Shows
Ending Body Burnout Show133. Overcoming Body Burnout, Connecting With Your Vision & Exhaling with Melissa MarsdenFilly is joined once again with Melissa Marsden, a client who graduated from the Ending Body Burnout Method awhile ago, to talk about her own healing journey inside the program, how she is “glowing” & thriving now, and how her healing journey has greatly influenced the creation of her Exhale The Retreat, designed for ambitious women who are ready to reconnect with their vision, reclaim their energy, and return with a crystal-clear direction for what's next in their business and life.
I (Filly) am booked in to attend Mel’s retreat (held 23 - 26 Oct in the untouch...
2025-10-0648 min
Lead with CourageMelissa Marsden | The Next WorkplaceIn this episode of Lead with Courage, Cherie Canning speaks with workplace strategist and author Melissa Marsden about how the design of our work environments can significantly impact our well-being, productivity, and overall fulfillment. Melissa shares her expertise on creating spaces that support both individual and collective success by considering factors such as culture, leadership, and employee experience.Drawing from her book The Next Workplace, Melissa emphasizes the importance of designing workplaces that align with human needs rather than forcing people to fit into rigid, outdated models. She also highlights how leaders can cultivate environments...
2025-04-0750 min
Ending Body Burnout Show102. How Melissa Marsden Got Her Spark Back & Got To The Root of Chronic Gut Issues, Weight Gain, Fatigue & AnxietyChris & Filly are joined with one of our fabulous incredible clients from our Ending Body Burnout Method program. When Melissa first started working with us, it was clear to see that she had created a successful business and was killing it in her profession, but the toll of many years of hustling and grinding building and running her business - as well as juggling a blended family and dealing with trauma - had taken a massive toll on her body. Mel was struggling with severe bloating, pain and constipation, she’d stacked on weight, was exhausted and feeling anxious an...
2025-03-031h 17
Work Life by DesignUsing place to connect to the hearts, bodies & minds of your peopleUsing Place to connect to the Hearts, Bodies and Minds of your People Often when we look at our workplaces, we think of them as property. As real estate. And sadly, often as a balance sheet liability. But they have the potential to be so much more than that! Your work place is an underutilised asset in attracting and connecting to your people. Often spoken about in the terms of "People, Place & Technology" our workplaces should not be devoid of our humanity. They are crea...
2024-06-1019 minWork Life by DesignCreating Memory in Place through Community - with Imelda MillerCurating a community is not a passive activity. It takes conscious effort, care, and a respect for the people that you are embracing in this community. But when you bringing together a community with no traditional "place" how can you engage with a place temporarily and make it your own? This is exactly the work that today's guest, Imelda Miller, does in her role as the Curator of First Nations Cultures at Queensland Museum Kurilpa. A third generation Vanuatu woman, Imelda is a proud South Sea Islander and responsible for bringing together communities of origin...
2024-05-2036 minWork Life by DesignIt's not about RTO Mandates. It's about Fostering CommunityIf we're still talking about getting people back to the office, we're having the wrong conversation". I don't know about you but I'm getting frustrated with all this RTO talk! I think those that are stuck in this vortex, are completely missing the point! What we should be talking about, is what makes a workplace a COMMUNITY. In the work that I do, creating a workplace where people WANT to be is key, BUT while the physical environment plays a large part, it's not the whole story. "For...
2024-05-0117 minWork Life by DesignSeason 6 Fostering Community🎉🎉🎉 Welcome back for SEASON 6!!! 🎉🎉🎉 As I hit record for this episode, #138, I had a nostalgic moment as I reflected on how much the world has changed since I first started the podcast back in July 2020. We were all living in limbo, as we were very much still in the midst of adjusting to the impacts of the pandemic, in and out of lockdowns. Four years on and SOOOOO much has changed; · The way we THINK about work has changed · HOW we work has changed · WHERE we work has changed · ...
2024-04-2907 min
Born for thisEpisode 9 - Melissa Healing births - Birth trauma, uterine inversion, informed consentIn this episode, I follow up on the previous interview about birth trauma by discussing healing birth trauma with Melissa, a healing birth specialist. Melissa shares her personal experience of traumatic birth and how it led her to work with women on healing their own birth experiences. We discuss the importance of support and understanding for women who have experienced birth trauma, the long journey of healing, and the impact of birth imprints on future generations. We explore how friends and family can best support someone who has gone through birth trauma. The conversation emphasizes the need for women...
