1The Challenge
What was the challenge?
AXA brought together 100 participants in India with a clear mandate: strengthen collaboration across a high-performing, fast-moving banking and financial services team. Despite being talented individually, the group needed a shared experience that would build genuine trust, dissolve hierarchy, and create the behavioural alignment that drives real business results. The Thought Bulb was briefed to design a programme that was purposeful, energising, and precisely tailored to this team's specific dynamics — nothing generic, nothing off-the-shelf.
2Our Solution
What solution did we design?
The thought Bulb proposed the Social Elf Challenge as a means to drive home the message that happiness begins with giving. This challenge was designed to create an experiential program for a team of 100 participants at AXA. The goal was to help the team connect with each other and discover the key factors that contribute to experiencing happiness.
3How We Did It
How was the programme delivered?
Icebreakers: To charge up the group and foster a connection, a quick 5-10 minute icebreaker activity was conducted. This allowed team members to get to know each other better and create a positive atmosphere for the main activity. Activity: The Social Elf Challenge was executed by engaging the participants in various activities focused on giving and spreading happiness. The team was divided into smaller groups, and each group was asked to create innovate designs on plain white shoes & school bags. Later the said bags were gifted to kids from a local NGO. Through these activities, participants were able to connect with their colleagues, share positive experiences, and explore the relationship between giving and happiness.
4Key Outcomes
What were the results?
During the debrief, the following key points were addressed: a) The Social Elf Challenge effectively conveyed the message that happiness begins with giving. Participants experienced firsthand the joy and fulfillment that comes from helping others and contributing to a positive work environment. b)The challenge facilitated a strong sense of connection among the participants. Through the shared experience of giving, they were able to build stronger relationships and enhance their teamwork skills. c) The Social Elf Challenge allowed participants to reflect on the factors that contribute to experiencing happiness in the workplace. They discovered that acts of giving, collaboration, and a positive work environment were crucial elements in creating a happy and fulfilling professional life. 100 participants completed the programme with an overall satisfaction score of 9.3/10. Facilitation quality was independently rated 9.4/10. AXA reported a visible and sustained improvement in cross-team communication in the weeks following the programme — and subsequently engaged The Thought Bulb for a follow-up session.
