FIKA Friday At the Office

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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Hello Friends,

In the last of my Nordic trails across Stockholm & Copenhagen, I sat down with Anne Sofie Fedders, Partner & Licensed Business Psychologist at Kløgt, for a powerful conversation about Leadership, Workplace Culture, and why Well-being is more than a buzzword.

Anne Sofie brings sharp insights from her time at LEGO, Deloitte, and now her own practice-where she helps leaders make wiser decisions for their people and themselves.

“We all need to feel competent. We all need to feel we belong. And we all need autonomy.”

We talked about:

✅ The invisible toll of unstructured hybrid work

✅ Proximity bias and team trust

✅ Why leaders must take their own medicine when it comes to well-being

“You can’t demand culture. It’s created by how people show up and support each other.”

From new ways of working to what leaders get wrong about culture and wellness, this episode covers the stuff that actually shapes how people feel at work.

🎧 Tune in for a conversation full of warmth, hygge (pronounced hue-gah), clarity, and straight talk.

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:

* Anne Sofie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annesofiefedders/

* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/

Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Tak! Ram

https://www.mapiq.com/

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Hello Friends,

Continuing my Nordic trails, I’m pleased to bring you yet another fascinating episode of ‘‘FIKA Friday At the Office’’ from Denmark. In this episode, I catch up with Claus Sneppen, Associate Partner, Author & Futurist - Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies after doing a long bike ride and a longer fika.

During our conversation, Claus spoke about Work, Trust, AI, Coffee badging, and what comes next when everything familiar begins to shift.

"You have to separate what is likely from what you would like," Claus said early in the conversation. "Most people don’t, and that’s a problem."

He knows offices, not from a single desk, but from years of watching work evolve across borders, companies, and technologies. His new book, The Future (R)Evolution of the Office Workspace, maps out where we're heading and why most businesses are not ready for it.

Here are ten takeaways from the episode, each rooted in the kind of examples that turn big ideas into clear actions.

10 Takeaways from the Conversation

1. Presence isn’t engagement

2. Shorter workweeks are more than just talk

3. The digital workplace is real, and it works

4. The current office model is losing relevance

5. We want flexibility, but we build systems that block it

6. Trust replaces visibility

7. Real engagement comes from relationships, not routines

8. AI is the disruption we can’t yet measure

9. Revolutions don’t give warnings

10. Most modern offices will be outdated within a few years

Claus doesn’t speak in hype. He observes, questions, and explains. This conversation on Fika Friday at the Office is a wake-up call for anyone still treating hybrid as a phase. The revolution isn’t ahead of us. It’s already begun.

Take a listen of 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.

Tak!

Ram

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Hello Friends,

Welcome back to yet another episode of ‘‘FIKA Friday At the Office’’. In this episode, I catch up with the FIKA OG (short for Original - Gen Z lingo): Henrik Jarleskog, Head of Future of Work, Sodexo Europe based out of Stockholm, Sweden.

Henrik brings a unique perspective to workplace transformation. His journey has taken him from playing ice hockey in Sweden to leadership roles across Nordic countries, including strategy positions that ultimately led to his current focus on the evolving workplace landscape. With his background spanning line management, consulting, and now future of work strategy, Henrik offers valuable insights into how companies are adapting to post-pandemic realities.

The Fika Culture and Workplace Connection:

I explore the Swedish concept of "Fika" (coffee breaks) with Henrik and how it relates to modern workplace dynamics. Henrik explains that Fika is about more than just coffee—it's about meaningful face-to-face connections:

"I'm a strong believer in the Fika culture where you actually meet up face to face. You break some bread or some smaller cookies and you have a coffee to it. You do it every now and then when you want to and when you need to... I think it's a beautiful thing because it is really strengthening both the weak and strong ties that you have with people around you."

Golden nuggets from Henrik:

1. Meeting colleagues remains the top driver of workplace happiness - "Still in the absolute top of workplace happiness is to meet your peers and your workplace friends that you build relationships over time."

2. Flexible work is becoming a performance driver - "I made a pretty bold statement a few weeks ago where I said that 2025 will be the year when flexible work becomes a performance driver."

3. Top-performing companies tend to be hybrid - "The Fortune 500 companies in Europe in October 2024, if you look at the top ten from a stock performance perspective at the time were 100% hybrid companies."

4. Team-based work agreements are the logical next step - "One size fits all decisions regarding where and when to work doesn't make sense anymore. Leadership of groups or teams, they will sit down with their teams to figure out what's the best way we can work."

5. Workplace strategies should connect to company purpose - "When you sit down and you really try to update or redesign your workplace strategy or your future work strategy, connect that strategy to the purpose of the company."

Take a listen of this podcast episode for practical insights on evolving Hybrid Work world & more.

Show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends to take a listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.

Tack så mycket (Thanks so much)

Ram

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Hello Friends,

Welcome back to FIKA Friday At the Office. In this episode, I catch up with Sabine Spoelstra, Global Program Manager - Workplace and Real Estate at Adyen, Fintech giant from The Netherlands.

In this insightful conversation, Sabine shares her perspectives on creating localized workplace experiences across different cultures while maintaining Adyen's distinctive identity. She discusses how the pandemic accelerated technological adoption and transformed workplace expectations, while emphasizing the enduring importance of physical office spaces for social connection.

Here are my Top 6 key takeaways:

Key Takeaways:

1. Balance is Essential: Sabine says "I think for me the main important lesson is balance. Whenever I have a super busy week, I try to balance it out with quieter weekends."

2. Coffee Corners Create Connection: Sabine explains how Adyen places coffee stations only on ground floors with baristas, encouraging movement and cross-department interactions that support their company principle of seeking different perspectives.

