Return to Better: The Case for Place and the Need to Get it Right
Date and Time
Wednesday May 19, 2021
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM EDT
Location
Virtual via Zoom
Fees/Admission
$35.00 per person
Description
The work-from-home experience has created new expectations when people return to the office. As the economy begins to gain momentum, there’s never been a better time for organizations to move forward and reset the places and the way they work to create a better work experience.
To better understand the impact the crisis has had on work, workers, and the workplace, Steelcase made a commitment to be science-based and data-driven, conducting research to develop insights into the pandemic’s impact and how this will drive change in where and how people work.
What People Expect
Our research identified five things people will need and expect from their work experience.
Safety – To be safe and feel safe
Belonging – Inclusion, trust, and shared purpose
Productivity – To focus and collaborate
Comfort – Physical, cognitive, and emotional
Control – More control over where and how they work
Based on these expectations, Custer and Steelcase will present four key shifts that organizations need to address when designing buildings and the workplaces they house. When considering what people need and how the experiences are shifting, we will share design principles to consider in planning for a better work experience.
Presented by:
Isabel Medellin
Education: Master of Science in Strategy, Management and Leadership by Michigan State University, and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration by the UANL in MX. She speaks Spanish and English and has knowledge of Italian and French.
Experience: Isabel is Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Talent Acquisition at Steelcase. She has 20 years of experience, having worked the last 12 years with Steelcase. She has had the opportunity to lead global, multicultural, and multigenerational teams. She has served the company in talent management roles as well as in the business side in sales support areas and as Managing Director of our global business center located in Monterrey, Mexico.
Isabel is from Monterrey, Mexico, and five years ago was transferred by the company to be based in Grand Rapids, where she lives with her husband and two kids.
Nikki Probst
Nikki Probst leads Business Relations and Marketing for the Custer Family of Companies – Custer, CS Erickson, Century, and Flooralytics. Together, these companies build holistic, integrated environments through strategy, design, furniture, technology, and flooring services offered to businesses throughout West Michigan & Northeast Indiana. With the partnership of Steelcase, the global leader in office furniture, she delivers research to help clients make more informed decisions around their space. Nikki works closely with area architects and interior designers to educate on Custer Companies’ capabilities and industry shifts to support inspiring engaging spaces.
Richard Benoit
Richard Benoit is a Consultant with over 10 years of experience engaging with organizations from various sectors to assist in their transition to a more resilient workplace. He uses his expertise leveraging research and insights to help clients create highly effective workplaces that align with their culture and business strategies. Currently based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Richard applies the elements of design thinking in his engagements to inform the creation of a responsive and purposeful workplace. Richard is Prosci Certified in Change Management and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from the University of Colorado.