A Refresh for a Beloved Tradition

For Blueprint Medicines, a Sanofi company, the annual awards ceremony is more than a year-end tradition. It is one of the company’s most important cultural moments. A chance to recognize standout work, celebrate colleagues, and bring teams together from across the company and around the globe.

Year after year, the program’s predictable rhythm of host banter & awards had become all too familiar. Leadership knew this signature event had the potential to do more than simply recognize performance. But to make that happen, a refresh was required.

“After last year, that just started to feel a little bit tired,” said Helen Shanahan, Director, Compensation, Mobility & People Analytics. “We had to figure out a way to switch it up and make it more engaging.”

Rather than simply iterating on the same structure, Blueprint made a deliberate choice to elevate the experience. They invested in creativity. They invested in production. Most importantly, they invested in their people.

Designing an Awards Show People Actually Want to Attend

For the 2025 Awards Ceremony, the team intentionally moved away from traditional corporate formats, looking to award shows and live sports for inspiration. Events that already capture people’s attention.

The goal was simple: create something that felt fun, special, and worth showing up for.

“This is really an area where you can lean in for fun. It’s an internal event. It’s really meant to recognize and be fun,” said Helen.

What started as “crazy ideas” quickly became standout moments. When the celebrity lookalike slideshow segment was proposed, the Brand TV team suggested something bolder.

“They were like, ‘well, we can do you one better. What if we start to think about pulling in live shots from the audience?’” Helen explained.

The in-room experience was entirely transformed. A bespoke stage brought an elevated presence, as ambient light bathed the room in an inviting purple glow. Walking in, you felt like something special was about to happen.

Holding hybrid as equal priority, the virtual experience also got its own glow up. Visuals were refreshed. The event website was redesigned. Custom lower thirds and in-show graphics were introduced.

“People actually commented on the website. They said it was the best it’s ever looked. We never had that before.”

The result was a dynamic, unscripted experience that brought both in-room and remote employees into the moment together. 

“We wanted to feel like this is a big deal. The glitz and glam and the flowers. The presenters were in nicer outfits than what people typically wear in the office. It just made it feel a little bit more important, a little bit more elevated.”

A Partnership That Brings Ideas to Life

For Blueprint, Brand TV by Brandlive provided more than a platform.

From creative planning to on-site production, the Brand tV team operated as an extension of Blueprint’s own.

“They created an environment where it felt like a true partnership,” Helen shared.

With no formal background in event production, Blueprint leaned on Brand TV as guides. Together, they transformed early concepts into polished live moments.

From lighting design to camera placement to real-time audience shots, Brand TV handled the details that turn events into experiences.

“Things that I would never think about or even understand were taken care of,” Helen said. “So it made it feel very professional and fancy.”

Walking into the venue set the tone immediately.

“It literally felt like we were on a movie set.”

Engagement at Scale

Blueprint’s annual awards begin well before the ceremony itself, with a company-wide nomination period where employees submit peers for award categories. In 2025, it reached a new high.

“We had great participation. Actually the highest that we’ve ever had.”

That momentum carried directly into the live event. Of the 700 global employees at Blueprint, nearly all of them took part in the ceremony across in-person and virtual audiences.

“We probably had about 300 in the office that day. And online, probably another 300. That’s really unheard of. That’s great engagement.”

The 90-minute event kept energy high throughout. With engagement extending far beyond the physical room, remote employees actively participated through chat, GIFs, and interactive games.

“The chat during the whole event is just bouncing off. People are sending GIFs. We were able to incorporate audience participation through some of the games. To see the engagement and keep people involved was cool. Definitely a step up for us.”

What stood out most was how natural the hybrid experience felt. Remote employees were not passive viewers. They were part of the show. Smiles, laughter, and shared moments flowed across both physical and virtual spaces.

A True Partnership

For Helen and her team, Brand TV provided more than technology. They provided guidance.

“Max, who was our in-room producer, and Megan, who did a lot of the virtual stuff for us, created an environment where it felt like a true partnership. Almost like an extension of our team.”

With admittedly less experience in event production, Helen shared how grateful she was for the expertise & collaborative approach.

“They were like guides. Bringing the non-production perspective to life. And throughout the process, it felt like they really got what we were trying to do and share things that could take it to the next level.”

From lighting tests to live camera angles, Brand TV handled every detail.

The Takeaway

Instead of settling for the same format they’d always used, Blueprint chose to invest in the employee experience.

For their most meaningful cultural moment, they invited creativity and play. They didn’t just host a check-the-box event. They created a standout experience that brought the entire company together.

The result was their highest engagement to date and an awards ceremony that reinforced connection, value, and meaning.

Looking ahead, Blueprint plans to carry this elevated approach into future programs, building on what worked and continuing to evolve how employees come together.

As Helen puts it, “Our people are our secret sauce. Keeping people engaged and connected is really important to us.”