What if the office isn’t underperforming… it’s just never been aligned with how people actually work?In this conversation, I sit down with Ken Baker, Regional Managing Principal at Gensler, to unpack what’s really changing in the workplace, and what most organizations are still getting wrong. Ken brings a unique perspective, not just as a designer, but as someone leading a global firm while navigating the same pressures his clients are facing.We discuss the real issues shaping the next generation of work environments:-Why the office is struggling to keep up with how people actually work-How AI is amplifying human interaction, not replacing it-The shift from efficiency → experience, performance, and connection-Why the best workplaces are becoming “magnets, not mandates”-The growing role of hospitality, learning, and focus spaces-How better design is directly tied to profitability, retention, and performance-What leaders are missing about their own organizations-And why the future may depend on how we rethink and reuse our citiesDownload the State of the Workplace Report - https://workdesign.beehiiv.com/industry-reportA synthesis of insights from leaders across design, research, and workplace strategy.

Bringing people back to the office does not automatically create collaboration. In this episode, Ben Waber breaks down why the design and use of the physical workplace can have a major impact on communication, innovation, and organizational success.In this conversation, Bob Fox talks with MIT Media Lab lecturer and researcher Ben Waber about what collaboration really is and why most organizations misunderstand it. Ben explains that collaboration is not just what happens in meetings or teamwork, but the larger pattern of how communication, knowledge transfer, and relationships flow across an organization. One of the biggest takeaways is that the physical workplace still plays a major role in shaping those patterns. Proximity matters. Who sits near whom, how teams are arranged, where shared spaces are located, and how easily people can move between groups all influence the likelihood of interaction. The workplace is one of the strongest levers organizations have to reduce silos, and support the kinds of informal encounters that often lead to trust, idea-sharing, reduce risk, and better long-term performance.He also makes the case that simply requiring people to come back to the office is not enough. Attendance alone is not collaboration. The real value of the workplace comes from how intentionally it is designed and used to support the right kinds of connections. For hybrid organizations in particular, the office should not just be a place for individual work, but a tool for fostering meaningful interaction across teams, functions, and levels of leadership. Ben suggests that future headquarters may need to be more dynamic, more adaptable, and more focused on creating the conditions for collaboration rather than assuming it happens automatically. The message is clear: if organizations want better performance, innovation, and alignment, they need to think much more carefully about how the physical environment supports the way people actually work together.Check out Ben's Book: People Analytics: How Social Sensing Technology Will Transform Business and What It Tells Us About the Future of Work: https://amzn.to/4sQEQ8rDownload our State of the Workplace Report here: https://workdesign.beehiiv.com/industry-report

What if the biggest challenge facing the workplace today isn’t mandates, hybrid policy, or productivity… but loneliness?In this episode of *What the F is Happening to the Office?**, I sit down with sociologist and Steelcase VP of Workplace Insights Dr. Tracy Brower, Phd to explore how convenience, technology, and even AI may be quietly reducing real human connection.Her research is compelling:• Proximity measurably improves performance.• Gathering spaces increase wellbeing.• 77% of Gen Z actually want to be in the office — largely for mentoring and growth.And then there was one line that shocked me:“I’d already had all my conversations with AI on the way home and I didn’t have anything to talk to my wife about anymore.”That’s worth thinking about. If the office is no longer just a container for work, but a neighborhood for belonging and building self esteem, what does that mean for how we design it?Key TopicsLoneliness epidemic and its impact on workThe importance of proximity and physical space in building relationshipsThe influence of the built environment and furniture on social interactionThe role of leadership in fostering community and trustThe future relationship between AI and human connectionPurchase Tracy's new Book: Critical Connections: Build Relationships and Harness the Power of Community in Work and Life: https://amzn.to/4cZwl65Download the 2026 State of the Industry Report: https://workdesign.beehiiv.com/industry

What if we could look into a crystal ball and design the future workplace today?Are we preparing for what’s next, or redesigning yesterday’s office?In this episode of What the F* is Happening to the Office?, Bob Fox sits down with Mark Bryan, Chief Research & Strategy Officer at IIDA, to explore why most “future of work” conversations are stuck debating layouts, policies, and attendance - instead of how work itself is fundamentally changing.Mark introduces strategic foresight, a data-driven discipline focused on preparation, not prediction, and explains why organizations must design for measurable human outcomes: trust, wellbeing, learning, social cohesion, and performance.We explore:• The convergence of AI, connected devices, and digital twins• Why utilization data can mislead decision-making• How immersive environments go beyond headsets• The coming technology “supercycle” reshaping work• Why the workplace must evolve from container to trust platformIf you're a workplace leader, architect, designer, CRE executive, or strategist trying to prepare your organization for the next 10 years, this conversation will expand how you think about work, technology, and human potential.Subscribe for weekly conversations with the leaders shaping the future of work and the built environment.Special thanks to Global Furniture Group for supporting this episode.https://www.globalfurnituregroup.com/

Hybrid work broke the old playbook—but leaders never agreed on a new one. In this episode of What the F* is Happening to the Office?, Bob Fox, Founder of Work Design, sits down with Amanda Schneider, Founder and President of ThinkLab (Sandow Design Group), to explore why workplace culture is failing—and how Gen Z may hold the key to fixing it.Drawing on years of research, focus groups, and real-world experience, Amanda explains why today’s workplace is stuck in “hybrid purgatory,” where policies don’t match reality, trust is eroding, and burnout is rising. Together, Bob and Amanda unpack what Gen Z is really asking for—flexibility, transparency, purpose, and empowerment—and why these demands reflect what all generations have wanted all along.Amanda also shares personal insights from building a successful remote-first company, raising a family while leading a research organization, and writing her upcoming book Work for What’s Next. She offers a practical framework for helping individuals, teams, and organizations design healthier, more effective ways of working.Pre-order Amanda's new book: https://amzn.to/4sXq6oW

What if the next evolution of work isn’t an office — but a marketplace of hidden genius?

