‘We build high-performing teams through fun and innovation’ – Outdoor Living Managing Director & Co-Founder Danica Fava

Danica Fava, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Outdoor Living Malta, takes fun extremely seriously. Together with her team at Outdoor Living, she believes that within the moments of laughter of a team-building activity, lies value which is hardly measurable, and often results in better, stronger, more productive organisations.

“It often starts as an ‘extra-curricular’ activity, organised by a company to treat employees, but soon, team members start to see the value of such an activity, as they start to get to know each other on a different level, and build new relationships in the process,” Danica explains.

“Our emphasis remains solidly focused on fun, otherwise it defeats the purpose,” Danica is quick to ascertain. “However, within a relaxed and informal environment, we find ample opportunity to reach out to participants and explore areas of interest to the business itself. Fun and team building remain front and centre, but during such activities, we see teams coming together, exploring traits and talents previously unknown to each other, and growing together, as well as individuals,” Danica continues.

Outdoor Living hence offer a unique opportunity for bespoke design of team-building events for companies that want to reach out to their team members in a fresh and most importantly, effective way.

Having graduated with a Masters degree in Human Resources Management and Development, Danica has always been fascinated by the way teams worked together, and through her work at Outdoor Living she continues to deepen her appreciation of gamification and using innovative methods to upskill people. “Gamification is a crucial part of what we do. When people play a game, they know they are in a safe environment where it’s ok if you fail at first. That makes them try new things, think outside of the box, and step out of their immediate comfort zone. It is truly remarkable, as certain character traits come to the fore, and surprise everyone!”

Outdoor Living goes beyond traditional team-building activities such as treasure hunts – though they do take a great deal of pride when organising one. They offer specialised activities tailored to the needs of their clients. Games are often opportunities to also share lessons learnt, allowing employees to put into practice the new discoveries obtained.

“We often meet up with our prospective clients and discuss what they want to achieve through their event,” Danica asserts. “We have a passionate team that strives to turn teambuilding events into team experiences that have lasting memories and higher ROI. While we guarantee that participants will have fun, and it will be a very enjoyable experience for all, we can include an educational component to the activities,” she explains. In fact, Outdoor Living have organised bespoke events for large groups, such as a 1,200-person event for Bosch Power Tools, customising activities based on the client’s selling strategies.

This approach is rooted in the value that passion and enthusiasm for what one does can significantly enhance performance and job satisfaction – and what better way to do that, than through games? This results in better performing, more resilient teams, and more pleasant workplaces in the long run.”

Trust is the cornerstone of any successful team, and it is a central component of any activity on offer, on Outdoor Living’s vast repertoire. “We emphasise the importance of building trust among team members, akin to the trust required in all relationships. Without trust, it is challenging to delegate tasks and move forward as a cohesive unit.”

Danica has been organising events and team-building activities since her teens, making her possibly one of the most experienced voices in her field. “Back when I was 19, the idea of structured team-building activities practically didn’t exist. However, as the corporate world started to recognise the value of such events, we understood that we could bring something more to the table – and that is how Outdoor Living developed to be one of the largest players locally, while being affiliated with an international leader in the sector – Catalyst Global Network.”

Outdoor Living is part of the Catalyst Global Network, and holds an exclusive license that provides it with access to a range of innovative products. Furthermore, the international affiliation provides the company with an opportunity to share insights and strategies with like-minded operators, through multiple meetups throughout the year, including bi-monthly online meetings. “We are immensely proud to form part of such a prestigious network. However, it also translates into a great deal of value for our clients too.”

She continues, “this was particularly the case during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic years, when our sector was amongst the first to get the axe! Luckily, by sharing our experience and hardships within the international forum, we put our minds together and hit the ground running. In fact, by April of 2020, just a month after the first lock-down was announced, we had already launched our full-functional programme of online team building activities, adapting successfully to what we were then calling the new normal,” Danica remembers proudly.

In addition to this, due to Outdoor Living’s Catalyst Global Network license, “our clients get access to the highest quality teambuilding events; ensuring they offer their employees the best teambuilding experiences in the market,” asserts Danica.

And though Outdoor Living had been working with international clients since day one, the shift to online events led to new opportunities, allowing Outdoor Living to further expand their reach globally. Their first international client for online events was none other than house-hold name Google, and December 2020 became their busiest month ever. This success showcased the potential of combining fun with remote team-building activities.

“Whether online or in person, we guarantee our utmost dedication to our products, as we practice what we preach within our teams. In fact, we start with running motivated and healthy teams ourselves, that are only too happy to take your team by the hand, nudge them gently out of their comfort zone, and have a wonderful time in the process,” Danica concludes.

This interview forms part of the Digital 50 Business Leaders project. These high-profile interviews are exclusively featured online at MaltaCEOs.mt, highlighting 50 distinguished conversations with business leaders, CEOs, and emerging entrepreneurial talents. Through these discussions, we aim to showcase the remarkable journeys, achievements, and successes of Malta’s business leaders.

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