Workplace Innovator Podcast | Enhancing Your Employee Experience | Facility Management | CRE | Digital Workplace Technology

Kyle de Bruin is Managing Director at Leesman where he is passionate about measuring and analyzing the experiences of employees in their places of work. Mike Petrusky asks Kyle about how high-performance offices deliver a great employee experience and they review lessons learned from the past five years of workplace change. The lack of variety in office design is a significant challenge, as employees are staying at their desks due to the increased use of video calls and the need for private conversations. Kyle believes that the facility management and corporate real estate industry is data-rich but insights-poor, so he hopes AI advancements can help organize and analyze unstructured data. The value of real estate assets should not solely be measured by occupancy rates and workplace leaders need to focus on creating spaces where employees can focus and be productive, so Mike and Kyle offer the advice and inspiration you need to be a Workplace Innovator! Take the Eptura™ Podcast Survey: https://forms.office.com/r/jY577CbNcx Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyledebruin/ Learn more about Leesman: https://www.leesmanindex.com/ Read the “Lessons Learned” article Kyle referenced: https://www.leesmanindex.com/articles/redefining-the-workplace-why-employee-experience-matters/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://www.workplaceinnovator.com/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Michael Amos is Managing Director at Waste to Wonder Worldwide where he is passionate about managing office clearances that empower disadvantaged communities. Mike Petrusky asks Michael about his recent learning lab presentations during IFMA’s Facility Fusion where he shared that organizations should consider social enterprises when making procurement decisions to maximize social impact. The ethical reuse of office equipment can have a profound generational impact on disadvantaged communities and sustainability in the workplace is a core competency for facility management professionals, so this approach can enhance the ROI of your commercial spend by delivering positive social outcomes. Mike and Michael discuss the concept of a "spherical economy" which emphasizes the holistic view of the lifecycle of materials and products as the offer the inspiration you need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Take the Eptura™ Podcast Survey: https://forms.office.com/r/jY577CbNcx Connect with Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wastetowonderworldwide/ Learn more about Waste to Wonder Worldwide: https://www.wastetowonder.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://www.workplaceinnovator.com/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Lily Pritchett is Regional Sales Manager at Humanscale and Past President of the IFMA Houston Chapter where she is passionate about consulting with organizations to create experiences that spur creativity and drive innovation with purposeful space design. Mike Petrusky asks Lily about their time together at IFMA’s Facility Fusion conference in Austin where industry partners and FM professionals connected to focus on leadership and caring for the built environment. There is a significant shift in corporate real estate towards flexible spaces, reflecting changes in how people use offices, so the role of facility managers is expanding, requiring a more holistic approach to ergonomics and accessibility. Lily believes that mentoring the next generation of FMs should be a priority for the industry, sustainability is critical, and technology should be leveraged to understand space and align with our goals for the future workplace, so Mike and Lily share practical advice and the inspiration that you will need to be a Workplace Innovator! Take the Eptura™ Podcast Survey: https://forms.office.com/r/jY577CbNcx Connect with Lily on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilypritchett/ Learn more about Humanscale: https://www.humanscale.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://www.workplaceinnovator.com/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Daniel Castner, AIA, LEED AP is Principal and Director of the Life Science practice at Mancini Duffy where he is passionate about workplace strategy with a focus on research labs, medical space, and anything requiring a helpful orchestrator of AEC coordination. Mike Petrusky asks Dan about his experiences helping the IFMA community, the importance of client relationships and the use of technology in workplace strategy. They explore design trends and emphasize the core elements of flexibility and being intentional when delivering spaces that meet the needs of the workforce. Dan believes that change management has evolved to focus more on the employee experience and wellbeing, rather than just specific projects, so using sensors and analytics can help leaders understand human priorities. Dan’s unique experience in life science workplaces have led him to focus on building a culture of collaboration and innovation, so he shares some encouragement, practical advice and the inspiration you will need to be a Workplace Innovator! Take the Eptura™ Podcast Survey: https://forms.office.com/r/jY577CbNcx Connect with Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielcastner/ Learn more about Mancini Duffy: https://www.manciniduffy.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://www.workplaceinnovator.com/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Sabrina Pagani is Principal and Interiors Practice Leader at AECOM where she is passionate about helping clients create impactful environments in which to live, learn, work, and play. Mike Petrusky asks Sabrina about the importance of trust and giving people freedom and clear objectives when creating thriving environments. They explore how facility management leaders must cut through the noise and focus on the essential aspects of human behavior and needs when designing spaces. Sabrina believes that the physical environment is crucial for human connection, but it must be integrated with policies, procedures, and behaviors to enhance its effectiveness. She shares how neuroscience and data are beginning to inform design practices, helping to understand how the environment affects human emotions and behaviors. In an AI-driven world, maintaining human skills such as critical thinking, trust, and care is essential for thriving, so Mike and Sabrina offer the encouragement and advice you need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Take the Eptura™ Podcast Survey: https://forms.office.com/r/jY577CbNcx Connect with Sabrina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrina-pagani-interiors/ Learn more about AECOM: https://aecom.