1The Challenge
What was the challenge?
BCG wanted to create an employee engagement experience that went beyond traditional team-building. The objective was to bring employees together around a shared purpose — creating meaningful gifts for children while strengthening collaboration, communication, and teamwork. The programme needed to combine fun, creativity, and social impact. The challenge: design an activity that would foster connection among employees while ensuring that the children — the beneficiaries — remained at the heart of the experience.
2Our Solution
What solution did we design?
The Thought Bulb designed a heartwarming CSR-driven experience titled Thanksgiving Elves. Participants became "Thanksgiving Elves" creating personalised gifts and memorable experiences for children across four phases: Phase 1 — Resource Hunt Challenge (treasure hunt to earn resource kits); Phase 2 — Personalized Gift Creation (designing and customising canvas bags, shoes, and stationery kits); Phase 3 — The Surprise Interaction (children joined the session for genuine moments of shared creativity); Phase 4 — Showcase & Celebration (completed gifts presented to children).
3How We Did It
How was the programme delivered?
The experience unfolded in four choreographed phases. It began with a fast-paced treasure hunt where teams completed challenges to earn points, exchanged for resource kits for Phase 2. Using those resources, teams designed and customised canvas bags, shoes, and stationery kits inspired by children's personalities. The most memorable moment came when the children joined the session — participants and children collaborated to complete the final touches, creating genuine moments of connection, laughter, and shared creativity. Teams then presented their creations, and the completed gifts were presented to the children in a joyful, emotional close.
4Key Outcomes
What were the results?
The Thanksgiving Elves experience demonstrated how team building becomes even more powerful when connected to a larger purpose. Employees moved beyond traditional workplace interactions and collaborated toward a goal that directly benefited others. The combination of friendly competition, hands-on creativity, and genuine human interaction created an unforgettable shared experience — and the children took home something more than gifts: they took home the attention and care of a room full of people who chose to give their afternoon to them.
