Field day fun: Team building beyond the office

After a week packed with strategic planning sessions, product roadmap discussions, and cross-team meetings during our company onsite in New York City, the Viam team ventured outside our office walls into neighboring Central Park for our annual field day.

Thanks to careful planning by our facilities team and remarkably cooperative weather, we transformed Central Park into our playground for an afternoon of friendly competition, team bonding, and fun.

Solving big problems requires new ways of thinking, working, and collaborating. We were recently recognized as one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces of 2025, celebrating company cultures that thrive in the face of challenges and foster growth at every level. Our field day is one example of how we foster camaraderie across the team at our head office..

Building connections through competition

From competitive volleyball matches to impromptu cha-cha lessons that had everyone stepping outside their comfort zones, the variety kept energy high throughout the afternoon.

The volleyball courts drew the biggest crowds, with teams forming organically across departments. Meanwhile, strategic thinkers gravitated toward Jenga, where steady hands and calculated moves determined victory. There was frisbee, cornhole, and much more.

Engineers partnered with marketing team members, product managers strategized with designers, and leadership joined pickup games as participants rather than observers.

Impact on team performance

As we packed up our volleyball nets and cornhole boards, the informal environment allowed for the kind of relationship building that directly translates to  more effective collaboration in professional settings.

Research consistently shows that teams with stronger interpersonal connections demonstrate higher performance, better communication, and increased innovation. When colleagues understand each other's personalities and working styles beyond formal meetings, they collaborate more effectively on complex technical challenges.

Investment in team culture

After a week of important strategic work, the event provided essential balance while reinforcing core company values in practice.

Our facilities team created an inclusive environment at the event, with participation happening naturally across comfort levels and interests.   

At Viam, we’re building a revolutionary platform that brings AI into the physical world. Not in the distant future, but today, for companies that want to move fast and achieve growth. Solving such a big problem requires new ways of thinking, working, and collaborating. 

Interested in joining the Viam team? We’re hiring across departments. Head to our careers page to learn more.