From Zoom Calls to Desert Adventures: Our First Ever BlackFog Kick Off

In March, we did something we’d never done before. We brought the entire BlackFog team together in one place, for our first global kick off. Not on Zoom, not across time zones, but face-to-face in the middle of the Arizona desert.

Set on a ranch straight out of a Western, our first global Kick Off blended serious planning with a healthy dose of adventure. Getting there, however, was an adventure in itself. One team’s journey turned into an unexpected endurance test, with travel delays stretching their arrival to a full 24 hours later than planned. Safe to say, the welcome dinner was well-earned.

Once everyone had landed, eventually, we got straight into the experience and fully embraced the setting. That included designing and branding our own cowboy hats, complete with the BlackFog logo. Not something you do every day, but then again, this wasn’t an everyday kind of event.

For many, it marked a first time in the saddle. Team penning became an instant highlight, combining coordination with a touch of chaos as we worked together to guide cattle, not always successfully. A few hidden talents surfaced, while others are probably best forgotten.

Beyond that, there was something for everyone. Skeet shooting, golf, spa downtime, and horseback trekking through the desert landscape all made the list.

To round it all off, we closed with a proper cowboy-style cookout on the final night, the perfect send-off under the Arizona sky.

But it wasn’t all boots and banter.

We carved out time for what really matters, connecting as a team. Through open forums, collaborative sessions, and even a few icebreaker-style games, we shared ideas, perspectives, and a lot of laughs. Being together in person made it easier to understand each other’s roles, challenges, and ways of working in a way that simply doesn’t happen over calls.

We also took a deep dive into what’s ahead. Teams across marketing, engineering, and the wider business shared plans for the year, aligning on priorities and setting the tone for 2026. It was a chance to get everyone on the same page and excited about where we’re going.

More than anything, the Kick Off reminded us that while we’re a global team, we’re at our best when we feel connected. This was a brilliant way to start the year, and if the energy we brought back is anything to go by, it won’t be the last.