FMI Team’s Return to Eastern Europe

Over the past two months, I have been constantly on the move. Following my trip to Tibet, I immediately flew to Taichung to host our office opening, and then embarked on FMI’s annual incentive travel. This was the company’s second year hosting such a trip, bringing together over a dozen executives from our Osaka, Singapore, and Hong Kong offices for a ten-day journey.

Last year, our destinations were Vienna and Budapest; this year, we continued our Eastern European tour, setting our sights on Prague and Croatia. Why choose Eastern Europe for two consecutive years? While Western European countries like France and Italy are popular travel spots that colleagues might prefer to visit with their families, I wanted to avoid the overly conventional. I opted for the relatively "off-the-beaten-path" Eastern Europe to create a truly memorable experience for everyone.

Coordinating a journey for team members traveling from three different regions—Osaka, Singapore, and Hong Kong—was an immense challenge. It was only thanks to my partner, Nicky, who carved time out of his busy schedule to handle the countless logistical details—such as flights, hotels, itineraries, and transportation—that everything came together. Managing the logistics of transfers in Eastern Europe required meticulous planning. Beyond that, we had to balance everyone’s preferences. I personally felt that since we were in Prague, we had to explore Mozart's legacy, so Nicky incorporated a Mozart concert into the itinerary, followed by a river cruise. The program was incredibly rich. Another key partner, Steve, acted as our "dining ambassador," arranging a variety of specialty meals, including visits to Michelin-starred restaurants. One particular East-meets-West fusion meal was a real eye-opener for me! Everyone is busy with work in their daily lives, yet the team poured their hearts into these arrangements, all to create lasting memories for our colleagues.

Many unforgettable moments occurred during those ten days. At one stop—Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia—we had to hike along mountain trails. One of our older colleagues from the Singapore office struggled physically, yet she pushed herself to keep up with the team. Throughout the hike, our colleagues looked after her, helping her navigate the terrain. She never gave up, even encouraging us to carry on at our own pace while she slowly caught up. As a Sales Department Head, she is known for her resilience, but this trip earned her even more admiration from us. The spirit of mutual support among our colleagues was truly precious.

We departed during the World Cup, and being in the region meant no time zone issues. We happened to be there for the Croatia versus England match, so we gathered at a local bar to watch the live broadcast. We even wore Croatian jerseys to cheer them on—the atmosphere was world-class. Without this trip, we never would have had the chance to enjoy a drink and watch the game together like this.

More importantly, on the last day of the trip, I held a three-hour cross-departmental meeting that was both beneficial and constructive. Each colleague took turns voicing a concern and proposing a solution. Nicky and I listened to their anxieties and provided feedback. While some issues may not have an immediate fix, the candid communication allowed us to resolve some tensions before we returned to our posts, which in itself was a significant achievement. Before leaving, we shared our most memorable moments or takeaways from the trip. Seeing everyone open up and speak from the heart was deeply moving. I look forward to FMI's third trip next year. I encourage our colleagues to continue believing in the company and in themselves. The future is ours—let’s realize it together!

FMI’s executive team from Osaka, Singapore, and Hong Kong shared an unforgettable journey through Prague and Croatia.