Culture • Nov 25, 2025 9:30:00 AM • Written by: Kate Bunton
We’re getting ready to close the books on another year, and while no year is without its challenges, we’ve had so many things to be grateful for in 2025 and many things to look forward to in 2026. The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us, and we thought we’d take a moment to reflect and express gratitude for all that we’ve accomplished this year. We added new faces to the team, cried at weddings and welcomed new babies, sweated through the Chicago marathon, won the $10,000 Insights Innovation prize, entered exciting new relationships with new clients, and deepened our relationships with those who’ve been with us since the beginning.
I asked some of our team what they’re grateful for this year – be it professionally or personally! – and here are some of Orchard’s proudest moments of 2025:
Maryanne, Senior Client Strategist:
"I’m a new team member this year, and I’m thankful for being able to attend CRC, help spearhead a new product & launch our first test successfully, and be part of important conversations with leadership. These things, plus being asked for my opinion, made me feel seen, heard & valued as a new person."
Bri, Product Manager
"I’m grateful for the friends I’ve built in Denver who feel like family, the time I’m granted to prioritize my loved ones, and the amazing Orchard team. The company summit this fall was a standout moment that brought such great energy and connection with the whole team."
Jordan, Client Strategy & Insights Manager
"I’m so proud of the innovation work we did with one of our new clients this year. I heard things like: "Omigosh, you totally validated our hypothesis!! You have to join our team now, you know so much" and "You guys are rockstars, so amazing. And how well you explain it… wow". Hearing how much the clients love the data and the story we were able to create with it really fills my cup! Especially when it's a first-time client."
Kristine, Senior Production Design Manager
"I am so incredibly grateful for my growing family and welcoming our first baby, Eloise, back in May. Becoming a mom has been the most meaningful (and humbling!) experience. I’m also thankful for a work culture that supported me through maternity leave and gave me the flexibility I needed to care for her during these early months. I am so happy to be a part of a team and culture that didn’t just talk about supporting parents, they actually did it. No say-do gap here!"
Rashed, CEO
"I’m grateful for the grit and commitment this team brought every single day. We kept raising the bar on how we serve our clients – staying inventive, staying responsive, and consistently delivering work that punches above our weight. And I’m proud of how our team did it with so much care for one another. We solved big problems together, moved fast, and still made room to celebrate the moments that matter; weddings, babies, marathons, all of it. That balance of ambition and humanity is a real competitive advantage.
Winning the IIEX Insight Innovation award was a standout moment. Not just because of the recognition, but because it reflected what we’re building here: a team that experiments boldly, executes with excellence, and is starting to get noticed for it."
It’s easy to get ahead of ourselves with all the things we’re planning for and excited about for next year, but a brief pause to remember everything we’ve already accomplished is a welcome breather in the middle of a bustling season.
Are you planning for 2026? Reach out to our team and see how we can help, and maybe even be part of the list of things you’re grateful for next year!
