People-First Innovation Event Strengthens Skills, Collaboration and Belongings Across the Organization

At Calian, our employees are our most valuable resource. As a result, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels supported and empowered to contribute.  

In 2025, this commitment came to life with our first company-wide hackathon—an inclusive event where every employee could innovate, learn and be heard. 

Empowering Employees to Grow and Thrive

Today’s workforce expects more from their employers than just tools. They also want support, community and real opportunities to stretch their skills.  

For months, employees had frequently expressed a desire to better understand AI, collaborate beyond their own business units, and learn how to pitch ideas that could influence the future of our company. 

At the same time, many non-technical employees expressed that they weren’t sure how—or even if—they could meaningfully contribute to conversations about innovation and emerging technologies. 

In response, Calian announced it would hold a hackathon event for all interested employees, regardless of their technical background. 

A Collaborative, People-First Hackathon Experience

To set all participants up for success, Calian partnered with Microsoft to offer pre-event training. These sessions included hands-on learning with a focus on confidence-building, communication and developing ideas collaboratively. 

“We wanted to showcase the art of the possible—not just with AI, but with rapid development, creativity and innovation,” says Michael Muldner, Chief Information & Technology Officer. 

Then, over two days, employees worked individually or in teams to shape their hackathon ideas, ranging from productivity enhancements to creative AI applications.  

Teams were encouraged to be cross-functional, pairing business and technical employees together to spark new insights and help colleagues learn from one another. This approach made the hackathon uniquely inclusive.  

“Even Microsoft said how unusual it was to see technical and non-technical employees working side-by-side to develop solutions—but it worked out really well,” says Eric Norton, Director of Emerging Technologies.  

To add a fun and innovative touch, Calian introduced “Judge Dredd,” an AI-powered judge trained on our evaluation criteria. Judge Dredd scored the pitches alongside human judges, reinforcing that AI can support—not replace—human decision-making. 

In total, more than 20 pitches were presented. Winning entries addressed issues ranging from AI-powered contract compliance to enhanced proposal processes—and the top submission was selected for a “sprint” through the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab. 

Strengthened Skills, Deeper Connections, Real-World Impact

Throughout the hackathon, participants built cross-functional relationships, learned how different teams operate, and uncovered how their strengths contribute to Calian’s overall success.  

“This event really forced people to reach out and find what others do, what skills they have, and how they could assist with their ideas,” notes Norton. “It wasn’t just about technology—it was about networking, making connections and learning from one another.” 

Many teams bonded over the experience, and the competitive spirit—from bragging rights to prizes—added energy and excitement across the company. 

“For many, the hackathon was transformative,” says Muldner. “It redefined what’s possible and showed how innovation and AI can drive real change. People realized they can contribute in powerful ways—regardless of their role, experience or title.” 

Since the hackathon, other concepts have inspired internal projects, particularly around document automation and resume processing—showcasing how employee-driven ideas can ripple into meaningful operational improvements. 

Continuing to Invest in Our People

The enthusiasm following the hackathon has been overwhelming and has sparked many other subsequent hackathons. 

Their eagerness reflects the value of creating spaces where employees can learn, collaborate and expand their skills in ways that feel both safe and empowering—even when they don’t feel knowledgeable enough to do so comfortably. 

As Calian continues building a superior employee experience across the organization, events like the hackathon reinforce our people-first approach. Giving employees the tools, training and encouragement they need to flourish, we strengthen our resilience and shared ability to support clients and communities worldwide. 

But most importantly, the hackathon showed that when people feel included, supported and inspired, innovation happens naturally—and the possibilities become limitless. 

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