Swapna Sathyan explores future of work on Workplace Innovators podcast
August 27, 2024
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Swapna Sathyan, director of Blue Cottage of CannonDesign and chair of CannonDesign’s Board of Directors, is the latest featured guest on the Workplace Innovator podcast. In this episode, Swapna joins host Mike Petrusky to explore the future of work, delving into the challenges and opportunities that define today’s workplace environment and beyond.
Following are a few excerpts from Swapna’s episode.
On the workplace as a system: "The workplace is a dynamic system. We’ve moved from a world where work was something you could neatly contain within specific boundaries to one where work is fluid, adaptable and can happen anywhere.
As complexity grows and fields like health and education evolve, the work required to meet organizational goals becomes more intricate. There's an increasing emphasis on multidisciplinary convergence — thinking of teams not just as isolated units, but as 'teams of teams,' often spread across different time zones, organizations and disciplines. Looking ahead, we need to ask ourselves: ‘What will work entail in the future? What will collaboration look like? How do we integrate technological advances into this ever-evolving system?’”
On the future of the workplace: "In the past, it was straightforward: you had an organization with 100 people divided into 10 teams and you allocated a certain number of offices and team rooms accordingly. But that approach is no longer relevant. We need to shift our thinking away from simply counting offices or workstations and start asking questions like, 'What should the new work environment look like? How can it seamlessly integrate both digital and physical spaces? How can it reflect and support diverse cultural elements?' It’s only by embracing this holistic approach that we can truly advance the workplace as a system."
On data and technology integration: "The amount of information we get today is overwhelming, but the true challenge lies in how we harness that data. Distilling and visualizing data to make informed, predictive decisions — not just for occupancy and utilization but for engagement and sustainability. Imagine a workplace where the environment is responsive to each individual’s needs. While smart buildings are already a reality, the future promises even greater potential — spaces that are not only technologically advanced but also deeply personalized, integrating empathy and design to enhance the human experience."
