Beyond: Tomorrow, Together

Client: Kyowa Kirin International (KKI)

Alicante, Spain

In 2024, Kyowa Kirin International (KKI), a specialty pharmaceutical business undergoing significant transformation, set out to reconnect its 400-strong international workforce for the first time in company history. With a mission to “make people smile,” the event aimed to restore clarity, unity and purpose after a complex organisational transformation.

Working closely with KKI leadership, we defined four clear objectives: reaffirm shared values, build alignment on strategic direction, equip employees for change, and inspire renewed belief in the company’s mission. Research shaped every stage of planning, with success measured by post-event data on motivation, clarity and connection.

The creative solution - Beyond: Tomorrow, Together - offered a unifying identity that honoured KKI’s Japanese heritage while looking forward. The experience began before guests arrived, with a series of employee-sourced “what makes me smile” videos setting an emotional tone.

Held at the serene 'Asia Gardens' in Alicante, Spain, the event blended Japanese culture, brand storytelling and emotional strategy. A welcome festival replaced the standard plenary with DE&I-led tea talks, origami workshops, and reflection trails. The plenary opened with a bespoke kamishibai-style film that we produced, aligning the team through metaphor and mission.

Interactive workshops covered innovation, bias, wellbeing, and storytelling - each mapped to business goals. Evenings featured dinners that blended with cultural celebration, inspiring awards, and everyone’s favourite part: Karaoke!

The attendee results were overwhelmingly positive: • 98% felt more connected • 90% felt motivated to deliver • 100% felt clearer on what they needed to do • Rated 4.7/5 (51% feedback rate)

With KKI calling the event “a shift in our emotional centre of gravity”, it successfully reconnected a global workforce, clarified strategic direction, and equipped teams for the path ahead. The structure, tools, and language introduced continue to shape internal engagement, with planning already underway for the 2025 edition.