2024-04-1559 min
Reimagined Workforce - Workforce TransformationTransforming Business Performance through Strategic Workspace Design with Melissa MarsdenSend us a textMelissa Marsden explains how the physical design of your workplace could significantly boost job performance and satisfaction? We tackle that intriguing question in our latest episode with special guest Melissa Marsden, a renowned workplace dynamics strategist. Melissa shares her ground-breaking blueprint that has transformed organizations by aligning workspace designs with their core values and visions. You'll get an inside look at her discovery process, which includes the significant step of discerning what isn't being voiced out.This in-depth discussion also brings to light the science behind productivity and the work environment...
2023-07-1841 min
Mixing Babies And Business™073 | Raising kids while creating purposeful workplace spaces and experiences with Melissa Marsden | PT 3PT 3: Melissa Marsden is a Workplace Dynamics Strategist, founder and Director of COMUNiTI and a parent of four kids. She is a published author, speaker and host of the Work Life by Design Podcast.In our third and final episode, we talk about what you can do to advocate for change in the workplace as a parent and the importance of building in redundancy plans for both your business and your family.THINGS WE TALK ABOUT:Being transparent around flexibility in her branding and how it has attracted more progressive...
2023-07-0711 min
Mixing Babies And Business™072 | Raising kids while creating purposeful workplace spaces and experiences with Melissa Marsden | PT 2PT 2: Melissa Marsden is a Workplace Dynamics Strategist, founder and Director of COMUNiTI and a parent of four kids. She is a published author, speaker and host of the Work Life by Design Podcast.In the second mini episode, we talk about some of the different types of work modes, physical spaces and flexible models which enable people to connect and collaborate.THINGS WE TALK ABOUT:Designing to help unlock a business’ most crucial assets – their people and property – creating variety in the types of physical spaces people work inThe overni...
2023-07-0407 min
Mixing Babies And Business™071 | Raising kids while creating purposeful workplace spaces and experiences with Melissa Marsden | PT 1PT 1: Melissa Marsden is a Workplace Dynamics Strategist, founder and Director of COMUNiTI and a parent of four kids. She is a published author, speaker and host of the Work Life by Design Podcast.This is the first of three mini episodes of our conversation. In this interview, we talk about going through a life cleanse, starting her own company and designing with flexibility in mind.THINGS WE TALK ABOUT:How she went through what she calls ‘a life cleanse’ where she went through a separation when her daughter was two...
2023-06-3010 min
Upon Arrival | Events & Incentives with Adelaine NgEp106 Hybrid work models and a small twist to achieving work-life balance, with Melissa Marsden Part 2If hybrid work arrangements are not working at your office, perhaps it's time to change the model. In fact, there are five levels of remote work to choose from. They range from team connectivity in the office to true modern flexibility in a hybrid environment. Melissa also shares tips on overcoming overwhelm and achieving work-life integration.Workplace dynamics strategist Melissa Marsden shares little known secrets about the relationship between workplace design and productivity. With over 20 years' experience, she's developed a unique methodology that combines interior design, business strategies, and intentional branding to bring out the best in t...
2023-06-2219 min
Upon Arrival | Events & Incentives with Adelaine NgEp105 Optimising your workplace's design for productivity and happiness, with Melissa Marsden Part 1Business tourism and event designers are all about creating awesome experiences. So why does it suck when we have to go back to the office? We've been sold some myths - like open office plans are always better for collaboration or that aesthetic design has no bearing on performance. But look a little deeper and you'll find some untapped productivity potential, sometimes by just moving where you sit or who you're sitting next to! Workplace dynamics strategist Melissa Marsden shares little known secrets about the relationship between workplace design and productivity. With over 20 years' experience, she's developed...
2023-06-1527 min
The Common CreativeEpisode 73: Melissa Marsden- The Creative WorkplaceLooking for insights about the role of a physical space in building creativity and community? This is the episode for you! To Melissa Marsden, a workspace isn't just the place to come to work. Instead, it is a place that should elevate the employee experience. An interior designer and a workplace design strategist, Melissa shares insights about what a workplace is really for and the role of ‘neighbourhoods’ in the workspaces. A Workplace Dynamics Strategist and founder of COMUNiTI who reimagines work environments to drive high-performing teams, Melissa's unique Workplace Dynamics Blueprint (™) guides organisations to create...
2023-03-1333 minWork Life by DesignRecast - Hybrid Work, 9 Day Fortnight & Meeting Free Wednesday - The Future of Work at Entain with Jessica SharpeI am taking a quick break for a couple of weeks and I wanted to share with you some of the listener favourites from the back catalogue. If you haven't had a chance to listen to this one previously, or you're new here, I hope you enjoy this one! I will be back with fresh new episodes in a couple of weeks! ----- There has been a lot of conversation in the media of late about organisations handing out wellbeing days and rolling out new initiatives to combat The G...
