📻 Going Analog: Why Gathering & Events Matter More Than Ever in the Age of AI

Inspired by insights from "The Future of No Work" by Filip Drimalka

The Future of No Work - Filip Drimalka

I was gifted a copy of Filip Drimalka’s book The Future of No Work as I sidled up to the convention center at this year’s SXSW in Austin. Having just finished Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant, (absolutely fantastic, btw!) I was due for a new title to tickle my intellectual curiosity, and this one did not disappoint! I devoured this paperback in about 3 days, and some key themes emerged that I immediately connected with my current work in team alignment, engagement & event strategy. 

The world of work is changing fast. Is your engagement strategy keeping up?

With the rise of AI, automation, and digital workflows, more and more of our daily work is being handled by machines. Tools like ChatGPT, Notion AI, and Zapier are transforming the way teams collaborate, communicate, and produce. But while this tech revolution is making our work faster and more efficient, it’s also raising a critical question:

What is the role of the human team in an AI-powered workplace?

In his book The Future of NoWork, Filip Drimalka explores how AI is reshaping work—not by replacing us, but by freeing us. When machines take over the mundane, we’re left with what truly matters: creativity, emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and—most importantly—human connection.

And that’s where events, engagement & gathering become more valuable than ever.

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💡 Events Are No Longer a Luxury—They’re a Leadership Strategy

I design corporate events that help companies pause, reflect, and realign priorities. But in today’s environment, these gatherings are more than a moment to regroup—they’re a critical investment in the skills and culture that AI and automation can’t touch.

Here’s what retreats & off-sites offer that tech can’t:

✅ Trust-Building in a Remote & Hybrid World

No bot can replicate the power of breaking bread together, sharing stories by the fire, or hashing out hard conversations face-to-face. Trust happens in these critical moments—and retreats create them.

✅ Strategic Alignment Beyond the Zoom Grid

AI can summarize a meeting. It can’t align your team around a bold new vision. Retreats allow space to clarify direction, resolve misalignment, and ensure everyone is rowing in the same direction.

✅ Real-Time, Human-Centered Problem Solving

Drimalka calls this “just-in-time learning.” Teams don’t need more slide decks—they need space to learn, adapt, mentor and collaborate as challenges emerge. The right offsite structure & container facilitates this.

✅ Creative Energy & Culture Recharge

When the day-to-day is handled by AI, the real value of your team becomes their ability to ideate, co-create, and challenge assumptions. Events are the fuel for that creative engine.

👥 So… What Are You Actually Gathering For?

It’s a question we ask every client: “What’s the deeper purpose of this retreat?” In an AI-powered world, the answer is more important than ever.

“As AI does more of the work, offsites become the space for the work that matters.”

✨ Let’s Design a Retreat That Builds What AI Can’t

If you're planning your next team offsite, don't just ask where or when—ask why. And if you want to turn your next gathering into a powerful moment of alignment, creativity, and connection—that’s where I come in.

📅 Let’s chat about your next retreat. Whether you're in early planning mode or ready to lock in a location and session plan, I’ll help you build an experience designed for this new era of work.

Happy event planning! 🙏

Rebecca