From Recognition to Connection: What Kenya Taught Us About Team and Culture
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5 min read
Excellence can take many shapes.
A quiet initiative that solved a bottleneck.
A moment of leadership no one expected.
A year of showing up with heart.
Once a year, a few of these moments are recognized in a way that’s just as meaningful: with a shared journey to somewhere far from the office, and closer to inspiration.
This year’s Outstanding Employees trip took a group of 18 colleagues to Kenya for connection, reflection, and a reminder of what makes this place special.
Here are their stories:
"What I appreciate most about Nova is that excellence doesn’t go unnoticed.
Whether it’s through structured feedback, bonuses, or new opportunities, you feel seen.
And that’s something I try to pass on to my team every day.
I want them to know I’m here, that I’m listening, and that their work matters.
Nova’s “people first” culture isn’t just a phrase.
It’s something we live.
The Outstanding Employee Award trip to Kenya was a reflection of that.
Every detail was thoughtful, from the diversity of experiences to the warmth of the people.
I only knew two others when we started, but by the end, we were a team.
One moment that stayed with me was our final evening, watching the sunset together.
Everyone wanted a photo with everyone else so that we can cherish the memories of this powerful experience. That sense of belonging and shared appreciation was beautiful.
What I’m bringing back to my team is this: when you create the right conditions like trust, support, and recognition, people thrive.
I want them to feel what I felt on that trip.
That Nova sees them, values them, and believes in their potential.”
Christina Claes, Tool Conception Manager, CMD Division
2024 Nova Outstanding Employee Award Winner
“What made the biggest difference this year was the trust I was given and the freedom to approach challenges in my own way.
In my everyday work excellence isn’t just about metrics or milestones.
It’s about showing up for your team, being reliable, pushing through challenges, and doing it with purpose.
I was lucky to work alongside a team that’s smart, committed, and fully collaborative.
Everything we achieved, we achieved together.
The outstanding employees trip to Kenya was an experience I won’t forget.
I arrived knowing just a few people and left with 18 new friends.
It was incredible to see how quickly we connected, even though we came from different cultures, roles, and corners of the world.
I guess there’s something in Nova’s DNA that brings together not just top professionals, but genuinely kind and caring people.
People who are passionate about what they do and thoughtful toward the people they work with.
That’s what made it so easy to feel like a team.
This trip was a chance to step outside of the day to day, to connect, to reflect, and to feel part of something bigger.
And I’m grateful to be part of that.”
Ganesh Vanamu, Technical Director, Strategic/RMD
2024 Nova 's Outstanding Employee Award Winner
“At Nova, I feel like excellence is everywhere, as I'm constantly surrounded by smart and talented colleagues.
So being selected as part of the outstanding employee group has been a humbling and meaningful experience.
To me excellence in Nova is not just about innovation or technical skill, it is more about the people.
The ones who are passionate, very kind to each other, and genuinely excited about what they do.
That’s what stood out to me most, both in my day-to-day work and on the Outstanding Employees trip to Kenya.
I joined a group of 18 people I barely knew, and by the end of the week, it felt we bonded like we had gone through bootcamp together.
The connection was instant and real.
There was one moment I’ll never forget: our last night, gathered around a bonfire in the middle of the savannah, watching the sunset.
Someone started playing guitar, and suddenly everyone was taking photos, hugging, laughing. That moment captured everything connection, appreciation, and the kind of warmth that makes Nova feel like home.”
Maor Asher, Innovation Technologist, DMD Division,
2024 Nova Outstanding Employee Award Winner
“When I found out I was selected as an Excellence Award winner, I was genuinely surprised and at the same time, deeply grateful.
I had worked incredibly hard in 2024, and being recognized like that made me feel seen.
It reminded me that I’m on the right path, and that what I do matters.
To me, excellence is about being helpful.
It’s not just doing your job it’s stepping into the gray areas, thinking about what’s best for the team, the project, and the customer. That’s the mindset I try to pass on to my team as well.
The trip to Kenya was unforgettable.
Every detail was thoughtful, from the surprise gifts waiting in our rooms each night to the hot air balloon ride that took real courage to organize.
Even our guide was extraordinary: a retired Israeli tour guide who now lives in a Kenyan village.
The HR team went above and beyond to create a really super experience.
In truth, Nova could have gone the easy route, but they chose the outstanding one. And that says everything.”
Steven Lin, Application Manager, HQ Application Team, Taiwan,
Nova's 2024 Outstanding Employee Award Inner
“When I saw the smiles from HR a few days before the annual excellence award, I had a feeling something was up.
When it became official, and I got the Nova Outstanding Employee Award I felt deeply appreciated.
For me, excellence isn’t about big gestures.
It’s about stepping up when there’s a gap, learning something new, and giving 250% because you care.
That’s what I did when our team was short-handed, I just jumped in.
No one asked me to, but It’s just who I am.
And Nova sees that.
They recognize the effort, they support your growth, and they celebrate it in ways that stay with you.
I just recently asked to join a course that would extend my knowledge and skills and shortly after got an approval to join, when I ask for support and help I always get it.
This is the type of environment that helps excellence thrive.
For example the Outstanding Employees trip to Kenya where every detail was thought through, it was an incredible trip.
It wasn’t just a reward, it reflected how much thought and care Nova puts into everything.
That, to me, is excellence.”
Snir Harambam, Electronics Engineering Tech Lead,
2024 Nova's Outstanding Employee award winner
2024 Nova's Outstanding Employee award winner
