An Unprecedented Role in Corporate Healing

In the aftermath of 2020, a corporate team based in Philadelphia at one of the nation’s largest financial services companies called on me for a much different team experience than I, or they, had been used to.

For over a year, I had been leading this corporate team in a monthly virtual “Happy Hour” experience designed to promote camaraderie, fun, and good old-fashioned hope during those “unprecedented times” we all remember too well. Each month, I worked with key team members to organize a customized virtual game show experience for their team of 65+ to join in and play from the office or their homes. We battled it out with games like Name That Tune, Pictionary, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, home scavenger hunts, and even costume competitions. It was a chance to laugh, connect, and temporarily forget the isolation and challenges of the world outside.

However, one month, everything changed.

A beloved team member had passed away unexpectedly. The team wanted to honor his life, memory, and contributions in a way that reflected his impact and spirit. Instead of our usual game night, I was asked to host something far different—a virtual remembrance ceremony.

I’m a versatile guy, but this was a weighty request. Was I literally being asked to preside over a corporate virtual…funeral of sorts? The thought alone was daunting, but I knew this team needed support. I took the responsibility seriously, working with key members to navigate the delicate balance of promoting attendance, honoring their colleague, and ensuring that the experience was respectful and heartfelt.

We reached out to his family, referenced the obituary, gathered media, and carefully customized the elements of the event. The remembrance program took shape with:

• • A biographical reading highlighting his life and career.
  • Four team-led (and impromptu) eulogies.
  • A personal silent reflection accompanied by his favorite music.
  • A fun video capturing his laughter and joy at their last in-person team picnic.
  • A digital card-signing experience for colleagues to share their condolences.
  • Invitations for contributing to a legacy initiative his family had created.
  • A custom poem I wrote, weaving together the moments and memories we had collected, all to cherish a man I had never personally met—but now, deeply respected.

The virtual room was filled with emotions—many tears, but also moments of laughter as they remembered the joy and light he had brought to their lives. I facilitated the program with empathy, ensuring the flow remained smooth and that everyone had the space they needed to grieve, reflect, and celebrate his life.

Being honest, I wasn’t sure how folks felt after our hour together. But when both of the internal organizers texted me personally afterward to express their gratitude, saying they felt at peace and satisfied that we had honored him appropriately, I took a moment to reflect. My role as a host had never carried such emotional weight, and yet, in that moment, I understood the true power of my craft.

Sometimes, being an emcee isn’t just about engaging a crowd or keeping the energy high. Sometimes, it’s about holding space for people to feel, to connect, and to heal. And in this case, it was an “unprecedented” solution for an unprecedented time.