Uniting Talents: The 2023 talabat Design Offsite Journey
The story behind the 2023 talabat Design team offsite and how we built a stronger, more connected team
I would always look back at the year 2023 with nostalgia, wonder, and awe. It’s been an incredible year in my new role as the Head of Design at talabat — a year of stretching, growing, stumbling, and finding my footing again. But it’s also been a year where I’ve watched our team reach new heights through all sorts of messy challenges. As I write this story to share with you, I can’t help but feel a rush of emotions. Words alone can’t capture the pride and privilege I feel, having witnessed this team’s journey and played a small part in it.
The transition from DesignOps to the Head of Design brought a shift in my mission. It was no longer just about creating exceptional user experiences; it was about creating an environment where people were motivated by a shared purpose and marched towards it in perfect sync.
Julie Zhuo’s words often echo in my mind: “A group of people working in unison is a wonderful thing to behold. Done well, it ceases to be about you or me, one individual or another. Instead, you feel the energy of dozens of hearts and minds directed toward a shared purpose, guided by shared value.”
In her book The Making of a Manager, Julie Zhuo talks about how magical it is when a team comes together and it’s no longer about individuals — to do the best work of their lives. She paints a picture of what it feels like when people are motivated by a shared purpose and march towards it in perfect sync.
This sentiment captured the essence of our two-day design offsite — a chance to reconnect, to bridge the distance that had naturally grown as we expanded and worked diligently over the year. With team members dispersed across two vibrant cities — Cairo and Dubai, bonding had become a challenge. We had faced countless challenges together, but now it was time to rediscover the personal connections that made us a united force.
With this theme in mind, my design leadership team and I partnered with our fantastic DesignOps team to plan and execute the two-day offsite.
Planning the Offsite — Designing for Adventure, Inclusivity, and Shared Purpose
As the DesignOps team started planning the offsite, a few key considerations emerged: adventure, inclusivity, and finding a shared purpose.
Our wonderful Design Program Manager, Farida, was the mastermind behind last year’s fun and incredibly successful offsite. Gathering feedback from the team, it was clear they were ready for more physical activity this year. However, some team members preferred mental challenges.
This led to a very hands-on research approach. After narrowing down potential locations and venues, the DesignOps team tested them to find a place that felt adventurous yet inclusive.
We finally settled on a venue in Dubai, offering an immersive team-building adventure with both mental and physical challenges.
Day 1: Fun, fun, fun
On our first day, we embarked on an unforgettable adventure in Dubai, a place that promised excitement at every turn.
The day unfolded with a mix of thrilling physical challenges and mentally stimulating activities that truly brought our team together. It was a day where we discovered new sides of our colleagues, both physically and mentally.
As we tackled the physical adventures, there was no shortage of laughter, cheers, and moments that pushed us to step out of our comfort zones. The obstacles we faced were not just physical; they were a reminder of our shared journey and the hurdles we had overcome throughout the year.
But it wasn’t just about the physical challenges; the mental adventures were equally engaging. Puzzles, riddles, and problem-solving tasks brought out the strategic and creative sides of our team. We realised that our collective strength wasn’t limited to design; it extended to our ability to think and adapt as a cohesive unit.
As the day drew to a close, there was a tangible sense of achievement and renewed camaraderie. We had not only reconnected with each other but also rediscovered the creative and adventurous spirit that had initially brought us together as a team.
Day 2: Finding a Shared Purpose
While planning Day 2, our main consideration was building on the fun and camraderie from Day 1 and uniting the team around a shared purpose. We divided Day 2 into two themes; Celebrating our achievements, and a creative workshop.
The Celebrations
In the morning, we celebrated. Each team lead shared their team’s proudest moments of the year and what they were excited about in 2024. It was a time to acknowledge and recognise the great work our teams had done throughout the year.
Nivin, our Shopping tribe lead, and her team stole the show with creativity, opting for a lively act over a traditional presentation deck — a truly heartwarming moment.
The Icebreaker
As we transitioned to the workshop, we did a vibe check. The team was feeling a bit exhausted. We had anticipated it and had planned an icebreaker to refuel the team.
This icebreaker wasn’t your typical one. It was cooked up by our Content Design Lead, Kuval, to shake things up. We wanted our teams to mingle beyond their usual squads and tribes. So, she set up a speed dating game where everyone had to find 4 partners with common interests. It was a riot! People were bonding (or not) over music, food, weekends, pets, you name it. And by the end, we had our 5 teams, all connected through shared interests. We even mixed them up more if we spotted anyone from the same team. Fun times!
Now the Mind Bending
Here’s the story behind our mind-bending activity, brought to us by Abdo, our Q-Commerce and Fintech design lead. The whole design leadership team teamed up to create this challenge.
The goal was to unite our team around a shared purpose, but we added a fun twist. We gave each team a scenario and asked them to brainstorm the best experience for it, but here’s the kicker — they had just 3 minutes to do it. They were initially shocked, so we gave them an extra 2 minutes to catch their breath (and maybe calm their racing hearts).
