VSHN Connect
Purpose
VSHN Connect was introduced as a meaningful replacement of our weekly company meetings, which had lost their impact. Instead of one-way updates, these events create space for alignment and collaboration across teams. They help us share knowledge, learn from each other, and work together on what matters most.
Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to meet face-to-face, strengthen relationships, and stay connected across teams.
General
-
Bi-monthly, usually on Wednesdays or Thursdays.
-
13:30 - 17:00, usually followed by a social event.
-
at VSHNtower, on-site - no remote participation possible.
-
-
Voluntary to participate.
-
VSHN Canada: 1-2 times/year in-person attendance (paid travel/accommodation), and use the same amount of time for hacking, open spaces, or watching recordings of VSHN CH.
-
-
Agenda created by VSHNeers for VSHNeers
-
If there’s no topic, there’s no event
-
No weekly all-hands meetings, no 1-way updates
With VSHN Connect events, we also stopped the weekly company meetings, and VSHN Connect evolved-it’s now all about the topics that are collected and planned prior to the event-there are no one-way update presentations at VSHN Connect by default.
Updates relevant to most/all VSHNeers should be made when they are fresh and relevant, either in #announcements or with a staff@ email, don’t wait for a VSHN Connect event.
Responsibilities
-
The VSHN Connect Host role is responsible for planning and facilitating VSHN Connect events, but the content is contributed by other roles and teams.
-
People Operations role plans the social event.
-
The responsibility to use the gathered inputs or drive topics forward lies with either the VSHNeer who identified the issue or is responsible for it by role or team - if not otherwise defined during collaboration at VSHN Connect.
General Format
In general, collaboration and interactive formats are preferred; one-way presentations should be kept to a useful minimum. We prefer breaking out into groups, working on a topic, and then quickly presenting to everyone.
-
Open topics: Any VSHNeer can propose a session - if it’s a challenge, opportunity, or just an “uhhh, what’s going on here?” moment… let’s talk about it.
-
The start of the idea gathering will be announced via email and in the #announcement channel in chat.
-
-
Ownership: Presenters take ownership of their topics by clarifying:
-
Why the topic matters
-
The intended outcome
-
Who should attend and why
-
Travel Expenses
For all employees, besides VSHN Canada, the work location is in Zürich, Switzerland. We organize VSHN Connect at our office location or in the area. Therefore, no travel expenses are applicable.
Whether the optional social event following VSHN Connect is self-organized and paid by the VSHNeer or organized and paid by VSHN is announced in advance.
Canada VSHNeers
For VSHN Connect, we aim to bring all VSHNeers together. Holding monthly VSHN Connect events is something we’re trying; unfortunately, we can’t fly in Canada VSHNeers every month, which could also be seen as not very environmentally friendly. We think 2-4 times a year should be possible. Such travel and needed accommodation are seen as a business trip under normal expenses policies (and Canada travel expenses rules) and are to be coordinated with People Operations.
We want people to use the time in Switzerland as effectively as possible: VSHNeers should use this time to work together in person and get to know the rest of VSHN. To ensure this happens, meetings and workdays must be planned by the incoming VSHNeers beforehand. For this, VSHN might pay up to 6 nights in total.
Review
Every 3-4 VSHN Connect events, we conduct a thorough review:
-
How effectively VSHN Connect works to address its purpose, and how much VSHNeers in their roles and personally could benefit.
-
Did it successfully replace other meetings and workshop formats? If all other events simply stay, the time investment might be too high.
VSHN Connect is tracked and reviewed at ticket.vshn.net/browse/VIP-316.