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Perennial Stack Week: A Culture of Presence in a Hybrid World
July 2025 wasn’t just another month at Perennial. It was a reminder that while we may work from anywhere, we grow when we come together.
From July 21st to 26th, Perennial’s offices saw a kind of buzz; team leads, mid-managers, and remote teammates flew in from different cities for an in-person reset of culture, connection, and presence. This wasn’t an offsite. This was Stack Week, a week curated to celebrate the hybrid spirit we work in, while grounding us in what it means to build together, in-person.
What made Stack Week unique was its balance: part culture sprint, part celebration, and all heart. With each day designed as a themed experience, it created moments of laughter, storytelling, recognition, and deeper alignment, not through decks, but through shared memories.
Monday: Get Comfy and Settle In
When the week began, the message was simple: you belong here even if you’re usually working from your couch. Monday set the tone with everyone showing up in their most comfortable, work-from-home outfits. Sweatshirts, pyjamas, oversized tees, whatever felt most like them. It wasn’t about breaking dress codes; it was about creating a space where people could feel relaxed, seen, and themselves. For many, it was also the first time meeting teammates they’d only known through screens. And honestly, nothing says “I trust you” like showing up in slippers.
The energy on the floor was light and full of laughter as teams jumped into the Reel Deal, a reel-making challenge that brought out everyone’s creativity and sense of humour. Some shared glimpses into their daily routines, while others took a fun, satirical spin on hybrid life. The reels weren’t about being perfect, they were about connecting, laughing together, and letting our personalities shine.
One of the most loved additions this year was the Peer Appreciation Wall, an open space filled with sticky notes where people could leave thank-yous and shout-outs for colleagues. Whether it was a quick note or a heartfelt message, the wall filled up fast and quietly reflected the kind of culture we’re all building together.
Innovation isn’t just about AI, it’s about aligned intent. Perennial Stack Week reminded us; great engineering begins with people moving in sync.
- Nilesh Bafna (CTO)
By evening, the office turned into a lively lounge for Tambola Eve. Eyes on numbers, hearts set on prizes, and laughter echoing across floors, what started as a game turned into a celebration of presence.
Tuesday: Professional Presence Day
Theme: A Team Worth Framing
Tuesday was a double feature of visibility and voice.
In the first half of the day, the office became a set for the Annual Photoshoot. Dressed in formal attire, teams posed together, leads with their squads, departments in sync, and individuals finally getting a professional click that wasn’t a passport photo.
Beyond just portraits, this was a symbolic day: every face was framed because every role matters. In a hybrid environment, being visible is more than being online, it’s about being seen, acknowledged, and included.
The best part of Stack Week was seeing people step up, share, and push each other to grow. It showed just how powerful focused time and teamwork can be - and it’s the kind of momentum that sticks.
- Krishnendu Ghata (Senior Solution Architect)
In the second half of the day, the floor was opened, literally. During the Open Floor Conversation, every team member, regardless of role or tenure, had a mic and a moment. From sharing ideas to asking questions or simply expressing gratitude, the session was raw, real, and revealing.
Screens connect us. But presence brings us to life. At Perennial, it’s our people who turn moments into meaning and culture into something we feel.
- Akanksha Sogani (CHRO)
Wednesday: Team Bonding
Theme: Wins, Wavelengths, and the Dance Floor
Midweek called for a shift in setting, and spirit.
Teams gathered at a club for an evening that started with a Team Dinner and ended on a dance floor. But before the music, came meaning.
A structured team interaction activity created space for honest dialogue, how are we doing as a team? What are we proud of? Where do we need support? These reflections weren’t just ice-breakers, they were glued.
The evening also marked the Quarterly Rewards & Recognition Ceremony, where team leads acknowledged not just performance, but presence, empathy, initiative, and ownership.
Behind the Stack
We’re a small team, just three of us, but we see a lot. While roadmaps were being shared and builds were going live, we were tuned into something else, the pulse of the week.
During Stack Week, we were everywhere, curating themes, designing experiences, orchestrating photos, and rolling out peer appreciation rituals that sparked connection.
We’re not a conventional marketing team, and this wasn’t a conventional week. But what we loved most? Watching ideas take shape, people show up differently, and a thoughtful stack of memories form, the kind that make you feel like you’re part of something meaningful in motion.
From Project Echo shoutouts to playlists and quiet culture drops, we weren’t just observers. We helped shape the vibe, one nudge at a time.Because at Perennial, marketing isn’t just messaging. It’s memory-making.
