Corporate Team Building that shifts behaviour – not just morale

The Lost Civilisation of The Olmec™

Where Results and Culture Collide — Behaviour Reveals Everything

An unforgettable team challenge blending values, culture, collaboration and performance under pressure.

Immersive team experience where results and relationships shape real workplace behaviour.

Workshop Overview

The Lost Civilisation of The Olmec™ is a dynamic, immersive team-building workshop designed to develop powerful skills in conflict resolution and team connectivity, in high-pressure environments.

Set in an ancient temple buried deep in the South American jungle, participants form small tribes to take on a high-stakes challenge where collaboration, negotiation, and values-based decision-making are essential.


Not your standard workshop on building team cohesion, participants must work within and across teams to succeed, balancing bottom-line results with a deep commitment to shared values.

If your goal is a team that chases exceptional outcomes while also building trust, giving real feedback and leading at every level, The Lost Civilisation of the Olmec™ turns those ambitions into everyday practice.

The Experience

Delegates arrive expecting your run-of-the-mill workshop, but instead, they’re transported into an ancient Olmec temple. Greeted by the Inspiradora, tribal leaders who have already passed The Test of the Olmec, each participant is assigned a tribal glyph and joins their tribe. 

Atmosphere matters. Mysterious objects, subdued lighting, and tribal music create an immersive environment. The mission is simple in words, but challenging in practice:

  • Achieve exceptional financial results.
  • Uphold Amas – the core values of the Olmec.
  • Demonstrate behaviours worthy of becoming Inspiradora.


Tribes must negotiate, trade, barter, and manage complex interpersonal dynamics. Success depends on their ability to work as a team through internal and external conflict, under time pressure and shifting priorities.

Making It Count: The Debrief

This is where the true transformation happens.

During the debrief, tribes receive targeted feedback on how they performed both financially and behaviourally. 

Discussions link their performance back to real workplace dynamics:

  • How did competition affect collaboration?
  • Where did conflict arise, and how was it handled?
  • Which values were upheld or sacrificed in pursuit of results?


We explore how participants showed up, under pressure, within teams, and across them – and unpack what that says about their day-to-day approach to conflict and cooperation.

Key Outcomes: Team Building for Better Results

This is the ideal team building activity if you want an engaging and dynamic experience that develops the awareness, skills and mindsets to achieve exceptional and sustainable results by working effectively with others. 

Participants leave The Lost Civilisation of the Olmec™ having internalised key skills for values based high performance:

  • Optimising both performance and values.
  • Conflict management under pressure.
  • Intergroup collaboration.
  • Values based decision-making in high intensity environments.
  • Break down silos, build a team of teams
  • Active listening and perspective taking.
  • Negotiation and compromise strategies.

    T
    he learning outcomes map directly to real-world team challenges, making this experience ideal for any organisation seeking to build more adaptive, resilient teams.

Who is this Workshop for?

  • Managers planning their next team day, off-site or event, and wanting it to be memorable, high-energy and genuinely worthwhile.
  • Conference and event organisers searching for a standout experience that delivers the wow factor and real learning for their client.
  • Leadership teams ready to bring their event to life while unlocking the behaviours that build high-performing cultures.
  • Organisations tired of forgettable team days, and ready for an experience people actually talk about afterwards.

Just bring your people – we’ll bring the experience that transforms your event into something unforgettable.

The Logistics:

Time: 3.5 to 4.5 hours including a short break. To get value from the debrief, we recommend a minimum of 3.75 hours. 

Group size: Olmec can be run for any group size of nine or more, although a minimum of 18 is ideal. The activity is scalable and there is no maximum number – it can be run for 1000 participants or more.

Format: Indoor or flexible space setup; facilitator-led with all materials provided

Testimonials

Real Stories From Our Clients

"Our team walked in expecting another ‘fun activity’ — they walked out more connected, aligned, and energised. Experiential Edge managed to make it meaningful and memorable. We’re still talking about it months later."

Amelia R. Client

"We needed something that stood out at our conference — not just another speaker. Experiential Edge delivered an activation that sparked conversation, connection, and a serious mindset shift."

Dean T. Client

"Hands down the most engaging team building session we’ve ever done. It wasn’t just a workshop — it was a turning point in how we communicate and lead. The mix of insight, interaction, and real-world relevance was spot on."

