This May, the Draivi team swapped their screens for sunshine and headed south to the rolling hills of northern Italy. After last year’s Bavarian adventure, we set our sights on the Piedmont region, trading schnitzel and mountain hikes for wine tastings and pasta. Three days, one shared theme, and plenty of memorable moments later, we’re back at our desks recharged, aligned, and inspired.
Good Soil for Growth: Three Days in Piedmont
The theme of this year’s conference was growth. It ran through everything, from the big picture to the personal. The conference day kicked off with a company overview before shifting inward through personal growth plans. A good reminder that Draivi’s trajectory as a company and the development of the people in it go hand in hand. After a full day of sessions, the afternoon opened up for the pool and a well-earned relaxing in the sun and ended with amazing food and views.
The second day took us out into the Piedmont countryside: vineyards, Barolo tastings at Enzo Boglietti and lunch at Sukula, a spot that felt like a small meeting point between Finland and Italy. The day wrapped up in the hilltop village of Monforte d’Alba, and that evening the whole team gathered for a final dinner. The kind of meal that makes you wish the trip wasn’t already ending.
From the perspective of two newcomers
At the week of the conference, Draivi welcomed two new team members: Lucia Frankova as Creative Lead, and Melina Johansson as Junior Performance Marketer, both joining to strengthen our growing international team.
Let’s hear about the conference from the perspective of two newcomers:
What was it like jumping straight into the conference as a newcomer?
Joining Draivi through the conference felt like a deep dive into the company in the best possible way. Most new roles come with a gradual introduction, including coffee chats, learning names, and slowly finding your place within the team. For us, it was quite the opposite. We joined Draivi during the week of the conference, so before we had even properly settled in or figured out where the coffee machine was, we were already in Italy, surrounded by new colleagues, workshops, and discussions. It was a unique way to become immersed in the team from day one and quickly feel part of what Draivi is all about.
What surprised you the most?
Melina: Neither of us had been at Draivi long enough to know what to expect. What surprised me the most was how natural it felt to be among new colleagues from day one. As a newcomer, I expected it to take some time before finding my place. Instead, people were quick to include us in conversations, share their experiences, and make us feel welcome. It quickly became clear that the values at Draivi are more than just words on the website. They are reflected in the way people collaborate, support one another, and genuinely enjoy working together. Seeing that firsthand made me even more excited to be part of Draivi.
Lucia: What surprised me the most wasn’t the setting, though the Barolo in 30-degree sunshine is hard to compete with, it was how quickly the team made space for us. The conversations flowed naturally, around dinner tables and glasses of local wine. Over the course of those three days I found myself talking openly with colleagues who had been at the company for years, and with people who had joined just two weeks before us. This shows just how much Draivi has grown, but still maintained the feel of a close knit team.
What are you taking with you from the conference into your new role?
Melina: Looking back, the conference was a truly unique start to our journey at Draivi. More than anything, I’m taking with me the connections I was able to build during those few days. Joining an international team means working with colleagues across different countries and markets, and having the opportunity to meet so many of them in person from the very beginning was invaluable. Whether during workshops, over dinner, or while exploring the vineyards together, those conversations created a sense of familiarity that simply can’t be replicated through calls or messages.
Lucia: Probably more than I initially realised. Meeting everyone in person before the real work began removed a barrier that usually takes some time to break down. When you’re collaborating across different markets and time zones, there’s a real difference between a name on a screen and someone you’ve shared a meal with. Being part of the conversations around Draivi’s growth plan also gave me valuable context. I can hit the ground running with a much clearer sense of where things are heading and how my role fits into that. And the personal growth work really impressed me, it’s not something you expect to be offered in your first week. Italy was a generous way to start. I’m aware not every new job begins like this, and I don’t take it for granted.
Back to work
Italy gave us a chance to slow down slightly, spend real time together, and let the setting inspire the conversations as much as the agenda did.
The theme of growth ran through everything not just the conference sessions, but the dinners, the day trips, the long evenings. When you bring an international team together in a place like Piedmont, something clicks that a video call simply can’t replicate.
Bags full of local treats, memories of vineyard views, and more than a few plans already forming for the year ahead.
The Italy conference planted seeds for personal development and for the continued momentum Draivi has been building.
For now: grazie, Italy. You were exactly what we needed
PS. Draivi is growing and we’re always looking for great people to join us. Find open positions at draivimedia.teamtailor.com and read what we can offer.