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://www.workplaceinnovator.com/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Porschia Parker-Griffin, MS, PCC is Founder and CEO at Fly High Coaching where she is an organizational consultant, career services and strategy leader, and Host of the “Career 101 Podcast”. Mike Petrusky asks Porschia about how the physical workspace impacts company culture and employee engagement, while leading to collaboration, innovation and better business outcomes. They explore the marketplace today where organizational change, including reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions are all significant challenges for companies. Employee engagement is at its lowest point globally since the start of the pandemic, so leaders must bridge generational differences to deliver results while recognizing people want to feel valued and make a difference. Porschia believes that being innovative today involves continuous learning and adapting to new ideas, technologies, and insights to improve processes, so she and Mike encourage listeners to make incremental changes over time that can lead to better outcomes, as they inspire you to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with Porschia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/porschiaparker/ Learn more about Fly High Coaching: https://www.fly-highcoaching.com/ Listen to Mike on the Career 101 Podcast: https://www.fly-highcoaching.com/innovation-in-the-workplace/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://www.workplaceinnovator.com/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Jess Baker is a Chartered Psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and Author of the book, “The Super-Helper Syndrome: A Survival Guide for Compassionate People” which is for anyone who wants to understand how helping works and to be better at it. Mike Petrusky asks Jess why she believes that empathy in the workplace is often misunderstood, and she shares the difference between cognitive empathy and emotional empathy. She explains that compassionate leadership involves both empathy and taking action to relieve the suffering of others, which leads to better team performance and a more inclusive environment. Jess says that change management in the workplace should involve asking employees about their needs and how they would design their workspaces to optimize their well-being and productivity, but advises we ask more questions since the first answer may not always reveal the true needs or feelings of individuals. Mike and Jess share inspiration and encouragement as you seek to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with Jess on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessbakerpsych/ Buy the book “The Super-Helper Syndrome”: https://www.amazon.com/Super-Helper-Syndrome-Survival-Compassionate-People/dp/0750998865 Explore Empathy-Powered Leaders - a unique development journey: https://jessbaker.co.uk/empathy-powered-leadership/ Take a Free Quiz about Dynamic Helper Archetypes: https://jess-baker.involve.me/helper-quiz Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://www.workplaceinnovator.com/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Adam Stoltz is a corporate real estate and workplace leader with a focus on strategy, operations, and workplace experience and he is Cofounder at The Idea Kitchen, a shared workspace in the heart of Larchmont, NY. Mike Petrusky asks Adam about his career journey and his current focus on understanding the evolving workplace and how leaders can meet the needs of professionals today. They discuss how businesses must foster a culture of continuous improvement and adaptation while providing flexibility in their operations as they explore the challenges of delivering dynamic workspaces. Adam believes that empowering a diverse talent pool with different skill sets will be essential for the future of the built environment, so he suggests looking beyond traditional industry boundaries to find people that can drive innovation. Mike and Adam share stories from their community of FM and CRE leaders and offer some practical advice as they seek to inspire you to be a Workplace Innovator! Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abstoltz/ Learn more about The Idea Kitchen: https://ideakitchenlarchmont.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://www.workplaceinnovator.com/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Silvija Martincevic is CEO of Deputy, a global workforce management platform, where she is passionate about creating a culture that expects high performance, but also one where high care and the importance of open and respectful communication is prioritized. Mike Petrusky asks Silvija about her years of experience building, growing and scaling global businesses, including Affirm and Groupon, and her current views of Gen Z and the expectations of frontline workers today. They explore flexibility as a strategy for long-term business success, improving employee sentiment, engagement, and retention. Silvija sees a significant generational shift in work preferences and believes that Gen Z workers prefer micro shifts (4 to 6 hours) for better work-life balance, making traditional 9-to-5 shifts less appealing. Technology and tools that promote recognition and communication can enhance the dignity and satisfaction of frontline workers. Mike and Silvija agree that the future of work requires innovative approaches to care for our people and the built environment, so they share practical advice and encouragement to inspire you to be a Workplace Innovator! Connect with Silvija on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silvija-martincevic/ Learn more about Deputy: https://www.deputy.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://www.workplaceinnovator.com/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Kelly Duff is Employee Experience Manager at Sentinel Technologies where she is passionate about creating meaningful and engaging workplace experiences that foster growth, community, and purpose. Mike Petrusky asks Kelly for an update on her career journey and they explore how her role has expanded to include a variety of responsibilities such as building community, recognizing employees, and planning social events. Mike and Kelly agree that the pandemic dramatically changed the concept of workplace experience, shifting the focus from physical office amenities to remote and hybrid work models, while simultaneously making human connection and physical spaces essential. So Kelly shares strategies for identifying opportunities, addressing pain points and team-building activities that focus on employee well-being. The future of work is about adapting to change, staying curious, and being human-centered, so Mike and Kelly offer inspiration to help you be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyjourdanduff/ Learn more about Sentinel Technologies: https://www.sentinel.com/ Explore Kelly’s personal website: http://kellyduffwrites.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://www.workplaceinnovator.com/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/