How Friendzone Helped DBS Strengthen Team Bonding and Belonging Across Generations

In a workplace where colleagues span multiple generations and departments, creating genuine connections can sometimes feel easier said than done. To help strengthen team bonding and belonging as their teams settled into the new West office,, DBS partnered with Friendzone to design and facilitate an intergenerational lunchtime conversation session — a space for employees to connect beyond roles, teams, and age groups.

This marked the second collaboration between DBS and Friendzone, following a successful earlier session that inspired the bank to continue exploring conversation-based programmes for employees. 

About DBS CRESA and the West Office Community

The DBS Corporate Real Estate Strategy and Administration (CRESA) team manages workplace experience initiatives across DBS offices. Following the relocation of their Jurong-based teams to the new DBS Asia Gateway (DAG), CRESA sought to help employees — from operations staff to newer business-centred colleagues — feel at home in their new environment.

With more than 800 staff invited and around 25–30 participants attending this first session at the new West office, the initiative aimed to ease transitions, spark new friendships, and build a stronger sense of workplace belonging.

The Challenge

With employees from different departments, roles, and generations now sharing one space, DBS recognised the importance of fostering connection beyond daily tasks.

Key challenges included:

• Limited opportunities for personal connection among colleagues in a large and diverse office environment

• Generational differences between long-serving, operations-centred employees and newer hires still finding their footing

• Need for a warmer, more cohesive workplace culture to accompany the office relocation

CRESA envisioned a session that would bring colleagues together through authentic, low-pressure conversations — one that felt personal and uplifting rather than corporate or instructional.

The Solution

Friendzone’s facilitation team designed and led a customised Friendzone session on the theme of Intergenerational Connections, created to spark meaningful dialogue across generations within the DBS West office community. The session combined intentional design, lighthearted activities, and guided discussion to help participants connect over shared experiences and perspectives.

Here’s What We Did

• Customised conversation cards:
  Each group received a set of discussion prompts carefully crafted by Friendzone — covering topics such as childhood memories, self-care habits, and lessons learnt across generations.

• Small-group facilitation:
  With one facilitator for every 4–5 participants, the environment encouraged everyone — from junior staff to senior colleagues — to share comfortably and listen meaningfully.

• Intergenerational themes:
  Questions like “Do you think you’re a typical representation of your generation?” and “What’s your fondest childhood memory?” sparked both laughter and reflection, helping participants discover common ground beyond age or department.

• Collaborative facilitation:
  A mix of facilitators from the DBS CRESA team and Friendzone guided the session, ensuring a supportive, high-touch experience throughout.

The Outcome

The 90-minute lunchtime session created space for meaningful exchange and laughter across generations. Participants left with a renewed sense of connection to their colleagues and appreciation for the diversity within their workplace community.

By focusing on storytelling and shared experiences rather than work topics, the session allowed colleagues to see one another in a new light — as people, not just co-workers. The safe, open format helped even quieter participants open up, strengthening bonds that carry into their daily work life.

Following the success of this engagement, DBS expressed interest in expanding the initiative to other teams and offices, continuing to build a culture of belonging through conversation and connection.

Looking to Bring Your Teams Closer?

Friendzone designs intentional, conversation-driven experiences that help organisations strengthen relationships, belonging, and workplace culture. From onboarding to team bonding, we create spaces where people can connect meaningfully — beyond roles and departments.

✨ Reach out to us at hello@friendzone.sg to explore how we can help your teams build connection and community at work.