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

Jason Leeds is Chief Growth Officer at Dartcor Enterprises where he helps organizations use hospitality to create workplaces that strengthen culture, connection, and employee engagement. Jason brings a unique perspective at the intersection of hospitality, commercial real estate, and the future of work, so Mike Petrusky asks him how hospitality helps people connect and thrive at work. They explore intentional, detail-driven experiences that can contribute to a sense of belonging and increase employee engagement as facility management leaders seek to reinvent workspaces and make them more attractive. Technology and AI, when used thoughtfully, can automate routine tasks and provide more space for genuine human interaction in the workplace, and Jason says collaboration across FM, HR, and IT is essential for delivering seamless workplace experiences. Small, consistent actions can create significant positive change in the workplace over time, and the future workplace will be more flexible, experience-based, and focused on human connection, so Mike and Jason offer practical advice and the inspiration you will need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization!

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-leeds-7b253a87/

Learn more about Dartcor Enterprises: https://www.dartcorenterprises.com/

Explore Dartcor Hospitality: https://www.dartcorhospitality.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/

Beth Goff-McMillan is CEO of SKG and Founder of FOLIO where she is passionate about helping organizations create environments that inspire people, elevate performance, and reflect purpose. Mike Petrusky asks Beth why she believes that workplace design should start with asking "why" and how FM leaders should focus on understanding the purpose behind bringing employees together and what the organization aims to achieve from the space. The physical office is not the strategy itself but a direct reflection of a company's strategy and desired outcomes for people and culture, so successful workplace innovation relies on the intersection of business vision and employee engagement. Beth says that "earning the commute" emphasizes the need to create inspiring, engaging workspaces that make employees want to come to the office and technology can help streamline the process, accelerate decision-making, and ensure thoughtful, repeatable approaches to workplace design. Leaders and facility management professionals must work strategically with HR and executive teams to support their people, so Mike and Beth offer the inspiration you will need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization!

Connect with Beth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-goff-mcmillan/

Learn more about SKG, Inc.: https://skgtexas.com/

Explore FOLIO Project Software: https://skgtexas.com/about/folio/

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/

Tanja Stojanovski, FMP, SFP is Manager, Workplace Experience at Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. where she is passionate about operations, property, facility and corporate management. Mike Petrusky asks Tanja about the future of the facility management and workplace experience profession as the industry faces constant change and requires daily adaptation. She believes that flexibility is key and says that the role of the FM team is shifting from being execution-focused to strategic partners who participate in business decisions and innovation. AI and data-driven technologies are already integral to workplace management, and professionals must embrace these tools to remain relevant and efficient. So, Tanja suggests pursuing professional credentials and engaging in continuous learning, both through formal courses and networking at IFMA and conferences like Facility Fusion and World Workplace. Collaboration, sharing perspectives across industries, and broadening skills are valuable for tackling new challenges in FM, so Mike and Tanja share the encouragement and inspiration you will need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization!

Connect with Tanja on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanja-stojanovski/

Learn more about Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.: https://www.rbhinc.ca/en/home

Discover the benefits of IFMA membership: https://www.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/

Stephen de Groot is President & Co-Founder of Brivia where he is passionate about making work and life meaningful for everyone and he is author of the new book, "Getting to Better: A New Model for Elevating Human Potential at Work and in Life". Mike Petrusky asks Stephen about his business philosophy, and they discuss how he believes workplace leaders can align their values and behaviors by creating environments where individuals feel safe, significant, and situated. They explore Steve's book in which he offers practical strategies for value alignment including identifying the value, developing shared understanding, and practicing aligned behaviors. Steve says that innovation should be viewed as ongoing growth and adaptation, rather than just "thinking outside the box" and he believes most workplace issues stem from value incongruence, not lack of competency. Effective workplace leadership involves simplicity, clarity, and fostering conditions for others to exceed their current performance, so Mike and Stephen share practical advice and the inspiration you need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization!

Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephendegrootofficial/

Order Steve's book "Getting to Better: A New Model for Elevating Human Potential at Work and in Life": https://gettingtobetter.com/

Learn more about Brivia Consulting: https://briviaconsulting.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/

Melissa Van Hagan, CFM, IFMA Fellow is Director, Facilities & Corporate Real Estate at Hill Physicians Medical Group where she is passionate about collaborating to ensure that relevant stakeholders are kept appraised of progress and challenges while delivering appropriate level of detail for each audience. Mike Petrusky asks Melissa why she believes that building strong industry relationships and community through IFMA and events like World Workplace is essential for personal and professional growth in facility management. They explore how hybrid and remote work have dramatically reshaped the modern workplace, requiring adaptive approaches to space management and employee needs, acknowledging that change management depends on both leadership vision and the willingness of employees to embrace new ways of working. FM professionals must stay open-minded, strategic, and passionate, so Mike and Melissa share the encouragement and inspiration needed to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization!

Connect with Melisaa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-van-hagan-cfm-ifma-fellow-b2220314/

Learn more about IFMA: https://www.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/

Kevin Sauer, MCR.w, is Head of US Operations & Client Delivery at Nhance.ai, a digital twin and smart building platform, and Founder & CEO of Sauer Strategy Works, LLC where he is passionate about helping clients develop their workforce and workplace strategies, find the right technology, tools and resources, and guiding their change management programs. Mike Petrusky asks Kevin why he believes that human connection remains central to innovation and how engagement with colleagues, leaders, and outside perspectives is essential in the future of workplace strategy. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the acceptance and implementation of flexible workplace strategies, such as activity-based working and shared desking, and Kevin says that AI and robotics are poised to significantly impact the industry, from automating administrative tasks to optimizing facility operations. Workplace and facility leaders should focus on upskilling, embracing both human and technological intelligence, and maintaining a holistic view of the built environment, so Mike and Kevin share practical case studies and offer inspiration you need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization!

Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinsauer/

Learn more about Kevin: https://www.sauerstrat.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/

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/

Alexander Wennerberg is CEO & Founder at Hives.co where he is passionate about helping organizations tap into their teams' best ideas and turn them into real improvements. Mike Petrusky asks Alexander why he believes that innovation is most effective when it empowers those closest to workplace problems to propose and implement solutions, rather than relying solely on top-down initiatives. They explore how facility management and real estate teams should focus on making their "invisible" work more visible, so they are recognized as value drivers rather than cost centers. Alexander says that organizations should treat workplaces as ongoing experiments, valuing continuous feedback from those who use the space rather than just executives and AI should be used to organize and surface employee feedback, not replace the genuine human observations and experiences that drive workplace progress. Successful change management treats employees as active participants rather than passive recipients while it encourages engagement and trust, so Mike and Alexander offer the practical advice and the inspiration you need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization!

Connect with Alexander on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderwennerberg/

Learn more about Hives.co: https://www.hives.co/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/

Rebecca Swanner is Associate Principal and a Senior Workplace Design Leader at HED where she is passionate about creating interiors that strengthen culture, support the evolving nature of work, and amplify human potential. Mike Petrusky asks Rebecca why she believes that workplace leaders should initiate big picture conversations about desired outcomes before making workspace or logistical decisions. They explore how AI is absorbing low cognitive load tasks, increasing the need for humans to focus on strategic and creative work while leading to a "cognitive bar" that requires protecting focus. Rebecca says the workforce is ready for more responsive workspaces that use wearable tech and data to adapt environments to personal needs and tasks. By dynamically adjusting lighting, temperature, and acoustics using real-time biometric data, we can begin to optimize human performance. Effective workplace transformation requires piloting and iterating designs and success metrics should shift from measuring occupancy to measuring outcomes as the future of work will be more integrated, asynchronous, and hybrid. Tune in as Mike and Rebecca offer some practical advice and the inspiration you need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization!

Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-swanner-b8a9a55/

Learn more about HED: https://hed.co/

Read about HED Intelligence in PLACE: https://hed.co/intelligence-in-place/

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/