Shows
The Team Around the Table: A CRE PodcastAligning HR & CRE for a People-First Workplace—With Prudential SingaporeIn this episode of The Team Around the Table, we explore how corporate real estate and HR can join forces to create people-centric workplaces that drive engagement, well-being and performance. Cushman & Wakefield’s Despina Katsikakis, Global Lead, Total Workplace, Global Occupier Services, and Carol Wong, APAC Lead, Total Workplace, Global Occupier Services, team up with Prudential’s Sheela Parakkal, Group Head of Talent, Leadership, Learning and Culture and Regional CHRO, Prudential plc., to discuss how the power of intentional leadership, wellbeing ecosystems, and purpose-driven design to create spaces where employees thrive.
Sheela introduces Prudential’s innovative "well-being ecosystem," which...2025-07-0826 min
Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real EstateBalancing Legacy with Flexibility – with Vivienne Grafton of the Bank of EnglandWhat 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, Executive Director for Central Operations 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 mod...2025-05-3127 min
Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real EstateDesigning for Innovation with Mikkel Lyngbo Nielsen of EricssonAt 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 de...2025-05-0725 min
Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real EstateAligning People, Place & Purpose with Shelley Boland of Standard CharteredAt 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 di...2025-03-1229 min
Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real EstateRedefining the Value of Sustainable Development with Coen van Oostrom of EDGEThe 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 de...2025-02-1126 min
Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real EstateCreating Lasting & Shared Prosperity with Dan Labbad of The Crown EstateDan 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...2025-01-0728 min
Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real EstateInvesting with Purpose with Bill Hughes of Legal & GeneralBill 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.2024-12-0524 min
Shaping Our City: The IPUT PodcastEP 8: IPUT CEO Niall Gaffney and IPUT Head of Research, Marie Hunt talk to Despina KatsikakisIn this episode with Despina Katsikakis, Global Lead on Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield, we covered a range of topics including the changing nature of work, workplace strategy, what the Gen Z generation want from workspaces & neighbourhoods, the socialisation of places and the inclusiveness of cities. “If you are in real estate, you are actually in hospitality.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-11-1332 min
Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real EstateFrom Boxes to Places: Transforming Office Design with Sir Stuart LiptonIn 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.2024-10-2720 min
Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real EstateBuilding Resilient Places with David Partridge of Related ArgentDavid 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 publ...2024-09-3023 min
Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real EstateIntroducing Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real EstateHow 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....2024-09-2901 min
The Team Around the Table: A CRE PodcastThe 4-Day Work WeekEmbracing a 4-day work week is a strategic move for enhancing business operations through increased efficiency rather than extended hours. This approach emphasizes prioritizing the well-being of organizations' most vital business asset – their employees. 4 Day Week Global champion the 100-80-100™ framework, advocating for full pay for 80% of the time while ensuring 100% productivity in return.
Join host Michael Creamer, Despina Katsikakis, Executive Partner & Global Head, Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield, and Charlotte Lockhart and Andrew Barnes, co-founders of 4 Day Week Global, to understand how the discourse surrounding work should transition from time to outcomes in terms of productivity.2023-12-1123 min
Propertyshe PodcastDespina KatsikakisOver the past 40 years, Despina has consistently pioneered the science of evaluating employee priorities and evolving trends of office users. This has led to innovation and implementation of transformative workplace environments for global corporates such as: Accenture, Barclays, BBC, BP, Cisco, Deutsche Bank, GSK, Google, HSBC, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley & Unilever and substantial improvements in the design of exemplary real estate developments for investors worldwide. In her role at Cushman & Wakefield, she inputs across the firm’s global business, on the rapidly-changing context of work and its impact on employee engagement, productivity, wellbeing and the future role...2023-10-2552 min
The Team Around the Table: A CRE PodcastThe Social Value of Real EstateIn today's evolving work landscape, the social value of real estate takes centre stage as we explore the compelling reasons behind the resurgence of interest in office spaces. Amid the era of technology, individuals seek the tangible connections and shared experiences that the physical office environment can offer.
Join Michael Creamer, Despina Katsikakis, Executive Partner, Global Head of Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield and current President of the British Council for Offices, and Rob Harris, Principal at Ramidus Consulting as they delve into the deeper connections, collaborative opportunities, and sense of belonging that draw people back to the...2023-08-2223 min
About PlaceS3, E4: Redesigning workOur guests for this episode come bearing research from their respective organizations to spark business leaders to think differently about the physical environment. Despina Katsikakis is an Executive Partner and Global Head of Total Workplace for global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield. Kevin Delaney is CEO, Editor-in-Chief, and co-founder of Charter, a future-of-work media and research company. They balance eye-opening data with practical advice throughout their conversation with host Ryan Anderson.
