Beignets and Brainstorms: Work Meets Play in the French Quarter
Summary
Discover how our engineering team mixed strategy with socializing during an unforgettable offsite in New Orleans. From team-building sessions to airboat adventures and lively evenings in the French Quarter, the trip showcased our commitment to creating a vibrant, connected team culture.
Strategizing in the heart of NOLA
Recently, our VP of engineering and technical operations, Mike Ho, led our team of engineers to New Orleans for an unforgettable work offsite. The days were filled with productive sessions, but they also dove headfirst into the city’s rich culture and some well-earned after-hours fun.
The group gathered at the historic Hotel Monteleone in the heart of the French Quarter — did you know this hotel has a carousel bar? — flying in from around the globe. As a remote-first company, Kentik knows how valuable it is to get everyone in the same room (or airboat) for a few days to focus on a curated agenda and some in-person bonding.
Collaboration meets creole cuisine
But it wasn’t all work: smaller groups ventured out to sample New Orleans’ many flavors in the evenings, with one final group dinner to wrap things up. There were also a few special gifts for the engineers, like the NES Classic and Sega Genesis consoles (which, naturally, saw some immediate action after dinner).
Alligators, airboats, and teamwork
This wasn’t just about meetings, though. One of the most memorable activities was an airboat ride through the swamps, a perfect adrenaline-pumping break from the sessions. Imagine: a 30-person airboat (yep, big enough for the entire engineering squad) cutting through the Louisiana bayou, everyone watching wide-eyed as the captain dangled his arms in the water to lure in some gators. Thankfully, no engineers were volunteered to help!
Teamwork with a twist of jazz
The New Orleans experience allowed the team to bond in a unique, exciting environment that took them far beyond the usual workplace interactions. From collaborative sessions during the day to jazz-filled nights in the French Quarter, the trip left the team with unforgettable memories and a renewed sense of camaraderie, proving that sometimes, the best ideas come from a little Creole magic.
