Written by: Natalia Alvarez Rodriguez
Georgia Tech’s EcoCAR team, building team camaraderie foundation of our success. We recognize that a collaborative environment strengthens both our technical and non-technical subteams, ensuring that every member’s contributions are valued and understood. By fostering connections across disciplines, we build a unified team capable of tackling challenges with creativity and mutual respect.
Collaboration isn’t just a goal; it’s embedded in everything we do. Each subteam plays an active role in planning team-wide activities, from social events to interactive gatherings. While shop hours provide valuable work-focused interactions, we also prioritize opportunities for members to connect beyond the workshop. By creating spaces for personal connections, we cultivate a sense of belonging and shared investment in each other’s success.
One of our recent team-building highlights was PowerPoint Night—a lighthearted event where members presented on fun, unexpected topics. From deep dives into Spotify Wrapped playlists to ranking campus bathrooms based on foot traffic and cleanliness, and ranking the best cars in movies, the evening was filled with creativity and laughter. Some members added an extra twist by presenting slides they had never seen before—leading to hilarious results, like CAVs Lead Paul Barsa tackling mathematical fractals on the fly and Project Manager Eric Gustafson passionately defending New Jersey as the best U.S. state. Events like these remind us that a strong team isn’t just about technical expertise—it’s about trust, camaraderie, and shared experiences.
Building a strong community has lasting benefits. When team members feel connected and valued, they become more engaged, innovative, and committed to the team’s mission. This culture of collaboration leads to better problem-solving, stronger leadership, and a more fulfilling experience for everyone involved.
By creating an environment where every member feels empowered to contribute, connect, and grow, we ensure that our team remains not just a project, but a community.