Once the shock wore off, something incredible happened. Instead of working individually, they all started brainstorming together. We had to remind them a few times to work individually, but they couldn’t help it — they were wired to collaborate.
It was like Julie’s words came to life: “A group of people working in unison is a wonderful thing to behold.”
At that moment, it was crystal clear that we had transformed into a united team, not just a group of individuals. We had connected, and it was nothing short of magical.
And the Fun Begins …
And here’s where the real fun kicked in …
When the 3-minute timer buzzed, we gathered the teams and laid down the challenge: “Imagine this is a 5-star experience. Now, in just 3 minutes, take it to a 6-star experience.” Then we pushed further, asking for 7 stars. We kept on, relentlessly, until we reached the grand finale — a perfect 10-star experience.
Fast forward 20 minutes, and we had five teams with five incredible 10-star experiences in their pockets.
The Mission
Their next mission? To storyboard their 10-star experiences in just 45 minutes and present them in a quick 5-minute pitch.
The Grand Finale — The 10-star Experience
This was the grand finale of our 2 days offsite. The team had been involved in all sorts of activities from physical to mental challenges, but in that moment they were fire. Each team presented their 10-star experience in a unique way — from a video ad selling tDust for an anxious office goer, a tVan movie experience for a group of friends getting together for a movie night, someone stranded in a desert receiving tRobot delivery and their sunglasses, to a working mum driving with hungry kids who just ordered her kids’ favourite warm meal through their personalised profiles on talabat — as she drove them home. Their creativity had no limits. It shattered all boundaries.
Standing there, I had no doubt in my mind — I was amidst the most powerful creative brains in the MENA region 🚀
The Wrap Up
My leadership team and I wanted to wrap up the 2 days with an action that our team could take immediately — an action as a takeaway.
As a design team, our key challenges and hurdles are unique from any other craft. We’re a creative bunch. We pride ourselves in our diversity. It is our superpower. We are extroverts, introverts, ambiverts, pixel pushers, strategic brains, wordsmiths, and inquisitors — who speak 12 different languages. Our diversity helps us empathise with our users and design better experiences for them. However, it comes with its own challenges. It’s not easy to always know what each of us is thinking, feeling or meaning when we come from such diverse backgrounds and experiences. With this, how do you handle feedback as a team, how do you tackle failure, and how do you challenge each other.
Throughout these two days, I closely observed how we, as a diverse and creative design team, tackled challenges. Something had shifted in the way we engaged and problem-solved as a team. It was as if a new mindset had emerged.
So to wrap up, I invited the team to reflect on the most vital mindset lessons from these two days. It was an open floor discussion.
Failure: During Day 1, we all failed repeatedly before nailing a challenge. What led us to success was persistence and the ability to pause, re-strategise, and laugh at our failures. If we brought this same spirit to our work setbacks, imagine the growth!
Ego: Sometimes, as designers, we let our egos get in the way and hesitate to seek help when we’re unsure. On Day 1, we observed that each time we got stuck with an activity, we immediately reached for help from the staff nearby. There was no shame. If we applied this to our team dynamics, we’d move faster and create better experiences by leveraging each other’s strengths.
Competition: On Day 1, when attempting challenges my team opted for the easiest level. After several activities, one of us noticed that we were the losing team. We figured that was due to our easiest level choice. We not only underestimated our competition but also ourselves. We started pushing for Gold and quickly leveled up. The key learning was that, as a design team, we need to take competition seriously. It’s our job to challenge ourselves and design superior experiences.
Feedback: One of the most insightful takeaways was the role of feedback. I noticed during the offsite, we were all giving and getting feedback in real-time — in rapid, short comments, gestures, screams, and jokes. No one was offended. It was almost magical how the feedback was at the core of each team’s success. Each of us was good at something but not everything. So we either continuously gave feedback to zap the issues on the spot or we divided tasks based on our strengths. This hot potato feedback style was a recipe for our success.
Winners mindset: Another profound learning was the winning team. We reflected that there was a winner mindset at play. The team lead set the goal really high for the entire team from the get-go (no water breaks, lol). They were there to win. They challenged each other, accepted no boundaries, and pushed harder than the rest.
I firmly believe that mindset is the key to separating success from failure. It’s not something you learn over time; it’s a switch, either on or off.
As we reached the end of our design offsite 2023, I simply asked the team to:
Flip the Mindset Switch — from 0 to 1.
PS. Here is a glimpse of our mindset for 2024. We’re planning to hang it in our office as a poster.
The mindset poster
Failure
Keep on trying, but if things flop, just pause. Laugh, rethink and re-strategise.
No Ego
When in doubt, send up the SOS flare, rely on your team’s strengths, and squash those doubts.
Competition
Don’t underestimate the competition, and never underestimate your own power.
Feedback
Hot potato feedback: Quick and friendly — zap the issues on the spot.
Limits
Shatter those boundaries, think bolder, reach higher.
