May, 2025
On April 24, Emota team members joined colleagues across Inizio Engage XD for Bring Your Child to Work Day at our Philadelphia office.
This wasn’t just an open-door moment—it was a full experience, designed the XD way: with creativity, collaboration, and curiosity at the centre. And for those of us at Emota, it was a chance to help bring it to life and share what we do with the people who matter most—our families.
It was brilliant to open up the XD world to our families and give our kids a glimpse into what we do. There was so much curiosity, energy and imagination—it really captured the spirit of how we work every day.
– Russ Lidstone, President, Inizio Engage XD
The day began with breakfast (thanks to Federal Donuts) and a photo area to capture the moment. Kids stepped into filmed interviews, sharing what they thought their parents did—and what they wanted to do themselves. The answers were imaginative, insightful, and in some cases, surprisingly accurate.
Icebreakers were led by Katie Coleman (Head of Meetings & Events, US) before Russ Lidstone gave a warm welcome and introduced the group to the world of experience design.
And in true XD fashion, the unexpected made an appearance. One curious 10-year-old asked Russ:
“How much money do you make a year?”
The room erupted—and Russ handled it like a pro.
Next came the hands-on activities. A live demo of the Multichannel Room (MCR) gave our young visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the technology and storytelling tools we use to craft high-impact experiences.
In small groups—with a few Emota parents supporting along the way—kids developed and delivered their own mini sales pitches, complete with slides, big ideas, and plenty of creative flair.
After a packed morning of activity, we gathered for a well-earned pizza lunch—sharing stories, reflections, and laughs. Kids talked about what they’d learned, and parents connected across teams, departments, and experiences.
The atmosphere was energising. It was classic XD: part bold ideas, part shared moments, and fully grounded in the creative, tech-enabled culture that powers everything we do.
For Emota, it was a moment to reflect on what we do and why it matters.
It reminded us that our culture lives in the experiences we share—with our clients, our teams, and our families.
Thank you to everyone across Inizio Engage XD who helped make the day happen—and to our youngest guests, who reminded us that the best experiences are often the ones we get to share.
