Friendship at Work
I’m short, she’s even shorter. That’s why the second she saw a stool at one of Google’s parties, she stepped right up on it to prove a point - and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
That’s Neeta Tolani, Head of SEA Internal Comms at Google Singapore, and one of my partners in the Culture Club. She’s one of those rare colleagues who slips past “coworker” and lands firmly in lifelong “friend.” This picture was taken on the 30th floor during one of Google’s birthday celebrations. There was a 360 photo booth, music, people drifting in and out between meetings, but what I really remember is how I had my buddy with me - taking on all the workday had to offer.
Work will give you plenty of teammates over time: deadlines, projects, and calendars. But if you’re lucky, it will also give you someone who sticks around long after the job title fades. Even though I’ve left Google, I still get to go back from time to time and catch up with Neeta. Last year, I even flew to India for her wedding. Every time we reconnect, we talk the same way we did at work, like no time has passed.
Friendship in the workplace is an odd thing. You don’t plan for it, but years later it can be the thing you carry with you - like the memory of someone climbing on a stool, and the knowledge that even outside the office walls, you’ve still got each other.
And that’s exactly what great leadership training is about. Whether through professional development programs or unique experiences like escape room training, the real impact is when bonds and trust go beyond the immediate task. At our company, we design leadership escape room training in Singapore where teams get to solve challenges together, discover hidden strengths, and build the kind of connections that last far beyond the office.
Because while technical skills and deadlines matter, true team development training comes down to trust, communication, and shared experiences. That’s what makes team building powerful - whether it happens at a corporate party, inside an escape room in Singapore, or years later when you’re still cheering each other on.
