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

Daniel Grilli is General Manager for Australasia at VECOS where he is passionate about using adaptive workplace technology to deliver operational strategy initiatives. Mike Petrusky asks Daniel why he believes that true innovation involves rapid learning from failure and requires organizations to be agile, experiment, and adapt quickly. They explore how design and management of workplaces are shifting from assumption-based to evidence-based, using real data about how spaces and amenities are actually used. Daniel says that adaptive technology should serve the people in the workplace, making experiences seamless and frictionless while integration and interoperability between workplace technologies are essential to overcome legacy system silos and unlock greater efficiency. The future of smart workplaces lies in their ability to adapt rather than simply being technologically advanced, so Mike and Daniel offer the encouragement and inspiration you will need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-grilli-3359b834/ Learn more about VECOS: https://www.vecos.com/en/ Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSkmmkVFvM4H3pwnlU2AuqynuRDpvnh4J Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/workplace-innovator/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/

David George is CEO & Founder at CRUX Workplace where he builds on his decades of experience in workplace design, facilities management, real estate management and strategy to help clients co-create high performing, flexible workplace designs that enable people to do their best work. Mike Petrusky asks David why he believes that workplace strategists must be involved from the outset to understand business processes and create effective briefs for architects and designers, while innovation is centered on enabling people to perform their best and feel joy and connection at work. Engaging employees early in the design process leads to higher acceptance and ownership of the change, and David says successful change management relies on three pillars: employee engagement, clear communication, and sponsorship from leaders within the core business. He suggests creating a steering committee including CRE, IT, HR, and FM to drive workplace projects and says organizations must move beyond traditional office designs conceived decades ago and embrace new ways of work aligned with how people work today. Tune in to hear Mike and David share practical advice and the inspiration you will need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidgeorge1/ Learn more about CRUX Workplace: https://www.crux-workplace.com/ Join the Workplace Evolutionaries community: https://we.ifma.org/ Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSkmmkVFvM4H3pwnlU2AuqynuRDpvnh4J Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/workplace-innovator/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/

Lisa Copland is Managing Director and Founder at Presynct, an Australian consultancy that helps organizations with workplace strategy, transition, and portfolio decision‑making. Mike Petrusky asks Lisa why she believes that successful workplace transformation involves aligning business strategy, workplace experience, spatial design, technology, and change management as interconnected elements. They explore how workplace design and portfolio decisions are most effective when integrated with an understanding of how people work and broader organizational goals. Lisa says that innovative workplace solutions often come from diverse perspectives and a willingness to challenge industry norms, so she encourages technology integration and using AI to dynamically optimize space allocation by grouping teams based on actual attendance and work patterns, moving away from static floor plans. Optimizing existing space usage via technology and behavioral change can be a valuable step before committing to changes in property portfolios, so Mike and Lisa offer the practical advice and inspiration you will need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-copland-99601312/ Read the article discussed called "Reframing the Workplace: How strategy, technology, and human behavior are coming back into sync": https://eptura.com/discover-more/blog/reframing-the-workplace/ Learn more about Presynct: https://presynct.com.au/ Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSkmmkVFvM4H3pwnlU2AuqynuRDpvnh4J Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/workplace-innovator/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/

Helia Taheri, Ph.D., Assoc. AIA, EDAC is an Associate and the Research & Insights Lead at Arcadis where she is passionate about shining a light on the silent yet powerful impacts of buildings, neighborhoods, and cities on our connections, health, and behaviors. Mike Petrusky asks Helia about her research and experiences promoting human-centered design with a focus on the whole person's physical, mental, and social health in the workplace. Helia says that curiosity and intellectual humility fuel innovation, with openness to being wrong and learning from failure as essential components of her research and design strategies. She shares about neuroarchitecture, which is a blend of neuroscience and architecture, as a way to measure how design affects both our brain health and human behavior. Mike and Helia agree that "if you don't measure, you can't manage or improve", so they explore practical methods to help you enhance the effectiveness of the built environment and offer the encouragement and inspiration you will need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with Helia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heliataheri/ Learn more about Arcadis: https://www.arcadis.com/ Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSkmmkVFvM4H3pwnlU2AuqynuRDpvnh4J Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/workplace-innovator/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/

