To power their change-positive culture, Sopra Steria created a multi-stage, multi-mode kickoff for 3300 colleagues unfolding through 8 hours of constant visual, auditory, spatial and thematic change.
Sopra Steria knows that to stay a leader in their field, they need the most motivated, forward thinking and change-positive talent.
Because Sopra Steria’s consultants work off site with their clients, a key tactic to nurture a thriving, attractive community is to create many different social arenas, offered throughout the year. As popular as these are, however, until February 2025, Sopra Steria had not yet gathered all 3,300 employees under one roof. Ever.
The objective was to develop a creative concept that would engage and energize all 3300 attendees with a message that was on brand and strategically relevant, fun, inclusive and exciting.
Success would mean a solid and convincing score of above 5 out of 6 on their main parameters Strengthening Culture and Inclusion (pre-event engagement) and Wow Factor. In addition, the client placed high emphasis on the individual experience for each of the 3300 guests – wayfinding, wait times and a broad range of choices throughout the event.
The solution was Switch! – a multi-stage, multi-environment kickoff unfolding through 8 hours of constant visual, auditory, spatial and thematic change.
5 different spaces with changing content throughout the evening created FOMO with the attendees: the program elements were not communicated in detail, generating organic buzz and curiosity, keeping the event in constant dynamic transformation as people moved around to explore.
The main space accommodating all 3300 guests went through 5 “Switches” in which the entire space morphed from world to new world. In addition, 4 adjoining spaces revealed a range of activities and themes as well – Silent Disco, DJ Battle, Line Dance Crash Course, Pub Choir, Karaoke Corner, Hip Hop Den, as well as a calmer lounge for conversations and low Db mingle.
LED Wristbands would guide guests with color coded cues for the different modes of the event. To gather all 3300 in the main space for each of the big Switch! the wristbands count down with blinks.
