A Little Bit of Business and a Lot of Fun: Highlights from Our First Town Hall of 2025
2025 is here, and we kicked off the new year in style at the first quarterly Town Hall in February. The theme of the hour-long virtual gathering was “A Little Bit of Business and a Lot of Fun”—a perfect balance of celebrating our wins from the past year while creating new connections and energy as we head into 2025.
As the event’s organizer, I worked closely with the Account Operations Manager and Senior Leadership Team to plan an engaging and meaningful agenda. The goals were clear: recognize our achievements from the previous year and come together to bond over new year-related activities. It was the perfect opportunity to not only reflect on our successes but also create an uplifting, collaborative atmosphere to kick off the year with momentum.
Behind-the-Scenes Planning: Collaboration and Coordination
Planning a Town Hall is no small task, and it took some serious preparation. I held three meetings with our leadership team to ensure everything went smoothly.
The first meeting was all about brainstorming. Together, we walked through the agenda and discussed the key messages we wanted to highlight. We also mapped out the order of speakers, ensuring a smooth transition from one department to the next. The goal was to have each leader acknowledge the work of the previous department, fostering a sense of appreciation and unity.
Between the first and second meeting, I dove into content creation. This included curating the materials for each service line, pulling from past Quarterly Business Reviews, Town Halls, and recognition reports. By weaving in these highlights, I was able to give the meeting a year-in-review feel that showcased the incredible progress we’d made as a team. I then developed the slides for each service line and worked with our leadership team to make sure the content was on point.
In the second meeting, I presented the content for feedback. Specifically, I sought input from our Alliance Director to ensure the overall flow and messaging felt cohesive. We fine-tuned every detail, from the tone to the timing of transitions.
The final meeting was our dry run. This was the fun part! Utilizing a Run of Show plan, we rehearsed the entire meeting, including transitions, speaker cues, and engagement activities. We wanted everything to feel seamless so that the event would run smoothly, leaving time for some fun surprises!
Engagement Activities: A Heartwarming Touch
One of the standout features of this Town Hall was the engagement activities. They were my absolute favorite part! They brought everyone together and allowed us to engage in meaningful ways, even through a virtual meeting.
For instance, we celebrated the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) moment by incorporating a bit of cultural education. We introduced the Chinese Lunar New Year, delving into the 2025 theme of the Year of the Wood Snake, which represents growth, transformation, and introspection. Using Mentimeter.com, we asked everyone how they planned to apply these themes in 2025. It was so inspiring to hear people's responses, reflecting how we could grow both individually and as a team in the new year.
We also tapped into the spirit of Valentine’s Day by encouraging everyone to use the chat to express appreciation for their colleagues. The messages that flooded in were moving and filled with gratitude, reminding us of the strong, supportive culture we’ve built over the years.
Celebrating Successes: Recognizing the Wins
In a typical Town Hall, we focus on reporting wins from the last quarter and discussing priorities for the future. However, for this Town Hall, we took a slightly different approach. We celebrated last year’s wins in a big way, with leaders not only reporting on successes but also offering heartfelt congratulations to individuals and teams who had gone above and beyond.
What stood out the most during the meeting was the emphasis on collaboration. There were numerous stories shared about how different service lines came together to achieve incredible results. It was a wonderful reminder of what we can accomplish when we unite and work towards a common goal.
The reactions and comments during the event were through the roof—by far, the most interactions we’ve ever had! Personally, I received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback for my role in project management, content creation, slide design, speaker coaching, and as the MC of the event. It was a humbling experience, and I’m so proud of the team and our ability to execute this Town Hall with such energy and enthusiasm.
4 Slides That Encouraged Participation and Fostered Community
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we closed the first Town Hall of the year, I was filled with a sense of accomplishment. Not only did we take the time to reflect on last year’s wins, but we also laid the groundwork for an exciting and successful 2025. The balance of business and fun created an unforgettable experience, one that set a positive tone for the year ahead.
I’m already looking forward to our next Town Hall and all the ways we’ll continue to celebrate our successes, bond over shared experiences, and work together to achieve even greater heights in 2025.
Let’s make this year one to remember! 🌟