Why Face-to-Face Still Wins
We live in our laptops. Slack notifications, back-to-back video calls, shared docs. It works, but something's missing. Aleksandra Mamrukova, Head of International Events at Yango Group, believes that in the era of digital technology, live communication has become especially valuable. Yangoversity is a real opportunity to meet people who are hundreds of kilometers away:"Instead of sitting alone in front of a laptop screen, you are in an atmosphere of live communication. Ideas are exchanged in real time, where you can see the emotions of your interlocutor, feel the energy of the group, and establish genuine human connections."
That's exactly what happened in Bogotá. From day one, when country managers shared their regional experiences, to the AI Masterclass where everyone explored new tools together, people actually connected.
Learning by Doing
The four-day program mixed workshops with hands-on work. The Crisis Management Masterclass threw real scenarios at participants. Field case studies made teams apply everything they learned to actual challenges. And here's the interesting part: people who'd never worked together before had to figure it out on the spot.
The group exercises proved something simple but powerful: put smart people in a room, give them a challenge, and they'll find a way. Different backgrounds? Different skills? Doesn't matter. They made it work.
During group exercises, we had to collaborate with teammates we had never met before, and still find a way to make it work together despite our different backgrounds, skills, and points of view. And we did great! I feel very lucky and grateful to work with such amazing colleagues, and I'm proud to be part of this.
A New Way to Celebrate Success
Bogotá also marked the launch of Yango Star – a pilot program currently running across Latin America. The idea is simple: recognize the hard work that often goes unnoticed and make growth more engaging. Complete tasks, earn coins, exchange them for real rewards like flight upgrades, exclusive merch, or hotel booking upgrades.Jenny Maunonen, L&D at Yango Ride, who developed the program, explains the thinking behind it:
We know how much effort Yangoers put into the work — and now it's time to celebrate it! Yango Star is designed to recognize achievements, reward the hard work, and make the journey even more fun.
If the pilot proves successful, the program will expand internationally. For now, Latin America teams are testing how gamification can change the way people engage with learning and development.
Go to the Fields
One of Yangoversity's signature experiences took center stage on Day 4: managers literally become the service – driving passengers, delivering orders, experiencing firsthand what customers see and feel every day.
We actually worked as couriers, and this experience was truly useful and refreshing! The direct feedback showed us exactly what needs to be improved, and my colleagues will use these insights to enhance our services.
Traveling in the driver's seat showed me how to further improve their experience. We've worked to perfect route optimization and navigation systems, helping drivers have more efficient journeys and feel more supported in their daily operations.
What People Will Remember Most
Between sessions, there were the unofficial highlights that made the trip memorable. Cheerful dinners brought people together over great food and conversation, while the closing party let everyone celebrate the connections they'd made. The city quest turned Bogotá into a fun challenge, with teams exploring landmarks and solving puzzles together."My favorite thing about Yangoversity Colombia is that it's all about people. Not just what they do to make our business run every day, but who they are: what makes them laugh, what motivates them, how we connect with one another, and how we get to know people from literally the other side of the world. People we'd never have the chance to meet without such an event." Shila Lupo, Head of LatAm and Africa Support at Yango Ride
What stands out most from Yangoversity Bogotá was the profound sense of kinship and shared purpose. I was particularly inspired by Adeniyi's presentation, which powerfully charted our journey in the region and unified us around a common vision for the future. That event truly strengthened our bonds, transforming colleagues into collaborators and friends.
The conversations started there didn't end when people caught their flights home. Those connections keep going, influencing decisions and sparking ideas across markets. Stay with us to follow the latest news and developments, and if you're inspired by what you've seen, consider joining the Yango team — where global collaboration and innovation happen every day!
