Every December, we pause. We look back at the year that was, celebrate the wins, acknowledge the hard work, and most importantly, recognize the people who made it all happen. Last year, our annual retreat brought the entire team together in Cox’s Bazar. This year, we created something special: a reward trip to Nepal, earned by five exceptional individuals who went above and beyond.
But this wasn’t just another company trip. This was about five extraordinary people who pushed boundaries, solved problems nobody else could, and consistently showed up when it mattered most. Their reward? A week in the mountains with their colleagues, away from screens and spreadsheets.
The Winners
Tripty Mandal took home Employee of the Year 2024 from Accounts & Finance department. She’s the person you want in your corner when things get complicated. She doesn’t just balance numbers, she finds solutions where others see dead ends. Her calm under pressure and attention to detail keep the entire finance operation running smoothly.
Ali Akbar won Innovation of the Year from the Technology team. Ali’s the kind of engineer who spots problems before they are assigned to him. Last year, he built solutions that made complex tasks simpler and helped the entire team work more efficiently.
Sharmin Akter earned Best Team Leader from Marketing & Branding. Sharmin has this rare ability to get the best out of everyone without making them feel pressured. She’s the first one to show up when someone’s struggling and the last one to take credit when things go well.
Tosar Das Shuvo claimed the Mountain Mover award from the Product team. When everyone else is saying “it can’t be done,” Shuvo’s already halfway through doing it. He works across departments to develop our website, tackle the messy technical issues, and drive improvements that keep the entire operation running smoothly.
Michael Rema was named Reliability Rockstar from the CEO’s Office. Michael keeps the CEO’s schedule running, manages meetings, and makes sure everything stays on track. He coordinates with other departments to keep things moving and somehow makes even the busiest days look manageable.
These five earned an all-expenses-paid trip to Nepal as their reward, and in late September, they packed their bags for the mountains.
The Journey
The group landed in Kathmandu and headed into the hills. The roads were beautiful, sure, but also the kind that makes you hold your breath around every turn.
Tripty couldn’t stop taking photos. Every mountain, every sunrise got captured. She mentioned more than once how strange it felt to be somewhere so quiet after living in Dhaka’s chaos.
Sharmin had everything planned out, trails and all. But her favorite part ended up being the evenings just sitting around with everyone, talking about random things, laughing at old stories. No meetings, no deadlines, just people being people.
Shuvo went all-in on the food. Momos, thukpa, sel roti he tried it all. He even started keeping notes on recipes he wanted to recreate when he got back.
Ali found those mountain roads caught him off guard. Michael found himself thinking about his parents a lot, imagining his mother at the temples, his father chatting with every local he’d meet.
One Moment that Stayed with Everyone
After landing and checking into the hotel, everyone was exhausted. Someone threw out the idea to get some tea. Back in Dhaka, they’d done plenty of tea sessions together, but having one here, in a completely new place? That felt different.
They found a small café on a hill with a view of the valley. The sun was setting, and what started as a quick tea break turned into hours of just sitting there. People started sharing stories, some from work, some from way back. There was laughter, a few surprises about things they didn’t know about each other, and that comfortable kind of silence that only happens when you’re around people you trust.
That evening became the heart of the trip. Away from the usual grind, just five people reconnecting over tea. Simple, wholesome, and somehow exactly what everyone needed.
What’s Next
The team’s back now, back to their regular work. But the trip left its mark. They came back with stories, inside jokes, and a different kind of energy.
We are already thinking about next year’s retreat. Where to next? We don’t know yet. What matters is making sure the people who keep PriyoShop running feel really valued. A certificate is nice, but experiences like these? They stick.
Here’s to Tripty, Ali, Sharmin, Shuvo, and Michael and to everyone else on the team working hard every day. Your turn might be coming sooner than you think.
See you at the next retreat!