Just a Little More Energy
Midweek brought an unexpected energy boost, literally. The Red Bull team dropped by our office as part of a surprise brand activation, turning our breakroom into a high-energy pit stop.
With cold cans, and a lot of curious glances, the visit added a jolt of fun (and caffeine) to an already buzzing week.
The space became social, photos were snapped, stories were swapped, and the mood stayed lifted long after the last can was picked up. Because sometimes, culture is also about pausing together and sharing a spark of energy.Two corners. Two energies. One culture.
Wall of Whispers
A quiet space for anonymous notes, honest thoughts, silent thanks, and the kind of reflections we don’t always find time to say out loud. It became a window into how people were really feeling, thinking, and appreciating, in their own words, on their own terms.
Kudos Korner
A growing collage of sticky-note shoutouts, where appreciation flowed freely. Whether it was a “thanks for the help” or “you crushed that demo,” each note added a layer to the culture we’re building, peer-led, sincere, and joyfully unpolished.
People Echo
Project Echo is Perennial’s way of making recognition a continuous rhythm. Co-created by the People & Culture and Marketing teams, it's a fully people-driven initiative that turns appreciation into action.
Echo is built on the pillars of hard work, trust, and unity, values that define every role, every contribution, and every person who is part of the Perennial Group. It reflects the belief that no good deed should go unnoticed, and that hard work deserves to be acknowledged, no matter the title, tenure, or task.
Through peer-to-peer shoutouts, team-led R&R, quarterly culture campaigns, and Annual Review Week, Echo creates a loop where recognition flows across teams, functions, and levels, not just top-down, but side-to-side and bottom-up.
Because when people feel seen, they show up stronger. Echo helps turn individual efforts into a shared sense of belonging.
Stack Week was a great chance for our teams to learn and collaborate. The energy and creativity we saw confirmed the importance of investing in our skills and teamwork. I’m proud of what we achieved and excited for what’s next.
- Amit Charkha (Technical Manager)
Thursday: Ease into the Day
After all the dancing, cheering, and midweek madness, Thursday felt like a much-needed exhale. No packed agenda. Just a slow, easy day to catch up with work, with teammates, and maybe with ourselves.
We kicked things off by celebrating the winners of The Reel Deal, our Monday reel-making challenge. Certificates were handed out, some reels made a comeback on the screen (still hilarious), and the room filled with the kind of laughter that only comes when you're truly off-script.
When passion meets purpose, magic happens! What a fantastic Perennial Stack Week, packed with energy, creativity, and connection! From daily engagement, reels & photo shoots to recognitions , team meetups , and even a trekking adventure, we blended fun with focus like pros!
- Varsha Shinde (Senior Technical Manager)
It wasn’t a big event and that’s what made it perfect. A few cheers, some throwback moments, and a quiet reminder that sometimes, the most memorable bits are the ones that weren’t even planned.
Friday: Personal, Postmarked, Powerful
Theme: Notes from the Week
After a week full of energy and events, Friday brought with it something more quiet but equally memorable.
Each team member received a personalized postcard, a printed photo of themselves or their team, captured earlier in the week, with a handwritten message on the back.
Some were funny. Some were tear-jerkers. All were real. These postcards weren’t just mementos, they were evidence of belonging.
Great things happen when we meet face-to-face, connections deepen, laughs get louder, and teamwork gets real.
- Vineet Tapkire (Technical Manager)
People pinned them on cubicle walls. Some took them home. Others posted them on Slack. In a world of pings and pixels, something tactile, made just for you, hits differently.
Saturday: Climbing as One
Theme: Move Together, Grow Together
To close the week, the team took to nature.
The annual Perennial Trek this year was set at Lavasa, a scenic trail that challenged, refreshed, and reconnected. Over 50 team members showed up with gear, grit, and great playlists.
Trekking together wasn’t about the hike, it was about the conversations between breaths, the laughter between climbs, and the solidarity without a screen.
Stack Week was a great reminder of what happens when we create space to learn and build together. The energy, ideas, and collaboration we saw across teams were incredible and I’m excited to see how it all carries forward.
- Sanjay Singh (Technical Manager)
At the summit, there were no roles for just one team, celebrating the fact that they made it up together.
Behind the Stack
We’re a small team, just three of us, but we see a lot. While roadmaps were being shared and builds were going live, we were tuned into something else, the pulse of the week.
