In late April, the Panorama team gathered in Seattle for our 2025 all-staff offsite, "5 to 30: Driving Impact, Building Resiliency." The four-day retreat brought together colleagues from across our platform to connect, collaborate, and chart the course toward our ambitious 2030 goals.

Building Community Through Shared Purpose

We kicked off with an energetic welcome party at Panorama HQ, where team members reconnected over tacos, trivia hosted by a former Jeopardy! champion, and a community sweet treat station featuring favorite snacks from across the country.

“There’s something powerful about stepping away from our day-to-day work, and I felt a special energy from the moment we gathered,” shared Panorama Strategy Managing Director Melanie LeGrande, who later moderated a panel on navigating change and strengthening partnerships.

The panel featured Emily Bancroft (President & CEO, VillageReach), Dana Boggess (Director of Programs, Strategy & Operations, Behavioral Health Catalyst), and Dr. Aparna Ghosh (Founder & CEO, Ghosh Innovation Lab), who offered insights on leading through complexity, building trust in partnerships, and staying grounded in impact. Their reflections reinforced the power of community—especially in times of change—and reminded us why strong partnerships are essential to advancing our shared mission.

Strengthening Skills for Greater Impact

As part of the offsite, staff participated in “Choose Your Development Adventure” sessions—hands-on workshops designed to build skills that enhance our day-to-day work and long-term impact. The sessions included:

• Effective Communication: Strategies for clear, confident communication—whether collaborating internally or sharing our work externally.
• Facilitation Mastery: Panorama’s Jenny Shin and Julia Roper guided a practical session on facilitation, providing tools to encourage participation and navigate challenging situations.
• Project Management Excellence: Panorama’s Jeff Couturier and Cindy Jones led participants through integrating effective project management concepts into various aspects of their roles.

A highlight for many was the "Fostering Effective Partner Relationships" workshop led by consultant Sheila Miller Rivera, which focused on emotional intelligence and transforming challenges into catalysts for positive change and stronger connections. We also welcomed Ada Williams Prince, who led an interactive session where staff were divided into groups to envision bold, values-driven futures across key issue areas—culminating in creative presentations to the full team.

Embracing Joy and Wellness

The retreat wasn't all work. Morning yoga sessions led by Savannah Carlson, meditation practices, and lunchtime dance breaks led by Evy Cruz and Reena Gupta kept energy levels high and bodies moving.

"Celebrating our team and community broadly was just as important as our strategic discussions," noted Elaine Gibbons, Panorama Global’s Chief Impact Officer. "The team dinners reinforced those connections in a fun, relaxed environment."

Looking Forward: From 5 to 30

The offsite theme "5 to 30" represented our focused five-year journey toward our organizational 2030 horizon. During dedicated strategy sessions, teams collaborated on translating ambitious visions into actionable roadmaps for the years ahead.

"This retreat was about building the resilience and relationships we need to drive meaningful impact in the years ahead," said Gabrielle Fitzgerald, Panorama Founder and CEO, who participated in an armchair conversation with new Panorama Chief Operating Officer Amber Wilke Fournier about Panorama's journey and vision.

Making a Difference Together

True to our values, the offsite included opportunities to support local communities through Panorama Gives Back volunteering stations, where team members assembled Kynd Kits supporting causes ranging from career readiness to youth mental health.

As we return to our respective locations, we carry with us not just new skills and strategies, but a renewed sense of purpose and connection that will fuel our work in the months ahead.

Q&A with Panorama Global’s First Chief Operating Officer‍

As part of the 2025 offsite, we introduced our first-ever Panorama Global Chief Operating Officer (COO). We sat down with Amber Wilke Fournier to learn more about her vision for Panorama's operational excellence.

What drew you to Panorama Global and the COO role?  

Panorama’s unique position at the intersection of philanthropy, social impact, and strategic partnerships immediately stood out. The organization has built a strong platform for driving systems change, and the chance to help scale that impact through operational excellence was deeply compelling.

How did participating in the offsite shape your understanding of Panorama's culture?  

The offsite was invaluable and reaffirmed the decision to join Panorama. The thoughtful balance between strategic discussions, skill-building, and community-building activities reflected an organization that values both results and relationships. I was particularly impressed by the growth-mindset and genuine commitment to operational excellence I observed in Panorama staff. It's clear that Panorama's values aren't just words on paper—they're actively lived by the team. And I was excited to meet so many animal lovers and see all the pet pictures!

What excites you most about Panorama's path to 2030?  

What excites me most is the clear vision coupled with pragmatic approaches to achieving it. During our sessions, I witnessed teams thinking boldly about possibilities while also considering concrete steps to get there. The "5 to 30" theme resonated deeply—we're enhancing our strong foundation to meet ambitious goals that will significantly expand our impact. I’m energized by how Panorama is leaning into partnership, innovation, and long-term systems change across sectors. 

What role do you see operations playing in Panorama's future impact?  

High quality operations enable everything else we do. As we scale, complexity increases—and strong, adaptable systems will be key to staying mission-aligned and sustainable. Operations is a strategic enabler: offering the infrastructure, insights, and support our program teams need to maximize their impact. My goal is to work with our teams to optimize systems to help us move faster, stay grounded, and keep growing without losing what makes Panorama special. 

What’s something your new colleagues and Panorama partners might be surprised to learn about you? 

My initial career goal was to be a historian. I studied the Early Modern era (1500 – 1800 CE) which is full of revolutions and transformations across the globe. But in the long run, life as an academic wasn’t for me and I needed some way to pay back my student loans. I found work in grants and contracts and became skilled at articulating complex opportunities and implementations in a straightforward way. I credit my training in history – how do systems fit together? How does change occur? What do people need to accomplish their goals?  The other thing that seems to surprise people is my love of being on the ocean and that I’m so comfortable on boats. Perhaps it’s my Pacific Northwest roots!