Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real Estate

How have the foundational ideas of workplace design shaped the way we think about work today?   In this episode, Despina Katsikakis is joined by Professor John Worthington, co-founder of DEGW, and Dr. Hiral Patel, curator of the DEGW Living Archive, to reflect on the principles that redefined the relationship between organizations, technology, and place. From smart buildings and flexible work to e...

What does the future of work look like inside one of the world’s most forward-thinking companies?   In this episode, Despina Katsikakis speaks with Rob Cookson, Vice President Global Real Estate and Facilities at Meta, about how the tech giant is redefining the value and purpose of place. Rob shares how Meta is moving from mandates to magnetism—creating workplaces people choose to come to—by creat...

What does it take to transform one of the world’s iconic financial institutions into a workplace fit for the future? In this episode of Purpose of Place, Despina Katsikakis speaks with Vivienne Grafton, Managing Director, Operations & Transformation including Property, Procurement & Corporate Services, at the Bank of England. Drawing on her extensive leadership experience at HSBC and Barcl...

At Ericsson, real estate plays a critical role in driving innovation, attracting top talent, and showcasing the company’s leadership in technology. In this episode of Purpose of Place, Despina Katsikakis speaks with Mikkel Nielsen, Chief Real Estate Officer, about how Ericsson is designing intentional workplaces that balance legacy and future growth across its global portfolio. Mikkel shares how h...

At Standard Chartered, real estate is deeply connected to the bank’s identity, culture, and strategy. In this episode of Purpose of Place, Despina Katsikakis speaks with Shelley Boland, Global Head of Corporate Real Estate & Services, about how the bank has integrated real estate, HR, brand, and corporate strategy to shape employee and client experiences across 50+ markets. Shelley shares how...

The real estate industry is at a crossroads, and Coen van Oostrom, Founder & CEO of EDGE, is leading the charge toward a more sustainable, tech-driven future. In this episode of Purpose of Place, Despina Katsikakis explores how EDGE is revolutionizing buildings by integrating real-time data, AI, and human-centric design to enhance environmental impact, employee well-being, and workplace experi...

Dan Labbad, CEO of the Crown Estate, leads one of the UK’s most historic and influential property organizations, managing assets that span from Regent Street in central London to the seabed around England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Under his leadership, the Crown Estate is redefining property’s role in addressing the challenges of our time, including climate change, economic equality, and urban...

Bill Hughes, Global Head of Real Assets and recently appointed Co-Head of Private Markets at Legal & General Investment Management, oversees more than £40 billion of assets under management, as well as playing an active role in a number of influential government and industry committees around housing, infrastructure, regeneration and sustainability. His innovative approach to investment has po...

In this episode of Purpose of Place , Despina Katsikakis sits down with Sir Stuart Lipton, one of the most influential figures in UK commercial real estate, known for creating some of London’s most iconic developments. Together, they discuss the evolution of workplaces over the past 40 years, exploring how office design must move beyond traditional "boxes" to create environments that inspire, enga...

David Partridge, Chairman of Related Argent, has been a driving force behind some of the UK’s most iconic regeneration projects, including King’s Cross. He is also a Trustee of the UK Green Building Council and Chairman of the Governance Board of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard. In this inaugural episode of Purpose of Place , Despina Katsikakis sits down with David to discuss the evolvin...

How can we future-proof real estate investments in an era of uncertainty? Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real Estate is the podcast for investors, landlords, and occupiers adapting to the shifting demands of the commercial real estate market. As new work models and evolving lifestyles challenge traditional approaches, each episode explores strategies to minimize risk, drive sustainable...