Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real Estate

The Enduring Legacy of DEGW – with Professor John Worthington and Dr Hiral Patel

Despina Katsikakis — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:33:52 -0700

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 experience-led design and integrative briefing, they explore how DEGW’s thinking moved beyond efficiency to focus on intentionality, adaptability, and meaningful work—lessons that remain highly relevant in today’s evolving workplace landscape.

DEGW Archive: https://collections.reading.ac.uk/special-collections/collections/degw-archive/
Episode Music: https://www.davidcuttermusic.com

Inside Meta’s Evolving Real Estate Strategy - with Rob Cookson of Meta

Despina Katsikakis — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 05:29:46 -0700

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 creating more intentional, adaptive, and human-centered environments.

Episode Music: https://www.davidcuttermusic.com

Balancing Legacy with Flexibility – with Vivienne Grafton of the Bank of England

Despina Katsikakis — Sat, 31 May 2025 01:10:04 -0700

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 Barclays, Vivienne shares how she is helping the Bank of England evolve its estate—balancing legacy and symbolism with flexibility, sustainability, and meeting the expectations of a modern workforce.

Vivienne discusses the Bank’s approach to placemaking, experience-led design, and the challenges of modernizing a Grade I listed building in the heart of London. She also explores how second-tier cities like Leeds play a role in talent strategy, and why real estate leaders must move from order-takers to strategic business partners.

Tune in for insights on connecting place to purpose, and leading change in the public sector at a moment of transformation for the industry.

Episode Music: https://www.davidcuttermusic.com

Designing for Innovation with Mikkel Lyngbo Nielsen of Ericsson

Despina Katsikakis — Tue, 06 May 2025 23:58:10 -0700

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 his team is using data to map work processes, create hybrid strategies rooted in productivity and engagement, and reimagine the office as a platform for collaboration and innovation. He also discusses how Ericsson is embedding sustainability into every decision, and how their spaces are becoming living showcases of technology and brand experience, by aligning key stakeholders through shared OKRs.

Listen in to hear how Ericsson is pioneering a data-driven, employee-centered approach to designing the workplaces of the future.

Mikkel Nielsen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikkellyngbo/
Ericsson: https://www.ericsson.com/

Episode Music: https://www.davidcuttermusic.com

Aligning People, Place & Purpose with Shelley Boland of Standard Chartered

Despina Katsikakis — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:57:43 -0700

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 her team is moving beyond traditional cost metrics to focus on experience and productivity, the role of real estate in strengthening brand equity, and how the workplace can create a sense of pride for employees. She also discusses how Standard Chartered is designing spaces that align with its purpose, leveraging technology to create frictionless experiences, and embedding sustainability at the core of its real estate strategy.

Listen in to hear how Standard Chartered is redefining the role of corporate real estate—ensuring that every moment in the workplace reflects the bank’s brand and ambition.

Shelley Boland on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-boland-763615a/
Standard Chartered: https://www.sc.com

Episode Music: https://www.davidcuttermusic.com

Redefining the Value of Sustainable Development with Coen van Oostrom of EDGE

Despina Katsikakis — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 11:12:54 -0800

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 experience.

Coen shares why the industry must move beyond traditional sustainability labels and focus on real performance metrics—energy efficiency, operational carbon costs, and embodied carbon in building materials. As technology reshapes expectations and workplaces evolve, he explains how data-driven design can drive long-term value for both businesses and investors. From transforming existing assets to creating immersive, adaptable work environments, this conversation reveals why sustainable real estate isn’t just good for the planet—it’s a smart business strategy.

Tune in to explore how resilience, innovation, and rethinking the value of place are shaping the future of real estate.

Coen van Oostrom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coenvanoostrom/
EDGE: https://edgebuildings.com/

Episode Music: https://www.davidcuttermusic.com

Creating Lasting & Shared Prosperity with Dan Labbad of The Crown Estate

Despina Katsikakis — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:43:06 -0800

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 resilience.

In this episode of Purpose of Place (recorded in August 2024), Despina Katsikakis speaks with Dan about the Crown Estate’s unique mandate to balance commercial success with broader societal and environmental responsibilities.

They explore how unified placemaking can drive long-term prosperity, the evolving concept of value in the property sector, and the critical role of collaboration across policy, industry, and communities in shaping resilient futures.

Dan shares his perspective on why aligning financial, environmental, and social priorities is essential for the property industry and offers insights into how leaders can navigate the tension between short-term results and long-term impact.

Dan Labbad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-labbad-the-crown-estate/
The Crown Estate: https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/
The British Council for Offices: https://www.bco.org.uk/

Episode Music: https://www.davidcuttermusic.com

Investing with Purpose with Bill Hughes of Legal & General

Despina Katsikakis — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 02:54:21 -0800

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 positioned him at the forefront of reshaping the landscape of real assets through strategic and progressive initiatives.

In this episode of Purpose of Place, Despina Katsikakis sits down with Bill to explore how investments can be both financially successful and socially beneficial.

They discuss how investment opportunities across real estate, infrastructure, private credit, and venture capital can foster environments that are not only economically viable but also socially and environmentally resilient.

Bill shares his vision on the importance of flexibility in responding to market changes and leading with innovation in an industry often resistant to change.

From Boxes to Places: Transforming Office Design with Sir Stuart Lipton

Despina Katsikakis — Sun, 27 Oct 2024 00:55:50 -0700

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, engage, and connect people. Sir Stuart shares his insights on human-centered design, social change, and how innovative developments can shape the future of cities and communities.

Building Resilient Places with David Partridge of Related Argent

Despina Katsikakis — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 03:46:09 -0700

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 evolving role of commercial real estate in creating thriving, resilient places that respond to changing social, environmental, and economic demands.

Learn how a long-term approach to design, with public realm integration and sustainability, is key to future-proofing developments and driving asset value across entire precincts. David shares his insights on the importance of adaptability, the role of social value, and the future-proofing real estate in an uncertain world.

David Partridge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-partridge-38b3b512/
Related Argent: https://relatedargent.co.uk/
The British Council for Offices: https://www.bco.org.uk/

Episode Music: https://www.davidcuttermusic.com

Introducing Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real Estate

Despina Katsikakis — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 11:48:36 -0700

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 growth, and design places that are thriving and resilient.

Hosted by workplace visionary Despina Katsikakis, the podcast brings together insights from industry innovators to ensure your investments stand the test of time—financially, environmentally, and socially.

Episode Music: https://www.davidcuttermusic.com