Hola Hola Amigos,
In this first of my US trails, I sit down with Luis Morejon, Head of Global Workplace Operations at UBER.
By the time you’ve visited three of Uber’s offices across three continents, one thing becomes clear: someone is thinking deeply about how we show up to work-and why we bother coming in at all!
That someone is Luis Morejon. He drives workplace operations across 68 countries where Uber has offices. You’d expect a role like that to be all floorplans and facilities. But when Luis talks about the workplace, it’s not just about square feet. It’s all about movement, behavior, meaning, and purpose.
“The most important perk in the office is the human being,” he says. “You come to see your colleagues. That’s the reason you’re there.”
In this episode , I listened to Luis explain what makes Uber’s spaces work and how Uber uses both design and culture to keep teams engaged. The conversation moves from lattes to logistics, but the focus stays on people.
Uber’s CEO Khosrowshahi recently said:
"While remote work has some benefits, being in the office fuels collaboration, sparks creativity, and increases velocity."
10 Takeaways from this conversation:
1. Office spaces are being redesigned with a long horizon in mind
“We’re designing our offices not only for tomorrow. The decisions we make today need to support the coming years as well.”
Luis and his team are rethinking Uber’s workplace guidelines. They gather insights from employees and leaders to shape the environments they manage.
2. Workplace design depends on understanding daily behavior
“What you do shapes the space you need. That can change throughout the day.”
Luis describes a layered approach to planning. Meeting rooms, quiet zones, and social areas all exist to serve specific tasks.
3. Teams return to offices because they feel motivated to do so
“We don’t push people into the office. They show up because of what they’re building together.”
He sees high attendance in Uber locations like San Francisco and Amsterdam. Offices there are busy on Fridays, which is rare in other companies.
4. Design teams consider local customs and cultural preferences
“In India, we lean into chai. In San Francisco, we have a barista. In New York, espresso machines. The goal is to reflect each place.”
The physical elements of an office can help employees feel at home, wherever they are.
5. Workplace equity begins with access to quality space
“Some people have a home office. Others don’t. That’s why we create environments that work for everyone.”
Luis sees office spaces as a shared resource that gives all employees the same tools and conditions for focused work.
6. Workplace planning includes a wide range of personal preferences
“People respond differently to sound, light, temperature. That’s especially clear in teams with global backgrounds.”
From neurodiversity to cultural norms, design must support more than one kind of person.
7. AI plays a growing role in workplace operations
“We’ve started using AI to track how spaces are used—cafeterias, desks, meeting rooms. It helps us respond faster.”
Luis is piloting AI tools to measure occupancy, improve layout decisions, and make daily operations smoother.
8. The shift toward hybrid working began well before the pandemic
“I stopped using a private office around 2005. Things have been changing since then.”
Luis views COVID as an accelerator rather than the origin of flexible work trends.
9. Collaboration tools work best in physical space
“You can have a screen and a good Wi-Fi connection at home. But many things still happen faster when people are together.”
Luis sees the office as a hub for energy, mentoring, and spontaneous problem-solving.
10. The future workplace combines human connection with smart design
“We’re building around the idea that people and technology will share the office. Both will need room to thrive.”
He believes that workplace design will need to keep pace with both AI and the evolving needs of employees.
Luis brings decades of global experience to every decision he makes about office design. His perspective is grounded in practice, shaped by years of travel, and supported by the feedback of thousands of employees across the world. In a time when many companies still debate the role of the office, Luis and his team continue to shape it with care and clarity.
“I want to create spaces where people can do their best work. That’s the whole point.”
The best thing about this conversation was how clear it felt. No buzzwords. No wishful thinking. Just a steady voice explaining how space, people, and intention need to move together.
Luis Morejon understands offices. But more importantly, he understands people. And in a world that keeps changing how we work, that feels like the kind of compass we still need.
Take a listen to this podcast episode & show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also to take a listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.
You can also connect with us on LinkedIn:
* Luis Morejon : https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-morejon-mcr-03b99a6/
* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/
Muchas gracias, Ram
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