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Team Gathering: From Paper Towers to Living Values
Hello! This is Yuichiro from the PR team at Flagship. I'm excited to share the highlights of our recent company-wide gathering!
Why In-Person Gatherings Matter
Flagship’s flexible work culture lets team members choose between working remotely or from the office. While the global team connects daily through Slack, there’s something uniquely powerful about meeting face-to-face. These moments help strengthen connections across teams and foster the feeling of being one united Flagship family.
A Unique Venue for a Memorable Gathering
This September, we gathered at a special venue in Kanda, a historic district in Tokyo. Twenty-four members joined in person, while another 24 connected online. The location itself is steeped in history: Kanda Myojin shrine, located in the heart of Tokyo, dates back to the Nara period (710–794). During the Edo period (1603–1868), this area flourished as the "Kanda Vegetable Market," a major trading hub supplying produce to the city.
Kanda Myojin has long been revered as a guardian deity of prosperity in business, health and medicine, and good fortune. It has been a place of worship for merchants and businesses for centuries. As a company shaping the future of e-commerce, gathering at this iconic shrine felt truly fitting.
As a first-time participant in one of these events, I was struck by the contagious energy in the room. Conversations flowed seamlessly in English, Spanish, and Japanese, creating a diverse, multicultural atmosphere. Both the MC and presenters delivered their content in English, perfectly capturing Flagship's global spirit.
The Paper Tower Challenge: Living Our Values
The main event was the Paper Tower Challenge—a deceptively simple task: build the tallest structure possible using only 50 sheets of A4 paper. But there was a twist: success wasn’t just about height. Teams were scored on how well they demonstrated Flagship’s core values:
- Remote collaboration was key—only online team members could search for building techniques.
- Teams needed to embody three core values: Start with Hacker Spirit, Be Professional, and Pay it Forward.
- Points were split between height (15 points for the tallest) and values (10 points for each value award).
Each team approached the challenge differently—some jumped right in, others planned meticulously, and several worked closely with their online teammates. Even CEO Koji joined Team D, collaborating on an innovative design proposed by John, a frontend engineer.
The results were impressive! Team B’s tower reached a remarkable 164 centimeters. As teams presented their work, the excitement was palpable. Members enthusiastically shared how their strategies reflected Flagship’s values.
When it came to the value awards, Team D’s creative approach earned them the Start with Hacker Spirit award. Team B’s record-breaking tower secured the Be Professional award, while Team A’s collaborative spirit won the Pay it Forward award. In the end, Team B claimed overall victory with 25 points—congratulations!
The challenge highlighted something remarkable: how diverse perspectives and approaches make us stronger. Every paper fold and design choice mirrored the principles we hold dear. As we experimented and learned, we were living our purpose of creating maps where none exist.
After the awards, Koji reflected on the importance of values: "They act as a compass, guiding us toward our goals." These principles truly form the foundation for Flagship’s growth and evolution as an organization.
Passion for Learning and Innovation
At Flagship, curiosity and the drive to learn are defining traits. These align with the “Pay it Forward” value, where knowledge is shared to inspire and uplift others.
During monthly all-hands meetings, the team gathers to discuss updates and share discoveries. This time, Keita from the AI Committee provided insights into the latest in generative AI, while Yoji presented highlights from his visit to the Shopify Editions.dev 2024 event in Toronto.
Later, it was exciting to hear that the AI Committee’s presentation sparked ideas for an upcoming project. This is how knowledge-sharing directly drives innovation.
Celebrating Together: Building Connections
Frontend Manager Emilio kicked off the celebration with a toast! The room buzzed with energy as everyone shouted “Kampai!” and enjoyed catered food and freshly-made highballs.
It was wonderful to see team members who usually interact online connecting in person. The multilingual conversations and cultural exchanges created a warm and respectful atmosphere.
What the Team Had to Say
The feedback perfectly captured the spirit of the day:
- "Meeting in person makes online chats feel more natural—we should do this more often!"
- "After a year at Flagship, it was amazing to finally meet everyone face-to-face!"
- "Collaborating with online teammates was so much fun!"
- "This gathering reminded me why Flagship is special—we really do have incredible people here!"
These comments made all the planning worthwhile for the Corporate Communication Group. Even as areas for improvement were discussed, the strong sense of unity and joy created by the event was celebrated.
Looking Ahead
As we move forward, embracing diversity remains one of our greatest strengths. Just like building paper towers with limited materials, the team continues to find creative ways to grow and innovate. This is the essence of development at Flagship.
Together, we’re building something extraordinary—a workplace where everyone’s voice matters and diverse perspectives fuel growth. It’s a place where personal growth and team success go hand in hand.
If you’d like to learn more about the Paper Tower Challenge or life at Flagship, feel free to contact the PR team!