Every year, Microsoft CELA (Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs) hosts its regional flagship kickoff in a different country, to immerse employees in diverse cultural settings. 2022's kickoff prepared them for a fresh start post-covid. 2023 was about continuing that journey of transformation, transitioning from renewal to resilience.
To embody the theme of diversity, we crafted a key visual that collaged iconic landmarks from various Asian countries into a single, dynamic canvas, mirroring the people brought together at the event. This deepened the sense of connection, turning MY Start (a play on hosting the event in Malaysia) into a shared transformation—or “our start.”
Central to this year's event was to creatively integrate AI into the event experience, which we did through AI-generated avatars for each attendee as a form of personalisation. This also served as dynamic icebreakers and conversation starters, creating plenty of buzz on the event floor.
To facilitate deeper engagement among attendees, we created custom content that was culturally inclusive, starting with the activity booklet. Filled with a variety of interactive elements, including photo hunt puzzles, scrapbooking and mini-games, they were deeply rooted in the cultural experiences of the region.
We custom-designed 2 activities rooted in Malaysian culture: A thrilling Adventure Hunt that transformed the bustling streets of Kuala Lumpur into an unforgettable Amazing Race-style challenge; and a Masterchef-style Mystery Box Challenge, packed with unique ingredients from Asian cuisine to test their creativity in a high-pressure cooker environment.
By prioritising diversity and inclusion across its contents and activities, attendees left with a shared and profound sense of community, and a greater appreciation for diverse perspectives.