Sana’s newest recruit found onboarding in the archipelago, not a boardroom. Within a week of joining the Swedish AI firm, employees were summoned to a tiny island outside Stockholm for a three‑day immersion called Island Week. The exercise aimed to test resilience, foster bonds, and create memorable stories for every.

The itinerary promised cabin life, shared meals, board games and a sauna, but the real test emerged when the water pump failed. With no running water, engineers scrambled underground, temporary rain‑water rigs appeared, and founders Joel Hellermark’s presence loomed as a symbolic challenge for new talent to prove their willingness.

Survivors improvised with bottled water, rain barrels and a three‑bucket line, turning necessity into camaraderie. A single bottle was seized when rationing slipped, restoring order. Despite the chaos, the event reinforced Sana’s culture of grit and highlighted its approach to risk, a lesson echoed after its 2023 acquisition by Workday.

Back in Stockholm, colleagues celebrated the ordeal as a milestone, dubbing the waterless week a “bad‑ass” test of endurance. The story has already entered Sana lore, boosting morale and showcasing the firm’s willingness to push boundaries—an attribute that may attract talent and investors eyeing AI firms with bold cultures today.