1The Challenge
What was the challenge?
EY's senior managers came together for their second consecutive year of Build a Bicycle with The Thought Bulb in Kolkata — a programme that had become a tradition for a reason. With 550 participants across 55 teams, the challenge was no longer about introducing something new — it was about delivering something consistently excellent to an audience that already knows what to expect and chooses to return. For leaders at this level, the experience needed to feel purposeful and well-crafted, not just fun.
2Our Solution
What solution did we design?
Build a Bicycle was chosen again — and for good reason. Teams assemble a bicycle from scratch, which is then donated to a child in need. For senior managers, it hits the right notes: hands-on without being juvenile, competitive without losing its heart, and the CSR outcome gives it a weight that resonates with leaders who think about impact. The programme followed a tight flow: energisers and ice-breakers, teaming with role assignments (team captain, timekeeper, logistics officer), 50 minutes of activity, a 15-minute debrief, and a clean close. Every minute was intentional.
3How We Did It
How was the programme delivered?
550 senior managers were divided into 55 teams of 10, each with one bicycle to build and a set of roles to own. The role-assignment structure mirrored real team dynamics — clarity of role drives quality of collaboration. The energy in a room of 550 people all working simultaneously toward the same goal is hard to describe and hard to manufacture. Teams were aware of each other, feeding off each other's momentum, while staying fully focused on their own build. The debrief brought it home — 15 minutes of structured reflection connecting the bicycle build to how these leaders collaborate every day.
4Key Outcomes
What were the results?
The fact that EY returned for this programme a second year is the most meaningful outcome. In a market full of options, repeat choice is the clearest signal of trust — in the programme, in the facilitation, and in The Thought Bulb as a partner. At the scale of 550 participants, Build a Bicycle delivered something rare: an experience that felt personal and purposeful even in a very large room. The role-based teaming kept every individual genuinely invested, and the CSR outcome gave the day collective meaning. 550 participants. 55 teams. 55 bicycles donated. Two years, and counting.
