This article was written by Manvi Seth, Senior Associate, Ben Calder, Senior Associate, and Zander Lopez, Media Producer at Metis Strategy.
In a milestone moment for Metis Strategy, our entire firm recently gathered in Washington, DC—the city where our story began—for our first all-hands offsite since 2019. The energy was electric as team members from across our offices came together, many meeting face-to-face for the first time. “We’ve grown so much in recent years, and meeting in person made that growth feel real,” reflected Mike, highlighting our firm’s remarkable journey of doubling in size since our last gathering. “Spending time together outside of our day-to-day consulting work has been a game changer for strengthening relationships, especially between our different offices.”
The offsite’s professional development agenda struck an ideal balance between forward-looking innovation and practical skill-building. Our teams dove deep into an AI workshop, exploring cutting-edge technologies shaping our industry’s future. We also collaborated on refining our management playbook, sharing best practices and insights across experience levels. A particular highlight was the “PowerPoint Karaoke” session, which proved to be both challenging and entertaining. As Amy, one of our newer team members, shared: “Although I was initially daunted by the idea of PowerPoint Karaoke and speaking in front of the entire firm, the encouragement I received eased my nerves and allowed me to just focus on laughing at myself (and everyone else).”
Team bonding took center stage through carefully crafted activities that showcased DC’s historic charm while fostering collaboration. Teams competed in an exciting scavenger hunt around the National Mall, followed by a spirited field day that brought out everyone’s competitive spirit. “Meeting everyone across the firm in DC for the first time was incredible!” exclaimed Hamza. “I loved getting to connect, socialize, and team up with so many amazing people… And let’s not forget the scenic boat ride on the Potomac or the dance moves during our post-dinner adventures—it was the perfect mix of work and play!”
The impact of in-person connection was undeniable. Allyson captured this sentiment perfectly: “You can’t beat the energy of in-person collaboration. The offsite proved that the benefits of being present with the team, building essential connections and learning as a group is both powerful and energizing.” This energy translated into tangible benefits, with teams gaining deeper appreciation for their colleagues’ work across different offices and practice areas. As Tony noted, “Nothing quite beats the personal connection. People and relationships are foundational to work that we do and getting an opportunity to create, and recreate, those human connections with our growing team was not only a great pleasure, but a great investment in our team and our business.”
As we continue to grow and evolve, we’re more excited than ever about the future of Metis Strategy. The offsite reinforced what makes our firm special: our people and our commitment to collaboration, innovation, and excellence. Mike summed it up perfectly: “The boost in collaboration after the offsite is undeniable, and it’s one more reason to be excited about what’s ahead.” If you’re passionate about making an impact and working with an exceptional team, we’d love to hear from you. Join us as we continue to write the next chapter of our story.
