“Out of control” is the theme of this year’s Circus Ohlala, a show for all the senses.
I arrived, quite calmly, at Dübendorf airfieldag this sunny Wednesday afternoon, along with about 50 other #TeamNetstreammembers and roughly twice as many partners, customers, and media representatives. At the entrance to the circus tent, heated by the late summer sun, we were given name tags by Natasa Kovacevic, Netstream 's creative marketing manager and the organizer of this event.
In the main foyer of the tent, the lively and cheerful guests gather around the standing tables, enjoying snacks and a cold beer, eagerly anticipating the upcoming branding show. We are soon invited into the show tent to take our seats.
None other than Gregory Knie himself warmly welcomes us to the stage, decorated with mannequins and silvery pipes and illuminated in vibrant colors, and opens the branding show. Six couples, clad in alluring lingerie, enter the stage and deliver a spectacular, synchronized, and very sexy dance performance. By now, every single guest's attention is focused on the stage.
The (fully clothed) ringmaster, wearing a shimmering red circus jacket and a top hat, enters the stage. He explains that emotions play a role not only in the circus, but also in our work at Netstream , and first thanks Netstream for the long-standing partnership. He invites our CEO, Alexis Caceda, onto the stage andaghim about the founding of Netstream 20 years ago. "We didn't know what we were doing!" Alexis exclaims, before launching into a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the key moments in Netstream's history.
Following the HR excerpt about the company's founding is a photo of an old advertisement. It reads, "Incredibly fast internet connection from 256 kbit to 20458 kbit at a super low price." Then comes a photo of our CIO, Dominik (Dom) Breitenmoser, in his younger years, completely relaxed, his feet up on the desk. The ringmaster remarks, amused, "Things could get pretty wild at your place sometimes, too!" Alexis smiles and retorts, "We've always worked with a lot of passion, and having fun at work has always been, and still is, an important factor at Netstream!".
Milestones that were briefly discussed afterwards include: First provider with fixed IP addresses on ADSL, ADSL TV, Sunrise opts for Netstream's IPTV solution, 1st place in the Bilanz rating as best telephony provider, construction of the data center, main sponsor of FCZ, up to 100% solar power for the data center.
Seventeen years after Netstream 's founding, the company embarked on a transformation true to the motto "Change or die!". Not only have the customers and the team changed, but also the products and services. "Without great people, there are no great products," Alexis says, expressing his heartfelt gratitude to his employees.
A brand movie follows: “The world is moving. Our brand is moving forward. Every day since 1998. We are connecting you to the moving world.” This message, set against stunning nature footage, is truly moving. “Enthusiasm! Passion! Empathy!” are presented asagfor our most important success factors.
The three founders, including the ringmaster, take to the stage. CTO Reto explains that he's been friends with Dom since kindergarten and that he met Alexis in a chat room. They were young and naive. Thank goodness. Because today, they all agree, after assessing the risks, they might not have had the courage to start a company. Whenagif they could have imagined being where they are today, Dom replies with a grin: "The only constant in the last 20 years has been the uncertainty of where the journey will lead." After passing the microphone around, it lands with Alexis for the closing remarks: "The future is now!"
And that's the starting signal for another showagby the Ohlala artists. A couple who, acrobatically and no less aesthetically, skillfully perform up and down the vertical rope in playful, tight, flesh-colored underwear.
As a finale, all the acrobatic couples return to the stage and express their emotions through dance: For the grand finale of their show, the dancers present the new Netstreamlogo – upside down. An attentive young dancer directs his colleagues to turn the sign, allowing us to see the new, wonderfully modernized Netstreamlogo from all sides. The euphoric crowd applauds enthusiastically!
Ohlala Netstream! Yes, the future is now!