During Stack Week, we were everywhere, curating themes, designing experiences, orchestrating photos, and rolling out peer appreciation rituals that sparked connection.
We’re not a conventional marketing team, and this wasn’t a conventional week. But what we loved most? Watching ideas take shape, people show up differently, and a thoughtful stack of memories form, the kind that make you feel like you’re part of something meaningful in motion.
From Project Echo shoutouts to playlists and quiet culture drops, we weren’t just observers. We helped shape the vibe, one nudge at a time.Because at Perennial, marketing isn’t just messaging. It’s memory-making.
Just a Little More Energy
Midweek brought an unexpected energy boost, literally. The Red Bull team dropped by our office as part of a surprise brand activation, turning our breakroom into a high-energy pit stop.
With cold cans, and a lot of curious glances, the visit added a jolt of fun (and caffeine) to an already buzzing week.
The space became social, photos were snapped, stories were swapped, and the mood stayed lifted long after the last can was picked up. Because sometimes, culture is also about pausing together and sharing a spark of energy.People Echo
Project Echo is Perennial’s way of making recognition a continuous rhythm. Co-created by the People & Culture and Marketing teams, it's a fully people-driven initiative that turns appreciation into action.
Echo is built on the pillars of hard work, trust, and unity, values that define every role, every contribution, and every person who is part of the Perennial Group. It reflects the belief that no good deed should go unnoticed, and that hard work deserves to be acknowledged, no matter the title, tenure, or task.
Through peer-to-peer shoutouts, team-led R&R, quarterly culture campaigns, and Annual Review Week, Echo creates a loop where recognition flows across teams, functions, and levels, not just top-down, but side-to-side and bottom-up.
Because when people feel seen, they show up stronger. Echo helps turn individual efforts into a shared sense of belonging.
More Than a Week: A Moment of Real Connection
Perennial Stack Week was many things: a gathering, a celebration, a reset. But more than anything, it was a reminder: that culture isn’t a calendar item. It’s a shared heartbeat.
This week reminded us:
That remote doesn’t mean disconnected
That culture lives in details, a reel, a note, a quiet whisper on a wall
That presence is not just being in the room; it’s being part of the moment
This past week at Perennial was more than a return to the office - it was a reminder of the vibrant culture that makes us a team. From games to late-night laughs, we weren’t just coworkers - we were a weird little family with snacks, shared goals, and real belonging.
- Mitali Srivastava (Technical Project Manager)
Looking Ahead: Making Hybrid Human
The week may have ended, but its ripple is designed to continue.
The plan is to institutionalize many of these touchpoints; peer walls, open mic moments, even analog postcards into Perennial’s everyday rhythm.
Because Stack isn’t a one-week phenomenon. It’s a philosophy. And culture, when built with care, becomes infrastructure.
"We build better when we build together."
Perennial Stack Week was a perfect blend of collaboration, celebration, and camaraderie, bringing together remote and in-office teams to create lasting memories while driving client success.
- Shubham Kankutlawar (Associate Lead)
Acknowledgments
Stack Week wasn’t just experienced - it was thoughtfully captured, designed, and brought to life by a small group of creatives who turned everyday moments into something memorable.
Editorial & Voice
Riya Jain & Medha Sharma
From shaping narrative flow to fine-tuning every last word, they shaped the narrative arc and voice of Stack Week, ensuring each section felt intentional, cohesive, and distinctly Perennial. Their editorial touch helped turn memories into meaning.
People & Culture Team
Sayan Mondal, Devanshi Solanki, Pooja Patil & Roma Sharma
The heart behind the experience. From coordination to culture cues, their energy made every part of Stack Week feel intentional, inclusive, and deeply human. They made sure everyone felt seen, heard, and celebrated.
Design & Visual Experience
Anuja Hatagale
Anuja turned ideas into visuals - shaping the layout, design, and moodboards that gave this piece its identity. Her eye brought structure to spontaneity.
Javed Tamboli
The one who made it real. Javed’s thoughtful dev work ensured this article wasn’t just a read, it was an experience, across screens and scrolls.
Shruti Sogani
About the Author
Hey, I’m Shruti, part of the Marketing team at Perennial Systems, where I bring people, moments, and culture to life through content. I believe the best stories are the ones that feel lived in, not just told, but felt. Whether it's a campaign, a culture piece, or a one-liner that hits, I like my writing to sound like someone you’d actually want to listen to.
Outside of work, you’ll probably find me chasing golden hour, curating moodboards, or deep in conversation over coffee (the stronger, the better).
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