How can a company foster a positive workplace culture? | Building a strong workplace culture | Successful company retreat
How our annual company retreat makes us (even) better at our jobs — and better at working together.
TL;DR: What made this retreat different
- Strategy and sunshine go together
- Culture doesn’t happen by accident. We actively create it
- Skilled people who work really well together produce better outcomes on our client projects.
The goal wasn’t to go on a “retreat.”
It was to get back into that part of work that’s less about output and more about connection, shared thinking, and strengthening relationships.
Last week, we flew to the Gold Coast for a few days of sunshine, strategy, Movie World rollercoasters, late-night karaoke, beachfront coffees.
Not only was it a whole lot of fun, but it was also a reset — the kind that’s quietly become one of the most valuable things we do as a company.
Here’s why.
We work better together because we make space for each other.
You learn different things about people when the work stuff fades into the background, and that’s the point.
- Real conversations, no distractions. When you’re not rushing, multitasking or half-distracted, conversations go deeper. We made time for those.
- Trust builds in the small moments. Solving challenges together, even if it’s just finding the best coffee on the beach — creates a different kind of connection.
- Face time, not FaceTime. We carved out space to talk about how we work, where we’re headed, and what’s working (or not). Without the usual noise.
We didn’t “boost morale.” We just made room to reset.
This wasn’t about hype. It was about hitting pause — properly.
- We stepped back to see clearly. Getting out of the usual environment helped us cut through the noise — the bigger-picture stuff just made more sense.
- Feedback landed. Genuine appreciation, what’s working, what we need to do better, all said out loud, as a team.
- People came back inspired. Not buzzword #inspired. But clearer, more connected, and ready to move.
Culture doesn’t happen by accident. We actively create it.
From the way we structure projects to how we show up for each other, intentional culture is what keeps us aligned, efficient, and collaborative.
We talk more about this here > Design meets data: Why UX/UI & human-centred design is key to results.
Creativity doesn’t always come from whiteboards
Sometimes it’s the walk along the beach. Or the chat in the Uber. Or the conversation that kicks off after dinner and ends up shaping the way we work.
- No agenda = real ideas. The kind of idea that wouldn’t come up in a meeting, but found its way somewhere between quiet dinner conversation and late night karaoke.
- Cross-team thinking happened naturally. Developers, designers, analysts, and ops — talking without a deadline attached.
- Alignment clicked. With the right people in the right room, things move forward with clarity.
Why this works for us at Notitia
We’re a tight team working on big, complex problems — across data, digital, design and strategy.
Efficiency matters. So does quality.
But none of that’s possible without trust, clarity and the kind of culture that gives people room to do great work (and be themselves while doing it).
We don’t do performative culture. We actually invest in the stuff that makes us work better, and retreats like this are part of it. Skilled people who work together seamlessly produce better outcomes on our client projects.
It’s why we’re able to deliver solutions that feel effortless, even when the problem we’re solving is anything but.
We left with better ideas, stronger trust, and an already amazing team that felt even more amazing. And those team moments, the ones that live on as inside jokes, we’ve got a few new ones now.
And that’s what makes the work better — for us, and for our clients.
Find out more about our amazing team, what each of us do, and even book in a chat on Notitia's Team Page.
Read about Notitia's 2024 company retreat to the Great Barrier Reef here.
