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

Hosted by Eptura™

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Episodes

414

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Jun 2026

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About the show

The Workplace Innovator Podcast, hosted by speaker, entrepreneur and answer-man Mike Petrusky, offers real-world insights from top facility management & workplace leaders on how to use tech, talent and tenacity to create the best workplaces on earth. Powered by Eptura™, The Workplace Innovator helps corporate real estate, facility management, IT, and HR leaders design incredible "friction-free" workplace experiences that fuel employee productivity, tech innovation and optimal space utilization, today, and tomorrow. Tune in now!

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60 recent

June 16, 202628 min

Ep. 406: "Prove That Value" – FM Innovation & Making Your Invisible Work More Visible with Alexander Wennerberg of Hives.co

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/

June 9, 202626 min

Ep. 405: "Get Aligned on Purpose" – Change Management and the Three Pillars of Workplace Strategy with David George of CRUX Workplace

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/

June 2, 202626 min

Ep. 404: "What are the Outcomes?" – AI Strategies for Building the Responsive Workplace of the Future with Rebecca Swanner of HED

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/

May 26, 202626 min

Ep. 403: "Start with the Strategy, Not the Lease" – The Integration of Design, Behavior and Technology in Workplace Transformation with Lisa Copland of Presynct

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/

May 19, 202624 min

Ep. 402: "Solve the Most Complex Problems" – A Deep Dive into "The Psychological Safety Playbook for Changemakers" with Author Minette Norman

Minette Norman is an award-winning author, speaker, and leadership consultant who previously spent decades leading global technical teams in the Silicon Valley software industry and realized that we needed a new, more human model of leadership. Mike Petrusky asks Minette about her new book, "The Psychological Safety Playbook for Changemakers: Transform Your Workplace Culture" and what motivated she and he co-author, Dr. Karolin Helbig, to write it. They explore how innovation thrives in a team environment where psychological safety allows open, respectful debate and diverse ideas to flourish. Minette says that anyone can be a changemaker and encourages us all to positively influence workplace culture through small, deliberate actions that create ripple effects. Successful change management prioritizes the human side of change by listening to concerns, anticipating impact, and fostering inclusion to reduce resistance, so the book offers practical strategies for addressing skepticism. Curiosity and open-minded listening are essential leadership qualities, so Mike and Minette offer the encouragement and inspiration you need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with Minette on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minettenorman/ Buy Minette's new book "The Psychological Safety Playbook for Changemakers": https://thepsychologicalsafetyplaybook.com/the-psychological-safety-playbook-for-changemakers/ Learn more about Minette: https://www.minettenorman.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/

May 12, 202627 min

Ep. 401: "If You Don't Measure, You Can't Improve" – Neuroarchitecture, Data & Human-Centered Design with Helia Taheri, Ph.D., Assoc. AIA, EDAC

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/

May 5, 202656 min

Ep. 400: "Do or Do Not" – Celebrating Star Wars, Facility Management and the Future of the Workplace with Friends from our IFMA Community

Host Mike Petrusky welcomes six past guests from the show to reflect on his past decade of podcasts, the current state of FM, and the future of the workplace as we celebrate our 400th episode. Recorded in San Francisco during IFMA's Facility Fusion 2026, the conversation centers on how the facility management landscape has dramatically shifted over the years with the need for leadership, culture-building, and understanding human behavior becoming essential for success in the workplace today. Mike and his guests explore how AI and automation are reshaping the FM industry enabling professionals to focus more on strategic work, their personal upskilling, and delivering value beyond transactional tasks. Relationships in the IFMA community enable professional growth, collaboration, and innovation as we emphasize the need for resilience, optimism, and human connection as we care for the built environment. Music and pop culture serve as unifying elements as Mike and his guests share stories from the show, along with the encouragement and the inspiration you need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with René Jackson, MBA, CFM on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rene-jackson/ Connect with Lena Thompson, IFMA Fellow, FMP, SFP on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lena-thompson-fmp-sfp/ Connect with Amanda Muzzarelli on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandamuzzarelli/ Connect with Vik Bangia, MCR on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vik-bangia-mcr-0b54522/ Connect with James Waddell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcwaddell/ Connect with Wayne Whitzell, CFM, FMP, SFP, LEED AP, BEP, IFMA Fellow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-whitzell-cfm-fmp-sfp-leed-ap-bep-ifma-fellow-147870b/ 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/