We’re applying old thinking to new technology — and wondering why work still feels stuck.

In this episode of What the F* is Happening to the Office?, futurist and executive coach Rex Miller introduces The Fourth Place — a bold new model for how work, learning, and human connection come together in an AI-driven world.

The Fourth Place is a hybrid environment — part café, part makerspace, part internal Genius Bar — designed to unlock the “long tail” of hidden expertise inside every organization. It’s a continuous learning hub where AI, human wisdom, and curiosity converge to solve problems traditional management structures can no longer handle.

Rex joins host Bob Fox to explain why the future belongs to organizations that move beyond command-and-control hierarchies and toward distributed networks of value.

In this episode we explore:

• The Fourth Place, defined — Why the office must evolve into a mashup of Kinko’s, Starbucks, and an internal Genius Bar

• The long tail of talent — How to bypass management bottlenecks and tap into infinite employee capability

• Media rewires the brain — Why generational differences are really media-platform differences

• AI as a partner, not a replacement — Shifting from “expert” to “guide” while eliminating friction

• The loneliness crisis at work — Why belonging drives retention and performance

• “Friday is Fourth Place Day” — A radical way to turn the quietest day of the week into the most valuable

The bottom line:
The next workplace isn’t a place you’re required to go — it’s a place you want to go to learn, connect, and create.

💬 Question for you:
If your organization had an internal Genius Bar where employees taught each other skills, what would you sign up to learn — or teach?

Future of Work · Workplace Strategy · AI and Work · Organizational Culture · Leadership

The modern workplace is in radical flux, driven by hybrid work, AI, and shifting talent strategy. In this essential episode, host Bob Fox sits down with Brian Elliott—CEO of WorkForward, BCG Senior Advisor, and publisher of the authoritative Flex Index—to cut through the noise. Drawing on his experience at Slack and Google, and leading one of the most influential workplace research programs, Brian brings real data and grounded insight to the most pressing questions.

This conversation goes far beyond the "remote vs. hybrid" debate, exploring the critical mindset shift leaders need to navigate change. We unpack how companies are using workplace strategy as a powerful leadership tool, the truth about flexibility and organizational performance, and the transformative role of AI and automation in workplace experience and operations. If you are a workplace strategist, HR executive, or simply asking “Why do we go to the office anymore?”, this data-rich discussion will challenge your assumptions about office space, culture, engagement, and the true future of work.

What happens when Gen Z starts reshaping the rules of work—while the Boomers are still playing by the old ones? In this essential episode, host Bob Fox sits down with generational researcher and leadership expert Warren Wright, CEO of Second Wave Learning (formerly of Gallup), to explore how the newest generation is changing the workplace culture from the inside out.

Warren brings decades of insight to unpack the forces driving this generational shift. Gen Z is challenging traditional norms with a fierce desire for purpose-driven work, radical transparency, and strong psychological safety. We dive into how these values—alongside unique workplace communication styles—stack up against those of the multigenerational workforce (Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers). Learn what organizations must do now to adapt their leadership development, enhance employee engagement, and leverage reverse mentoring to foster effective generational collaboration, ensuring they are ready for the true Future of Work.

What happens when AI meets the office? Host Bob Fox sits down with Jeremy Reding, Global Workplace Leader & Senior Principal at DLR Group, architect, and workplace futurist, to explore the cutting edge of workplace design. Tracing his roots from hands-on design communities to leading global workplace strategy for top tech companies, Jeremy offers an inspiring look at how organizations can navigate the future without losing the human experience.

This essential episode dives into how AI is fundamentally reshaping the office: think small, high-focus AI-driven team rooms replacing large desk banks. We discuss the necessity of a human-first approach, ensuring culture and wellbeing drive the design, with technology serving as invisible, seamless support. From the rise of a low-tech counter-movement (authentic materials, tech-free zones) to the creation of adaptive environments that personalize comfort and health, this conversation is your blueprint for creating high-performing, immersive, and truly connected modern workspaces.

Is the real workplace problem space—or is it leadership? Host Bob Fox sits down with Ray Milora, Senior Director of Workplace Design & Construction at Cisco, to unpack the critical elements that actually drive people back to the office. Ray shares an inspiring, candid blueprint: it’s not excessive amenities, but leadership presence, clear purpose, and friction-free hybrid tech that truly matter.

This episode reveals how Cisco is using a single, unified tech stack to eliminate common meeting friction, effectively making the office a powerful business tool for talent attraction and closing sales. Learn how Ray is leveraging AI for workplace strategy to convert design conversations into visuals in hours, not months, radically accelerating workplace design. We challenge outdated metrics and explore how to build portfolio flexibility while right-sizing, proving that activated spaces and intentional culture are the real keys to the future of work.