2023-08-1647 min
Success from AnywhereA Seat at the Table | Despina Katsikakis, Executive Partner and Global Lead of Total Workplace at Cushman and WakefieldOn today’s episode, we’ll explore how to create space both on the emotional and physical front that will function to improve performance, and health of those within that workspace. Despina Katsikakis, internationally recognized thought leader, future of work innovator, and Executive Partner and Global Lead of Total Workplace for Cushman and Wakefield discusses the changing context of work and its impact on employee engagement, productivity, and wellbeing. #RemoteWork #FutureOfWork #SiliconValley #WorkCulture #Technology #Workforce #OfficeCulture #Workplace #HybridWorkplace #Podcast #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeHealth #Wellbeing @karenmangia2022-11-1639 min
The Team Around the Table: A CRE PodcastRebuilding Culture In A Post Pandemic WorldSince the start of the Industrial Revolution businesses have benefitted from a 'captive audience' when embedding their corporate culture, with employees present in the physical workplace. With business leaders planning to maintain a hybrid work-from-home structure even after the COVID-19 threat has passed, everything has changed. How should businesses now think about culture and what it means? Are we seeing the beginning of an exciting era of cultural evolution and innovation?
Cushman & Wakefield's Experience per SF™ (XSF) survey reported that half of employees are currently struggling to feel connected with their company's culture and their colleagues. How can bus...2021-01-2023 min
British Council for OfficesThe New Normal - Despina Katsikakis (ep. 4)"I have not had a desk in 25 years." In this episode of The New Normal, BCO's Chief Exec speaks to Cushman & Wakefield's Head of Occupier Business Performance, Despina Katsikakis about the impact of the lockdown on the wellbeing and productivity of employees, how this period of working from home will impact the future of work and how the demands and expectations of occupiers might be changed by COVID-19.2020-07-1721 min
The Team Around the Table: A CRE PodcastRebalancing the Work-Life Experience - Episode #5 - The Future of WorkplaceIn our fifth podcast of the “Rebalancing the Work-Life Experience” series we review the successes and challenges of working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The foundation of the discussion comes from the results of our bespoke Experience per Square Foot™ (XSF@home) database, which contains over 1.7 million data points from more than 50,000 respondents and allows us to provide unrivaled insights into how employees are coping right now. We specifically focus on issues such as wellbeing, culture and connectivity which are likely to be impacted in the current environment.
Guests:
Despina Katsikakis, Head of Occupier Business Performance at Cushman...2020-06-3023 min
The Broker Success FormulaReopening the COVID-19 Workplace with Cushman & Wakefield’s Despina KatsikakisDespina Katsikakis, head of occupier business performance at Cushman & Wakefield, details best practices on reopening workplaces, including the firm’s Six Feet Office concept that reinforces social distancing, improves air quality, and optimizes workspace. In addition, she shares how the future of the office sector will be impacted as a result of the pandemic and how commercial real estate professionals can be proactive in their preparations.2020-05-2136 min
The Team Around the Table: A CRE PodcastRebalancing the Work-Life Experience - Episode #1 - What we know, what is critical and what's next?The rapid spread of the coronavirus globally has placed many corporates on an accelerated path of enacting remote working universally across their workforce. This inevitably will place strain on existing systems, take employees out of their established routines and require development of new processes among a myriad of other challenges.
In light of this Cushman & Wakefield have developed a new series of podcasts, specifically focusing on rebalancing the work life experience during the pandemic.
In this first podcast, Despina Katsikakis, Head of Occupier Business Performance, and Dominic Brown, Head of Insight & Analysis, Asia Pacific, provide a...2020-03-2527 min
The Team Around the Table: A CRE PodcastDespina Katsikakis, Head of Occupier Business Performance at Cushman & Wakefield
Despina Katsikakis is an industry leader with an international reputation for thought leadership and innovation on the future of work and the impact of workplace on organisational transformation, people and business performance.
Despina has over 35 years' experience of leading innovation, research and implementation of transformative business environments and exemplary real estate developments worldwide.
In this podcast Despina discusses understanding the user in order to influence building development, inspiring employees for high performance and blurring the boundaries between work, life & play.
Despina is Head of Occupier Business Performance at Cushman & Wakefield. Find out more: https...2020-02-0434 min