Michael Cockburn, co-founder and CEO of venture-backed Desana joins Bold Founder Caleb Parker, to talk about how the Desana platform is supporting global corporates and scaleups as they transform into hybrid companies, while maintaining the human connection we need to thrive.

Michael talks about the changing nature of knowledge work and how management and work culture is evolving. He explains why enterprise companies are driving demand for flexible workspace, what the supply side of market needs to do differently, and why venture capital investors have backed his vision for the future of commercial real estate.

Connect with Michael Cockburn on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-cockburn-41316997/?originalSubdomain=uk

Connect with Caleb Parker on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebparker/

If you have any questions or feedback on this episode, email podcast@workbold.co

Value Bombs

The main problem you're trying to solve with office space is how you meet the needs of the people that work for you– Michael Cockburn

The office will be an important tool in the platform of work - but not the same way as it has been historically – Caleb Parker

Commercial real estate or office space in particular has its roots in people – Michael Cockburn

I believe in plus not versus – Caleb Parker

People talk a lot about how flexible workspace operators have got a lot to learn from hospitality, and they definitely do – Michael Cockburn

We're seeing a lot of companies moving to sharing models for desks within their own buildings – Michael Cockburn

The bigger the problem, the bigger the opportunity – Caleb Parker

Our two real focuses are enterprise and very high growth technology companies – Michael Cockburn

I can foresee there being a real need for flexible workspace as an amenity to every substantial asset – Michael Cockburn

A lot of companies since the pandemic have proven that they can give people more trust, more autonomy, and that they enjoy that trust and autonomy – Michael Cockburn

Those that don't embrace this move towards more data driven occupancy solutions, I think will be ultimately left behind – Michael Cockburn

Resources

Desana website

www.desana.io

Michaels LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-cockburn-41316997/?originalSubdomain=uk

How I Built This podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297

Masters of Scale podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/masters-of-scale-with-reid-hoffman/id1227971746

Akimbo: a podcast by Seth Godin

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/akimbo-a-podcast-from-seth-godin/id1345042626

About Michael Cockburn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-cockburn-41316997/?originalSubdomain=uk

Michael Cockburn is the CEO and co-founder of Desana. The Edinburgh based entrepreneur helps companies facilitate flexible working sustainably by giving them seamless access to high-quality workspaces through Desana. Desana is a flexible / hybrid workspace platform for global employers. Staff can choose to work from their employer’s own buildings or from Desana’s fast growing global network of workspace operators in 90 cities across 42 countries, and they give companies the ability to curate which spaces can be accessed by any member of staff. Michael co-founded the company with COO Steve Jeans back in 2016, and has gone on to raise nearly $5M in venture capital from a consortium of international investors including Accel, Techstart Ventures & BGF in the UK & Ireland, German-based Proptech1 Ventures, and Canadian-based GroundBreak Ventures.

Sponsors

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