3. Digital Tools Enable Global Collaboration: "I think that is the digital collaboration tools. They were always there, but I think after COVID and especially during COVID, we've noticed how important they actually are."

4. Physical Offices Remain Essential: Despite managing global projects remotely, Sabine goes to the office almost daily because she values face-to-face connections, demonstrating why physical workplaces will endure.

5. Cultural Adaptation is Key: Sabine describes how her anthropology background helps her design offices that balance Adyen's identity with local cultural elements, as she did with the Shanghai office.

6. Employee Wellbeing is Increasingly Important: She highlights how Adyen focuses on air quality, ergonomic furniture, and natural lighting to support employee health and comfort.

Take a listen of this podcast episode for practical insights on evolving Hybrid Work world & more.

Show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends to take a listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.

Happy International Women’s Day 🚀

Ciao, Ram

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Hello Friends,

In this freshly brewed episode of FIKA Friday At the Office, I catch up with Ashwini K.T, General Manager of Research and Design at Vestian. She brings a unique perspective to workplace design. With her background in architecture and over twelve years of experience, she has witnessed the evolution of office spaces from traditional hierarchical structures to modern, people-centric environments. Her expertise in sustainable design and focus on human-centered spaces makes her a valuable voice in the conversation about the future of work.

In this engaging discussion, Ashwini shares her insights on the dramatic transformation of workplace design, particularly emphasizing the shift from purely functional spaces to environments that prioritize human well-being and community building.

"The future is all about this war for talent. Special skilled labor is hard to find. So everybody is looking at attracting the best talent and retaining it. Attracting is easy, even with diversity. It's difficult and retention is even more difficult."

She emphasizes that the pandemic has accelerated the focus on employee well-being, forcing organizations to reconsider their approach to workplace design and flexibility.

"People are no longer questioning investments on the real estate side, but they're questioning value. They're questioning healthier environments. They're demanding healthier quality spaces."

The insights you’ll get from the conversation & key take aways:

* People-Centric design is essential

* Understanding multi-generational workforce needs & the cultural aspects attached to it

* Community based design principles

* Hi-Tech vs Hi-Touch office environments

* Hybrid working is here to stay

Take a listen of this podcast episode for all of these & more.

Show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends to take a listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.

Let’s go 🚀

Ciao, Ram

Hello friends,

In this fabulous episode of Fika Friday at the Office, I catch up with Anjali Raghuvanshi, Chief People Officer of Randstad India.

Anjali brings extensive experience in leading people and business transformation. Recognized as the CHRO of the Year by Business World People in 2022, she has been instrumental in shaping workplace policies and employee experiences at one of India's largest staffing companies. Her unique perspective comes from managing both Randstad's internal workforce and understanding the broader talent marketplace.

In this engaging conversation, Anjali shares her insights on the evolving workplace landscape, particularly focusing on employee experience, engagement, and the ongoing Return-To-Office (RTO) debate. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining a people-centric approach while balancing organizational goals.

"It's not that I just think about me and people will just follow. Those days are gone. Today, an employee wants to know what's the purpose, why am I here? What am I getting out of it?"

Anjali highlights how workplace expectations have fundamentally shifted, with employees now seeking more purpose and flexibility in their work arrangements. She advocates for a balanced approach that considers both employee preferences and organizational needs.

"I hear from people asking questions about this return to office debate. Say why? Why should I come to office? I can work from anywhere. I can make the same money. Someone else is giving me a remote option. So why should I work for you?"

Take a listen of this podcast episode for practical insights on evolving Hybrid Work world & more.

Show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends to take a listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.

Let’s go 🚀

Ciao, Ram

Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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Hola Amigos,

We start 2025 with a brand new season of the FIKA Friday At The Office podcast, featuring our guest Lisa Gill , acclaimed Coach and Trainer at Tuff Leadership Training and host of the "Leadermorphosis" podcast✨

In this episode, Lisa unpacks:

• The rise of self-managing teams and radical transparency.

• Why equal relationships are essential for improving workplace dynamics.

• The shift in workplace expectations post-pandemic.

• How data and real feedback can guide meaningful change. "It's like the best of times and the worst of times in my field, the new ways of working field."

Don't miss this chance to gain insights into the rapidly evolving workplace landscape.

If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, hit subscribe & do ask your friends to take a listen as well.

Cheers, Ram

Hello mates,I'd like to bring you a very quick update on ''FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience'' podcast 🌏 which I've been hosting for the past 8-9 months. I met some amazing guests & while I thoroughly enjoyed hosting every episode, some of the talks were clear stand-outs for me.So, what I did was to compile a small recap aka highlights episode just for you as a special edition.

I hope you enjoy this & show your love as much as you did for the previous episodes.

Ciao Ciao for now & see you with a brand new season of ‘‘FIKA Friday At the Office’’ very soon.

Yours, Ram

Good day mates,

It’s another Friday & time for Part2: Episode10 of podcast ''FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience'' with our awesome guest from Australia: Tica Masuku.

Tica is a professional Human Geographer & is currently Director, Workplace Strategy at Spaceful based out of Sydney.

In this episode, she literally walks us into the ‘’Future of Work’’, ‘’Future of Workplace’’, ‘’New Ways of Working’’, ‘’Impact of AI & Need for Creativity (and the need to look beyond AI)’’.

On a lighter note, Tica’s shares her own Fika experience in the beautiful city of Berlin at The Barn. More on this coffee shop in my previous article on Substack a few weeks ago (Read full story down below).

So, let’s give it a go, tune in and listen to this freshly brewed episode on Apple, Spotify, or any podcast player of your choice.

If enjoyed tuning in, do spread the joy by liking & sharing it with your friends and family. Please do take a moment to subscribe to this podcast.

Cheers