Sophie Wade is a work transformation strategist, workforce innovator and well-known authority on the future of work. She is Founder of Flexcel Network where she advises executive leaders on human-centric, AI-driven change while also hosting her own show, the Transforming Work Podcast. Mike Petrusky asks Sophie about her latest book, "Empathy Works: The Key to Competitive Advantage in the New Era of Work", and why she believes we need a more holistic approach to workplace innovation, considering the human element and the psychology of collaboration. They explore the importance of integrating different departments such as facilities management, HR, and IT to create a cohesive work environment and discuss the role of technology and AI in shaping the future of work. FM leaders must embrace empathy and understanding in our distributed and hybrid work environments, so Mike and Sophie share stories about collaboration, music, and next generation connections as they encourage and inspire you to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with Sophie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-sophie-wade/ Learn more about Sophie's work: https://www.sophiewade.com/ Subscribe to The Work in Progress Report: https://theworkinprogressreport.substack.com/ Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSkmmkVFvM4H3pwnlU2AuqynuRDpvnh4J Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/workplace-innovator/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/

Rex Miller is a keynote speaker, futurist, and executive coach who helps leaders and organizations unlock the hidden genius that lies just beneath the surface, often trapped by outdated systems, fear, or inertia. He is author of the book, "Genius Spark: Reignite Your Life" and Mike Petrusky references insights learned from Rex over the years as they discuss the challenges of remote and hybrid work today. They explore how workplace leaders should embrace differences and friction in their teams as they seek to drive innovation and improve employee engagement. Rex believes that curiosity and understanding are essential for effective collaboration and he shares practical tips for leaders hoping to move their organizations forward in our new world of work. Embracing a move from "think tank" to "do tank" is the call to action as Mike and Rex offer the insights and inspiration you need to be a Workplace Innovator! Connect with Rex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rexmiller/ Learn more about Genius Spark: https://rexmiller.com/genius-spark Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/workplace-innovator/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/

Vik Bangia, MCR is CEO of Verum Consulting and Verum's OutsourceUSA where he is a CRE and FM outsourcing advisor, workplace strategist, and author of the book "Tales from an Accidental Corporate Real Estate Leader". Mike Petrusky and Vik reflect on their time together at IFMA's World Workplace in Minneapolis and look forward to a new year with great challenges and opportunities on the horizon. They explore the need for facility management leaders to understand how AI can help them think more strategically with the potential for AI to take over mundane and routine tasks in the built environment. Vik shares his career journey in corporate real estate and encourages listeners to become aware of AI's capabilities and embrace new tools and opportunities in the industry. The role of outsourcing relationships and service providers in leveraging AI is essential, so Mike and Vik offer real world examples and the inspiration you will need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with Vik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vik-bangia-mcr-0b54522/ Learn more about Verum Consulting: https://verumconsulting.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/workplace-innovator/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/ Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSkmmkVFvM4H3pwnlU2AuqynuRDpvnh4J

Bryan Berthold is a Global Workplace Experience Leader at Cushman & Wakefield where he is passionate about helping organizations quantify and elevate people, place, and performance. Mike Petrusky asks Bryan about the latest report from Cushman & Wakefield called "Reimagining Workplaces: Why Efforts Fall Short—and How to Get It Right" where he shares why the workplace experience is not just about real estate, but also involves HR, IT, and other stakeholders. Bryan says that only 47% of organizations have a focus on workplace experience, and less than 1% treat it as a business priority, so CRE and FM leaders have an opportunity to move the needle in this area. People come to the office primarily to collaborate and connect with others, so mandates alone are not effective in improving workplace experience, but a focus on clear communication, listening, and investment in technology is essential. Mike and Bryan share about C&W's "Experience per Square Foot" model for measuring and improving the workplace experience as they offer the encouragement and inspiration you need to be a Workplace Innovator in 2026! Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanberthold/ Learn more about C&W: https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en Download the "Reimagining Workplaces" report: https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/insights/reimagining-workplaces Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/workplace-innovator/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/ Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSkmmkVFvM4H3pwnlU2AuqynuRDpvnh4J