Earlier this month, the Draivi team gathered and kicked-off the end of the year at the Bachmair Weissach Resort in Rottach-Egern, nestled by the stunning Lake Tegernsee in southern Germany. Just an hour from Munich, this picturesque setting provided the perfect backdrop for three days of strategy sessions, team workshops and activities that combined reflection with celebration.
Why kick-off the fall in Germany? Germany is one of Draivi’s biggest and most important markets, so it felt right to bring the whole team closer to it. But instead of heading to Berlin or Frankfurt, we chose the Tegernsee area in Bavaria — a place that doesn’t really fit the “typical” image of Germany. With its lakeside charm, mountain views, and relaxed atmosphere, it gave us the perfect mix: space to think big about the future and time to just enjoy being together. And of course, it wouldn’t be Bavaria without a taste of the local culture from schnitzel dinners in traditional Gasthäuser to clinking glasses by the water stream that runs right through our hotel grounds.
A Conference Day with purpose and announcements
The conference opened on September 4th, with a welcome from our main organizer, Nina Uhlenius, Head of People & Culture, whose dedication and thoughtful planning set the tone for the whole event. Following her introduction, Ville Kymäläinen (CEO), Oula Lehtinen (COO) and Jukka Leino (CTO) continued with a focus on ‘what’s next for Draivi.’ Since our last conference in spring 2024, Draivi has grown rapidly — welcoming eight new colleagues and expanding into new markets. The day was also a chance to reflect on recent lessons, including an open discussion about our decision to sunset the Vietnamese project after regulatory changes this summer. The experience underscored the importance of moving fast, learning from challenges, and focusing resources on markets with the strongest growth potential.
Over the past three years, Draivi has been executing on a structured growth plan, which has brought measurable results and a stronger international presence. This year’s conference launched the process of shaping our next 3–5 year strategy. The new strategy is being shaped together with the whole team and will be finalized & presented internally in December 2025.
The day also highlighted the progress of our people. Several colleagues were recognized with well-deserved promotions, reflecting the trust we place in internal talent to take on greater responsibility. At the same time, we announced that new positions will be opening in the fall, creating opportunities for fresh expertise to join us. Together, these steps show how Draivi grows on two fronts: by developing and rewarding the people already here, and by welcoming new colleagues who will bring in ideas and energy from the outside.
Different paths, one common goal
The packed agenda included both presentations and hands-on workshops:
- Marketing & IT focus: Parallel sessions on IT roadmap planning and media buying with partners like Google straight from Dublin with the latest features to our disposal.
- Tools in action: Live demos of Looker Studio and Clarity to enhance our data-driven decision-making.
- Future planning: Group work on Draivi’s growth levers from new products and markets to technology investments and brand building.
Through live polls and open discussions, everyone was invited to contribute to the next phase of Draivi’s journey. These conversations brought out a wide range of perspectives, from market insights to ideas on technology and culture. They ensured that the strategy is shaped not only by management but also by the collective experience and ambition of the whole team — all Towards a common goal.
Recognizing excellence: Draivi Awards 2025
No Draivi conference would be complete without celebrating our people. This year’s Draivi Awards honored colleagues across categories such as:
- Growth Finder Award – recognizing those who constantly discover new opportunities
- Learning Explorer – for unstoppable curiosity and drive to learn
- AI Champion of the Year – for pushing boundaries in how Draivi applies AI
- Gold Colleague – for teamwork and positive culture-building
- …and even a fun “Gardener of the Year” award for taking care of our Turku office plants (yes, even the plastic ones!)
The Draivi Awards celebrate our people by letting employees vote for the colleagues they believe deserve recognition across these different categories. Receiving an award is a true honor, as it comes straight from the appreciation of one’s own teammates.
Beyond the Slides: Climbing Toward New Peaks
After wrapping up a full conference day, we headed to Freihaus Brenner, a restaurant overlooking Lake Tegernsee with a stunning view. Getting there was an adventure in itself with traffic sending some of us on a detour along winding country roads that turned into a surprisingly bumpy ride. But once we arrived, the long dinner, plenty of laughs, and a taste of the local Tegernseer Haselnuss Schnaps made it the perfect way to celebrate as a team.
The next morning it was time to move from strategy to scenery. On the activity day, we laced up our hiking boots and peaked the local mountain Wallberg, took a cable car ride, and enjoyed a scenic boat trip on Lake Tegernsee, finishing the day with a Bavarian dinner in the neighbouring town to ours. For some, it also marked a true personal milestone: the third schnitzel in just as many days.
These moments outside the conference hall were just as important as the strategy sessions: they reminded us why face-to-face connection matters in a growing international team.
Looking Ahead
The Draivi Conference 2025 was more than an offsite — It was the start of the work on our next 3–5 year strategy together with the whole team. With new ideas, strong momentum and a clear timeline for the strategy work, the road to December will be about refining and aligning the plan before presenting it to the team.
Our workshops showed one thing above all: we are an ambitious team, united by a goal that reaches far beyond where we stand today. The outlook for this year and next is strong, but the real challenge is to keep raising the bar by expanding into new markets, reinforcing our foundations and building something that will carry Draivi well beyond the next 10 years. In a world of shifting markets and financial turmoil, resilience matters as much as results. And it’s that shared ambition that will carry today’s momentum into tomorrow’s success.
Join Draivi
Draivi is expanding, and we are looking for new colleagues to join us. Open positions are available now, with more to come soon. Find your place here: draivimedia.teamtailor.com
