Acceler8ing Across the Pond: TJ’s visit to the UK office

Hey TJ, great to have you here! What were you most looking forward to about visiting The UK and meeting the UK team in person? 

“Honestly, just being able to finally meet everyone face-to-face! Up until now, most of my interactions with the UK team have been limited to quick Teams messages or the occasional call, so I was really looking forward to getting to know people properly. Even though I’m only here for a week, being in the office means I can collaborate more easily, be able to help in real time, and experience the UK team dynamic in person. It’s also been great to catch up with those who have visited the US office before and meet some new faces also.” 

Have you had any time to do a bit of sightseeing while you’re here? Or is there anything on your list you’re hoping to check out before you head back? 

“I’ve got a running list of restaurants, pubs, and landmarks that people have recommended, so I’m definitely making time for some sightseeing while I’m here! Since I’m here until Sunday, I of course want to experience a proper traditional pub crawl. We’ve already walked around St Albans, visited the cathedral and walked around the Roman Verulamium Park, had lunch with the team, and I even got my first cheeky Nando’s! I also love the classic wooden-style pubs here, what we’d call dive bars in the US, so I’m excited to check out more of them while I’m in town.” 

Is there anything classic and British that you’re looking forward to trying while you’re here?  

“Well as I said, I’ve already tried Nando’s, and it lived up to the hype. Peri chicken is definitely as good as everyone says! Fish and chips is definitely on my list next. I also want to try a full English breakfast, and I hear beans on toast is pretty common here, so I guess I’ll have to try it… though I’m not sure if I’m excited about it just yet! It seems like you guys put beans with everything. Oh, and peas, there seem to be peas with almost everything too!” 

And speaking of all things British, have you picked up any local expressions or phrases while you’ve been here? 

“I’ve definitely picked up a few! One of the first things I noticed is that instead of saying “Hello, how are you?”, people here just say “You alright?” which confused me at first! I’ve also learned not to call it a line, it’s a queue. And apparently, it’s going to the toilet, not the restroom which I would definitely get laughed at for saying back home. 

It’s not just phrases, everyone here seems to have a nickname for each other, and I’ve also started saying mate a lot more. Matt (our A8 Co-Founder, who’s English) has already taught us some British phrases, and I catch myself using them all the time. Oh, and I keep hearing people say “That was funny, that”—which still sounds a bit funny to me!” 

Now that you’ve had some time in the UK office, has anything about the work environment or culture surprised you? How does it compare to what you're used to back in the US? 

“One of the first things that stood out to me is the location, the St Albans office is pretty much right in the middle of an outdoor shopping centre, which is pretty different from what I’m used to. It’s been great to walk around and explore a more traditional, old-fashioned city, especially with landmarks like the cathedral nearby. 

Here, the energy is high, and you naturally interact with everyone throughout the day, it’s a great environment to be in!” 

Given that you'll be working more closely with the UK team moving forward, how important has it been for you to come over here and connect with everyone in person? 

“Coming over has been really important, it’s made such a difference being able to meet people in person. Before this trip, I hadn’t really interacted with a lot of the team, so building those relationships has been a big focus. Being here means I can help people out much more easily, be more involved in day-to-day work, and offer advice in real time. 

It’s also been great for building trust. When you don’t know someone well, you might hesitate to reach out for help, but meeting in person makes those interactions feel much more natural. There’s a lot more back-and-forth, more collaboration, and just a stronger connection overall which is going to make working together so much easier moving forward.” 

Now that you’ve spent some time with the UK team, have you noticed any unique challenges or opportunities they face that are different from those in Boston? 

“One thing that stands out is how people structure their day, especially with the time difference when working with the US. It’s very similar to how we have to plan when working with teams on the West Coast as you have to be strategic about stacking your day, timing your work, and planning when to send messages to make sure you’re catching people at the right time. 

Another big factor is learning a new market, which just takes time. There are differences in how things work here compared to the US, but that also brings opportunities to share knowledge and find new ways to collaborate.” 

What’s something you have learnt so far and will be taking back to Boston with you? 

“Their business development conversations work a bit differently here, but it’s been great to see in action, and it’s definitely something I’ll be trying out back home. Everyone is so on top of documenting processes and making sure everything is properly logged—whereas in Boston, we tend to just keep it all in our heads! That’s something I’ll be thinking about more when I’m back.” 

What’s some things you have noticed in the UK office that you think would benefit the Boston team if we introduced it? 

“I love that the meeting rooms in the UK office are named after the Winners Trips. It’s a great way to celebrate success and create a sense of motivation, it would be really cool to bring that idea to Boston. Oh, and the espresso machine. Definitely the espresso machine. That’s a game-changer!” 

What’s the one thing you’re most excited to share with the Boston team when you return? 

“I’m definitely excited to talk about the pub scene here, I’m a huge fan, and I can’t wait to tell my buddies back home that it’s exactly what you think it is, just like in the movies! I’ve also noticed how hard everyone works here, and the energy is really inspiring. Oh, and yes, they really do drink a lot of Guinness!” 

How do you think in-person meetings like this one help strengthen relationships and collaboration between the UK and US teams? 

I think in-person meetings like this are crucial for strengthening relationships and collaboration between the UK and US teams. Being here in person makes a huge difference as it allows me to be more available for real-time conversations, whether it is answering quick questions, brainstorming ideas, or sharing insights from our side of the business. It has also been a great opportunity for experience sharing, where we can exchange best practices and learn from each other in a way that’s much more natural than over a call. Building those personal connections makes day-to-day collaboration so much easier, and I know it will help us all work more seamlessly together moving forward. 

Strengthening Connections Across the Pond 

TJ’s visit to the UK office has been a fantastic opportunity to strengthen the connection between our UK and US teams, share insights, and experience first-hand how we work on either side of the Atlantic. From embracing British office culture to exchanging ideas on collaboration and business development, his time in St Albans has been both insightful and inspiring. 

As we continue to grow globally, visits like this reinforce the importance of working closely as one team, no matter the time zones. With new ideas, fresh perspectives, and maybe even a few British expressions picked up along the way, we’re excited to see how these experiences shape the way we collaborate moving forward. 

Until next time, TJ. Cheers!