1The Challenge
What was the challenge?
Cisco brought together 17 participants in Sri Lanka with a clear mandate: strengthen team cohesion, break down silos, and build the kind of trust that translates into real performance. 17 top-tier leaders from Cisco India convened in Yala, Sri Lanka, for a high-impact leadership offsite focused on embracing change, strengthening collaboration, and aligning around a shared vision. This exclusive gathering offered a meaningful space for strategic reflection, deeper connection, & experiential learning at the leadership level.
2Our Solution
What solution did we design?
The day was thoughtfully structured to push boundaries and inspire unified leadership: It began with the Smart City Challenge, where leaders, split into teams, constructed smart city models. Midway, a surprise twist reshuffled team captains, prompting discussions around adaptive leadership, shared ownership, and navigating change. The challenge intensified as the task evolved from building individual cities to co-creating a single mega smart city. Teams had to recalibrate, align objectives, and coalesce their ideas, ultimately presenting a unified vision brought to life through collective effort.
3How We Did It
How was the programme delivered?
Small groups were immersed in hands-on simulations that encouraged innovative thinking, strategic collaboration, high-level problem-solving, and design thinking as a structured approach to ideation, prototyping, and user-centric planning. The activity mirrored real-world scenarios that demanded agility, trust, and leadership harmony. The debrief unpacked crucial leadership insights—vision casting, inclusive planning, cross-functional collaboration, and leading through uncertainty.
4Key Outcomes
What were the results?
The experience culminated in a powerful Gratitude Circle, where each leader penned heartfelt messages to fellow participants. While these leaders often collaborate remotely, this exercise created a rare moment for open appreciation and emotional connection. It not only boosted morale but also reinforced the human side of leadership—empathy, acknowledgement, and trust. The incorporation of design thinking throughout the activity was evident in the way leaders reflected on co-creating solutions, aligning diverse perspectives, and approaching challenges with empathy and creativity, leaving them with both emotional and strategic takeaways. 17 participants completed the programme with an overall satisfaction score of 9.7/10. Facilitation quality was independently rated 9.8/10. Cisco 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.