Our Year of Intention: Takeaways from All Staff
This year, our focus was on intention, from individual growth to project outcomes; we challenged ourselves to find intention in everything we do.
2025: The Year of Intention
Our annual All Staff Meeting is a time for the company to come together to review the progress we've made and set new goals for the future. Panelists from across the company shared their takeaways from the year and how they stay intentional in their work.
Cultivate Trust
"When we work for a client, we become an extension of them. The team develops strong institutional knowledge that leads to stronger trust from our clients." — Paige Weinbaum, Director Events & Experiences
Stay Curious
"I'm motivated by the unknown, something new every day. Being curious is the best skill a creative can have." — Matt Smiroldo, Creative Director
Slow Down to Speed Up
"Over the summer while things were quieter, we took a little time to work on a social brand playbook. Sitting and having more intentional conversations around how we take the core brand elements and translate them for social. It's far from complete, but I can already see the benefits of slowing down so we can speed up and be more effective and consistent." — Kima Cooper, Social Lead
Collaboration is Key
"Co-creation and collaboration are key to our success at Athena. The impact of AI on our management consulting practice is varied because we've always been about knowledge transfer—building something and empowering our clients to take it and run with it." — Jose Alvarez, VP Management Consulting
Maintain Momentum
"It's important to have timelines for project deliverables to stay on track, so everyone is working towards the same finish line. I believe in prioritizing momentum over perfection. It's better to move forward and iterate than get stuck chasing a flawless first draft." — Naomi Parker, Senior Manager Management Consulting
What's the Why
"The skill I keep with me is understanding the four functions of behavior: attention, escape, tangible, and sensory, or some combination of them. When you know why someone does something, whether they're seeking attention, avoiding something, motivated by a tangible outcome, or driven by how something feels, you have the power to increase it, decrease it, or maintain it. That framework translates surprisingly well to creative work, from navigating process changes to getting a client sold on an idea." — Silvana Labella, Director Creative Accounts & Services
Community Impact Counts
"Audiences really care about how the event host is having a positive community impact in some way. If they're going to a conference, they want to make sure that part of that ticket is going towards some community project or a nonprofit, and that it's not just about corporate wealth. It's important to have CSR looped in." — Christine Rudloff, VP Events & Experiences
How will you take these lessons with you as you set future goals for yourself and your work?
Thank you to the All Staff Planning Committee for their tireless work bringing this event together. Photography by Sabina Pierce.