Schneider Electric Strengthens Leadership Through Purpose-Driven Corporate Team Building

After undergoing a major corporate restructure, Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management, recognized the need to bring its upper management team together. Change on this scale often introduces uncertainty, and the company wanted to ensure that its core corporate values were not only maintained but actively embodied by its leadership.

Enter Odyssey Teams, whose approach to purpose-driven corporate team building immediately resonated with Schneider Electric’s CEO. The connection was clear: the company wanted team activities that would reinforce corporate values while fostering collaboration, communication, and empathy among its leaders.

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Inspirational Team Building Step by Step

Schneider Electric’s leadership team participated in Helping Hands, Odyssey Teams’ signature give-back program. This unique activity challenges participants to construct LN-4 prosthetic hands, which are then donated to amputees worldwide. Unlike traditional team-building exercises, Helping Hands blends hands-on learning, problem-solving, and social impact.

To heighten the challenge and encourage creative teamwork, Odyssey Teams co-founder Bill John introduced a surprise: ten minutes into the building process, participants were instructed to place a Koozie over their dominant hand. This simple twist forced team members to rethink roles, communicate more effectively, and collaborate to overcome the obstacle. Some participants held the prosthetic components in place while others turned screwdrivers, demonstrating the power of trust and interdependence in achieving a common goal.

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Team Building Testimonial of Helping Hands Live

The impact of the activity was profound, both professionally and personally. Don Wingate, Vice President of Sales for Schneider Electric’s Utility Segment, reflected on the experience:

“There was a lot of joy in making those hands for people, but it made so much more because it was about teamwork and integrity. Teamwork is getting groups of people together to do something good for someone else. That really made me think about myself and the people I’m working with on a day-to-day basis—doing something good for our customers, doing something good for the business, and doing something good for yourself.”

This sentiment illustrates a key principle of effective corporate team building: when employees engage in activities that combine collaboration and purpose, they are more likely to internalize values like integrity, empathy, and accountability.

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Connecting Purpose to Everyday Work

Once the prosthetic hands were assembled and the carry bags decorated, the group gathered for a debriefing session. Participants learned that the hands would be donated to landmine victims around the world, which provided a tangible sense of the real-world impact of their work.

During the debrief, it became clear that team-building exercises are only as effective as the mindset participants bring to them. A positive attitude, willingness to engage, and understanding of the purpose behind the activity are crucial for translating the momentum of the exercise back to daily work environments.

The Helping Hands program not only improved collaboration but also instilled a sense of empathy and social responsibility. Leaders left the session with a renewed appreciation for the power of teamwork and the potential for making a difference beyond their immediate work environment.

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A Personal Connection That Strengthened the Experience

For some participants, the impact of Helping Hands was especially personal. Tim Baker, a Chicago Branch Manager at Schneider Electric, shared:

“My child was born without fingers on one hand. Because I knew what this [prosthetic hand] can do, I had this sense of purpose, compassion, and empathy during the project. It completely changed the sense of work. I was never frustrated; there was a sense of joy in the work at the table.”

This powerful testimony highlights how personal connections and real-world applications can elevate a corporate team-building program from a simple exercise into a deeply meaningful experience. By connecting employees’ actions to tangible outcomes, companies foster emotional investment, commitment, and long-lasting teamwork skills.

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Why Corporate Team Building Matters

Schneider Electric’s experience demonstrates why corporate team building is critical for leadership development and organizational cohesion. Programs like Helping Hands provide multiple benefits:

1. Strengthened Leadership Skills: Participants learn to manage challenges, delegate tasks, and support one another under pressure.

2. Enhanced Team Collaboration: Problem-solving exercises, like building prosthetic hands, reinforce communication, trust, and interdependence.

3. Reinforced Corporate Values: Activities are aligned with organizational principles, such as integrity, empathy, and accountability.

4. Employee Engagement and Motivation: Employees experience a sense of accomplishment and pride, which boosts morale and engagement.

5. Meaningful Social Impact: Combining philanthropy with training allows employees to see the real-world difference of their actions, creating a lasting emotional connection to their work.

By participating in Helping Hands, Schneider Electric’s leaders not only strengthened their professional skills but also reinforced the company’s commitment to social responsibility and purposeful leadership.

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Bringing Purpose-Driven Team Building to Your Company

Corporate team building doesn’t have to be limited to lectures or workshops. Purpose-driven programs like Helping Hands combine hands-on challenges, social impact, and leadership development in a way that resonates with employees on both personal and professional levels.

Companies that integrate these experiences into their leadership programs benefit from:

• Stronger team cohesion and collaboration

• Improved employee engagement and retention

• Alignment with corporate values

• Opportunities to make a measurable social impact

Odyssey Teams specializes in customizable corporate team-building programs that inspire leaders, strengthen teams, and deliver meaningful results. Programs can be tailored to fit any group size or corporate objective while ensuring that participants leave with skills, connections, and a sense of accomplishment.

📩 Email: learn@odysseyteams.com

📞 Phone: 800-342-1650

Through programs like Helping Hands, Schneider Electric has shown that investing in corporate team building can transform leaders, boost morale, and create lasting change—both inside the company and across communities worldwide.