowling alley for some friendly competition. It was nice to see everyone letting loose outside of their computer screens. Individual personalities really came to life! Strikes, spares, and a few too many gutter balls had everyone cracking up. Turns out software engineers might not be the greatest of bowlers. With slightly bruised egos, we headed to the rooftop of the Manchester Hotel to enjoy happy hour and sweeping views of the Pacific. As the sun went down, we wished each other a good night, heading back to our WFH realms once more.

The Value of Real-Life Connections:

The on-site meetup in San Diego allowed us to truly appreciate one another's contributions, talents, and personalities. This meetup was a small but mighty first step in reigniting our team's connection. We look forward to a year of more in-person fun and culture-building across the US. Next stop, East Coast!

If Mindera sounds like a fun place to work, check out our vacancies!