There is something that happens when people who have only ever seen each other on a screen finally sit across the same table. Conversations get easier. Ideas move faster. And the work, somehow, feels more personal. That is exactly what TGT Connect 2026 set out to create. And by all accounts, it delivered.
From May 25 to 30, Manila became the gathering point for 25 partners from the Asia-Pacific (APAC) and North America regions, including 15 first-time attendees and 10 returning partners. For nearly a week, they showed up learning, listening, and building something that no Zoom call can fully replicate – real relationships.
Peter Hammon, Chief Operations Officer of TGT Global, set the mood early. In his welcome remarks, he reminded everyone what the event was really about.
“Behind every successful offshore team is a strong relationship, and this is your chance to connect with the people who are part of your day-to-day success. For us at TGT, it’s always been about more than just delivering results. It’s about building something long-term with our partners, and that starts with a real connection.”
That sense of purpose ran through every session, every meal, and every conversation the week produced.
Inside the room full of lessons
Three formal sessions anchored the first half of the week, each one tackling something that every partner in the room had quietly wrestled with at some point.
Session 1: Effective onboarding
It opened the floor to one of the more uncomfortable truths about welcoming new hires: the process often fails before it even begins. Damien Croarken of Techno Group Australia (TGA) named it directly.
“One-on-ones are important to me. However, on Day 1, when employees start being booked, they tend to see them as distractions because of the emotional stigma attached to them. The area for improvement is setting clear expectations for one-on-ones from the start.”
That comment kicked off a rich exchange. Nathan Sheppard of Otto IT suggested gamifying parts of the onboarding process to ease the pressure. Chad McDonald of ITPartners+ noted that smaller group settings made employees far more willing to open up.
Sheryann Tayco, Operations Manager at TGT Global, offered a practical reminder: “New hires often carry baggage from previous employers, so part of the job is helping them let go and learn who TGT actually is.”
Session 2: Leadership in a remote work environment
The second session went somewhere few leadership conversations bother to go. It got personal. Operations Manager Derek Somogat of TGT Global raised the question: “How do you handle it when an employee’s personal life starts spilling into their work?”
The responses were frank and varied, but Yuleina Lazarde of SCI Australia captured what many were feeling.
“Let employees know that it is okay not to be okay. One-on-one sessions can make a significant difference by giving employees the support they need.”
James Borg of Teamwork Technology added his own take on building connections across distance:
“You get out of relationships what you invest in them. Build engagement by creating opportunities to connect casually, such as through shared meals and team bonding activities, to help strengthen relationships.”
Damien Croarken pointed out that in the Philippines, employees can feel emotionally intimidated when interacting with senior leaders, which means trust has to be built carefully and consistently over time.
Session 3: Dealing with performance problems before they escalate
This brought the week’s learning full circle. The conversation moved from identifying early warning signs to asking the harder question: When is it time to let someone go? Lead Senior Operations Manager, Julie Lavapiez of TGT Global, gave a clear answer.
“We need to accept that letting go is sometimes necessary, especially when team morale is already being affected. It is better to lose one person than risk losing the whole team. The key things we need to assess are business impact and team morale.”
Operations Manager Riggs Villagomez added that the decision to let go should come only after all forms of support and guidance have been exhausted. And for prevention, he shared a best practice already working at Suntax: “A monthly in-office lunch that brings work-from-home staff together, with games and bonding built in.”
From the roundtable to the dance floor
The learning did not stop when the screens were switched off. The immersive roundtable on Friday morning gave partners a space to reflect on the week’s sessions together, trading experiences and solutions across campaigns.
Yuleina said what many were feeling after the roundtable wrapped up. “It was valuable to exchange solutions and understand how other campaigns are working with TGT and what they are implementing with their teams.”
Wednesday evening brought the Welcome Reception at V-Sing in Uptown Parade, which also marked the launch of Offshoring Secrets Revealed by our very own Mark Copeman and Peter Bell, CEO.
By Friday and Saturday, the Mid-Year Parties for both the Day Shift at Revel at the Palace and the Night Shift teams at Bar IX gave everyone a proper send-off, with food, music, and the kind of laughter that tends to follow a week of open conversations.
What TGT Connect gave everyone to bring home
Rey An Caguiat Francisco, Events Manager at TGT Global, summed it up well.
“TGT Connect 2026 successfully strengthened relationships between partners and teams, fostered professional development, and celebrated shared achievements, leaving attendees with new insights, stronger connections, and lasting memories.”
Clark Acode, Channel Program Manager at TGT Global, echoed that energy. As someone who watched the dynamic between new and returning partners play out in real time, he saw something worth noting.
“Seeing our returning partners collaborate with the 70% who were first-timers was pure magic. It was a highly productive, engaging, and value-driven week. Let’s carry this momentum straight into the second half of the year.”
A week in Manila proved something worth remembering. The best investments in team performance do not always happen inside a system or a workflow. Sometimes, they happen over lunch or in a room full of people finally meeting face to face.
The next opportunity to connect and learn is already on the calendar. TGT Fiesta 2026 runs from November 19 to 22 in Manila. The invitation is open, and we look forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones along the way.
The stories are told. Now see them. Our TGT Connect 2026 recap video brings the whole week together in one place, from the learning sessions to the late-night celebrations. Watch it below and let the week sink in one more time.