Roschelle G. Client

“We were looking for conference team building activities that actually added value — not just filled time. Experiential Edge nailed the balance between fun, insight, and genuine connection.”

Rohit S. Client

Trusted Rate

Satisfied clients and we are always consistent in our service
0 %

“Relaxed and engaging tone"

We recently had the pleasure of having Experiential Edge join us for our Managers’ meeting. The day began with a brilliant activity which set a relaxed and engaging tone right from the start. This activity encouraged everyone to be open and ready to learn. We thoroughly enjoyed the friendly competition it created, and it was a fantastic way to bring the group together.

Jo P

Client

“This One Delivered What Others Didn’t”

We’ve done a lot of corporate team building workshops in the past, but none have had the lasting impact of this one. It was sharp, well-facilitated, and completely aligned with our goals.

Mei Z.

Client

“Not just another team building workshop”

If you’re looking for team building activities for corporates that actually move the needle, Experiential Edge is the one. Our team left more connected, energised, and ready to take on the next big challenge.

Priya K.

Client

“A Session That Understood Government Needs."

We needed something tailored for our team in government — not just off-the-shelf content. Experiential Edge delivered a session that respected our context and gave us tools we could actually use.

Marcus T.

Client

“Making uncomfortable, feel comfortable”

Simon and Kirralea take the time to put you in situations that aren’t always comfortable – and that’s the whole point. You’re not paying to be comfortable; you’re paying to be developed. They know growth happens outside your comfort zone- but somehow, they still make being uncomfortable, feel comfortable.
Would highly recommend.

Nathan H

Client

“A game-changer for our team”

Simon and Kirralea brought fresh energy and real insight into how we lead, collaborate, and build culture. Their workshops went beyond theory — they created space for real conversations and practical change, tailored to the realities of working in government. I’d give them 6 stars 🌟 if I could!

Ben M

Client

FAQs

About Olmec

A full experiential program with facilitator-led brief, immersive team-based activity, and structured debrief. For more information on what you’ll experience, give our team a call. 

Yes, we deliver on-site or at your chosen venue. All materials are brought by our team, so all you need to do is arrive on the day with an open mind and readiness to transform.

It's perfect for the team to attend together - have a shared experience and learn skills that promote performance and cohesiveness back in the workplace.

They don’t have to, but some clients decide to make it part of their event and build on the immersive experience that is The Lost Civilisation of the Olmec!

While many high-performance culture programs reward enthusiasm, Olmec focuses on alignment - across values, behaviours, and a shared sense of purpose. Teams aren’t just taking part; they’re making real decisions that reflect how they actually operate at work. That’s what gives the experience lasting impact.

It’s not something you can bluff your way through. It acts as a mirror, revealing how a team truly functions, and what it looks like when everything clicks into place. Our workshops are built entirely around activity-based learning - engaging, energising and, most importantly, built to deliver lasting change, so don’t expect to be sitting at a table all day looking at slides!

The Lost Civilisation of the Olmec is just one of the immersive, activity-based conference team building activities we offer throughout Australia. No two teams are the same, so no two experiences deliver the same outcome. From lifting performance and embedding culture, to sharpening communication and re-aligning teams around a common purpose - we have an activity designed to get you the result you need.

  • Archipelago - All At Sea is a powerful workplace culture activity built around navigating change and helping teams not just adapt, but thrive.
  • CollaborART is a big picture team building activity that brings entire teams together around one shared creative outcome — quite literally on the same canvas.
  • Lasseter's Reef is a fast-paced corporate team building activity that puts strategic thinking, collaboration and decision-making to the test in a high-energy, competitive setting.
  • Through the Window is a focused team communication skills activity that builds real feedback capability through practical, insight-driven learning in a safe and supportive environment.

While we do recommend booking as early as possible - particularly for larger groups -  we have delivered this program at short notice before. If your event is coming up in the near future, get in touch and we’ll let you know what’s possible.

While participants enjoy the experience of being immersed in a high-stakes challenge set within an ‘ancient South American temple’, this isn’t just about having fun. Every element is designed to reflect the realities of the workplace, with challenges that mirror day-to-day pressures and dynamics.

The real value comes in the debrief. This is where everything connects - exploring how individuals showed up under pressure, how they worked within and across teams, and what those behaviours reveal about their approach to collaboration and conflict back at work.