In the Summer of 2023 the entire Pixel Dreams Team (PDT) gathered in Blue Mountain for a first-of-its-kind event – the Pixel Dreamers Summit (PDS). Several company traditions were rolled into one day-long spectacle during our annual team getaway.
What is the Pixel Dreamers Summit?
With the overarching purpose of achieving organizational clarity, PDS featured a brief visit to our past, a stroll through our present, and a leap into our future. We had colloquiums on performance and culture, discussion groups, ideation sessions, I+A awards, and a fireside chat with PD’s founding partners.
The goal was to develop a renewed sense of purpose and stronger connections between team members, reflected in this year’s PDS tagline:
The PDT capitalizes on any opportunity to have facetime as we discuss learnings, business strategies, announce important decisions, envision futures, and collaborate forward together — all with a healthy dose of bear hugs.
Tell me more!
In this article, we outline the various sessions and topics discussed. Each section includes a brief description, presentation slides, and for some sessions, video recordings. For more details on each session, click on the corresponding title below:
- 1.0 IntroductionPresenter: Liberty
Length: 6 mins
Description: Aspire. Ascend. Achieve. Introducing the day and scheduled itinerary.
Slides:
Video:
- 1.1 Organizational ClarityPresenter: Star
Length: 16 mins
Description: Clarity of purpose (why we exist), values (how we behave), value creation (what we do).
Slides:
- 2.1 SOTN / Goals / OpsPresenter: Dreams & Thrive
Length: 28 mins
Description: A 1-year goals report on Operations.
- 2.1 SOTN / Goals / Sales & MarketingPresenter: Dreams & Thrive
Length: 14 mins
Description: Updating our Sales, Marketing, and Reporting goals.
- 2.1 SOTN / Goals / I+A EffortsPresenter: Dreams & Thrive
Length: 3 mins
Description: How are we fulfilling our purpose – Raising I+A (Intelligence and Awareness).
- 2.1 SOTN / Goals / ConnectPresenter: Dreams & Thrive & Echo
Length: 9 mins
Description: Connect, collaborate, experience, and learn.
- 2.2 DVOSPresenter: Dreams & the PDT
Length: 27 mins
Description: An interactive session with breakout groups discussing our Dangers, Vulnerabilities, Opportunities, and Strengths.
- 2.3 Culture Report + 2.4 I+A AwardsPresenter: Echo & Liberty
Length: 23 mins
Description: Reviewing word cloud results from the latest culture survey and honouring the best in raising intelligence and awareness efforts.
- 3.0 OG MindsetPresenter: Liberty
Length: 3 mins
Description: The original PD mentality, crushing every project like it’s the biggest and baddest.
Video:
- 3.6 Fireside Chat with the PartnersPanelists: Dreams, Star, Ideas, Energize
Host: Liberty
Length: 64 mins
Description: Gather around for a lively discussion on the past, present, and future of Pixel Dreams.
Disclaimer:
In the next section, we’ll explore case studies, and although we’ve removed any identifying information to protect our clients’ privacy, we will share some valuable lessons learned.
We don’t publicly share these client projects, because we believe that the work belongs to the client. However, we do make our work available through private online portals, which are only accessible to our customers.
- 3.1 Case Study: 🍍… Now what?Presenter:
Play
Length:11 mins
Description:Not doing exactly what the client wants, but thinking beyond.
Key takeaways:- Adaptability and Preparation: Approach projects with a flexible mindset, anticipating challenges, and proactively addressing them. Be ready to pivot and make bold decisions for client success.
- Client-Centric Approach: Focus on understanding the target audience’s perspective, offering solutions that align with their needs. Build transparency and communication to maintain strong client relationships.
- Creative Problem-Solving: Trust your instincts, explore unconventional solutions, plan for contingencies, and leverage available assets to overcome challenges creatively.
- Humor and Engagement: Use storytelling and humor to connect with viewers.
- 3.2 Case Study: 🍊 Crushing ComplexitiesPresenter:
Energize
Length:15 mins
Description:🍊 Watch Parties: How we serve above and beyond.
Key takeaways:- Power of Three: Emphasize the importance of process, people, and problem-solving in overcoming challenges and achieving success.
- Simplicity from Complexity: The ability to simplify complex situations is crucial; multiple alternative solutions for clients are essential.
- Journey Ownership: Success is about owning every step of the journey, preparation, discipline, and overcoming obstacles.
- Celebrate: Celebrate success even when projects don’t go as planned, as it offers valuable learning experiences and showcases our client service skills.
- 3.3 Case Study: 🍇 Tiny to HugePresenter:
Ideas
Length:23 mins
Description:A journey from first contact, to breaking new ground, going above and beyond, and reaching triumphant heights.
Key takeaways:- Maximize Every Project’s Potential: Small projects hold untapped opportunities. Treating them with care can lead to unexpected successes and expanded scopes. Embrace the mindset that every project is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
- Forge Genuine Connections: Strong bonds with clients can yield significant impact. Building relationships fosters teamwork and enhances outcomes.
- Effective Communication and Vision: Consistent communication and an underdog mindset drive innovation and positive project outcomes.
- 3.4 Case Study: 🍓 'No' vs. 'YES,.... if'Presenter:
Play
Length:14 mins
Description:Instead of saying no, define the rules of the game.
Key takeaways:- Adapt and Propose Options:: Instead of saying no, propose alternative options to protect the team and maintain client relationships.
- Quality Over Compromise: Uphold the quality and the integrity of deliverables by finding ways to work within constraints without compromising excellence.
- Strategic Decision Making: Occasionally, it’s acceptable to accept short-term losses for long-term gains, nurturing lasting partnerships and unforeseen opportunities.
- 3.5 Case Study: 🍒 From naughty to hautePresenter:
Star
Length:21 mins
Description:A naughty project in scope? Yes. An opportunity to expand? Yes.
Key takeaways:- Resourceful Problem-Solving: The team demonstrated remarkable problem-solving skills, overcoming numerous obstacles and challenges with creative solutions.
- Go Beyond Expectations: The ability to adapt, even in challenging situations, and the willingness to put in extra effort paid off significantly. Being attentive to gut feelings yielded positive outcomes.
- Unstoppable Force: The concept of meeting unmovable constraints with an unstoppable force was a recurring theme. This involves resourceful teamwork, strategic insights, and the ambition to tackle complex tasks head-on.