April 28, 202628 min

Ep. 399: "Thoughtload" – Manage the Madness and Free Your Team to Do Great Work with Author Liane Davey, PhD

Liane Davey, PhD is a Keynote Speaker, a NYT Bestselling Author, and Co-founder and Principal at 3COze, Inc. where she is passionate about building high performing teams in a world of perpetual change, conflict, and burnout. Mike Petrusky asks Liane about her brand new book, "Thoughtload: Manage the Madness and Free Your Team to Do Great Work", in which she argues that the root cause of the madness sapping productivity in today's offices is with our excessive thoughtload. The "thoughtload" includes not just cognitive workload, but also emotional burdens and depleted energy reserves affecting individuals and teams. Mike and Liane explore how workplace leaders should shift their focus from activity and output to meaningful outcomes, ensuring team efforts are aligned with organizational goals. As open office designs and constant interruptions have a measurable negative impact on focus, productivity and wellbeing, Liane says that intentional rest can restore creativity and energy. Environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors all amplify each other, making holistic approaches to wellness and productivity essential, so Mike and Liane share practical advice and the inspiration you need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with Liane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lianedavey/ Preorder Liane's new book "Thoughtload": https://lianedavey.com/books/thoughtload/ Learn more about Liane: https://lianedavey.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/

April 21, 202623 min

Ep. 398: "The Ubuntu Workplace" – Designing for Humanity and the Future of Work with Workplace Strategist Hassan Shaikh, PhD

Hassan Shaikh, PhD is a South African-born workplace strategist who brings over two decades of global experience to reimagining how people and organizations connect through space. Mike Petrusky asks Hassan about his research and the "Ubuntu" philosophy, which means "I am because we are" and serves as an inspiration to design workplaces that elevate our collective wellbeing. Successful workplace innovation requires challenging outdated models and embracing new approaches that center on human experience and diversity, so Mike and Hassan explore how human needs, cultural context, neurodiversity, and wellbeing must become core considerations in workplace strategy. As facility management and corporate real estate leaders evolve from support roles to "architects of organizational culture and performance", Hassan encourages continuous learning, curiosity, bravery, and empathy. It is time for our industry to make positive impact on the future of work, so Mike and Hassan offer the inspiration you will need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with Hassan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassan--shaikh/ Learn more about his Hassan's journey: https://hassanshaikh.org/ Find out more about Eptura Flex/26 New York: https://eptura.com/discover-more/events/ 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/

April 14, 202629 min

Ep. 397: "Ahead by a Century" – AI Ethics, Continuous Learning, and the Future of Facility Management with Lorri Rowlandson of BGIS

Lorri Rowlandson is Senior Vice President, Strategy and Innovation at BGIS where she is a strategic and operational real estate executive with global experience delivering integrated real estate services in a distributed portfolio of diverse assets. Mike Petrusky asks Lorri about her updated perspectives on delivering "practical innovation" in the workplace with a focus on measurable results rather than just ideas or "innovation theater". They explore how AI and automation are rapidly evolving and encourage FM professionals to view change through a variety of lenses including personal productivity, organizational efficiency, and client value creation. Lorri says that leadership and change management, including emotional intelligence and process documentation, are essential skills today when adopting new technologies and optimizing operations. Curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving are more valuable than static knowledge, which is increasingly accessible via AI tools, so Lorri shares how workplace leaders can continuously upskill to prepare for the future. A sense of humor, pop culture references, and staying connected with industry peers contribute to a vibrant and innovative workplace culture, so Mike and Lorri offer the practical advice and the inspiration you will need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with Lorri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorri-rowlandson/ Learn more about BGIS: https://www.bgis.com/ Find out more about Eptura Flex/26 New York: https://eptura.com/discover-more/events/ 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/

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