2022-12-2636 min
The New WayHow Your Work Environment Can Help Create High-Performing Teams with Melissa MarsdenWhat is the purpose of a workplace these days? Now that so many of us are working from home regularly and are part of hybrid teams, the role of the workplace, both for employees and the organisational brand, is being reimagined.If you’re a change leader supporting these big changes in the work environment, what do you need to consider to support your stakeholders?I'm really excited to have Melissa Marsden on the show today to help answer these questions. Melissa is the Director and the Workplace Dynamics Strategist behind COMUNiTI. COMUNiTI re...
2022-12-0729 min
Freedom Fridays#61 Freedom Fridays Podcast with Melissa MarsdenThis week Pete chats with Melissa Marsden a working mumpreneur recently back at work after a 3rd child. Melissa’s specialty is workplace design, which is ultimately about life and success design as much as anything else.
The conversation starts with freedom as a value and moves through your unique definition of success and ends up making the distinction between “I have to" and “I get to”. Melissa shares some tips on making life choices and some of the trade-offs required to live a life by design, especially in how to retain the right and identity to say no. ...
2022-10-1357 min
The Art of Service LIVEManaging A Post-COVID Workplace w/ Melissa MarsdenMelissa Marsden is a highly successful entrepreneur who is the founder of multiple businesses and startups. In addition to that, she also manages to raise a family. She is super down to earth, but don't be fooled! She is a powerhouse business woman and I'm excited to speak with her about her business journey and the future of workplace dynamics.
Find Melissa here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamarsden/
2022-05-1731 minWork Life by DesignThree Key Ingredients in Creating a Thriving WorkplaceAttending #IRL events again has to have been a highlight for me in the past month and the Thriving Workplace event did not disappoint! This event is unlike any other conference and was a deep 2 days of sharing ideas, experiences, and the opportunities to make our working lives more fulfilling for everyone. Not only did I get to walk away from these two days with an overflowing cup, from the conversations, connections, and inspiration from those I shared it with, but I also expanded my personal perspective on what it takes to create a Thriving W...
2022-04-2627 minWork Life by DesignOn the Couch with Dr Meg Hooper; Change, Hybrid Working, Energy Management and The Great ResignationCreating organisational change at a grass roots level requires a lot of different skills, which is why I enjoy working alongside my friend and colleague Dr Meg Hooper to support the businesses and leaders that we work with. Together, we do this from not just a physical perspective but also a psychological one. With a shared passion for the impact and influence of space and place, Meg and I work in tandem to enable organisations to make positive shifts in their workplaces to enable high performance. Today's episode is a treat, to be able to sha...
2022-04-1933 minWork Life by DesignHow Well Is Your Workplace? The impact that the WELL Building framework can have on your business ROI with Ken-Yi FongThe demand for workplaces that respond to the health and wellbeing of its occupants has exponentially increased off the back of the global pandemic, driving a need for organisations and landlords alike to deliver on a more holistic approach to building design and construction. Whilst in the past the adoption of healthy building practices may have been more aligned to market positioning and differentiation, potentially viewed as more tokenistic approaches to wellbeing, today we can attribute the investment in these avenues to substantial uplifts in employee performance and productivity, delivering ROI to businesses. And this i...
2022-04-1156 minWork Life by DesignWhy the 9 to 5 Doesn't Work! The History of WorkDid you know that the Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 workday was established by Henry Ford in the 1920's? Seems to me that a lot has changed since the days we stood over factory lines, yet we still subscribe to the same working rituals. Many of us, prior to the Pandemic, never even stopped to consider why it is that we work the way that we do or that there was even another option to be considered. There has been a silver lining that has shone through the pandemic, one that has awoken us to the o...
2022-03-2219 minWork Life by DesignThe Foundations of High Performance: Translating the Secrets of Elite Athletes Into the BoardroomImagine this… You're on a business retreat and as part of the "surprise & delight" culture, you're being driven to an undisclosed location for your next activity. You arrive at a local swimming pool where you are taken into a classroom and you begin to learn about the physiology and biology of breathing, the impact that is has on the performance and function of our physical body. You're shown how different breathing methods influence the amount of oxygen in your blood, how many breaths you can take and how simply changing the way you breath using different techniques can change the...
2022-03-1556 minWork Life by DesignThe Power of EnvironmentOur environments have a HUGE impact on how we feel. This is the whole business that I'm in, designing and delivering workplaces that enable the strategic goals, vision and operational performance of a business. But it's not just limited to our corporate workplaces. When you apply that same philosophy to any environment around you, consider what it is enabling? How does your environment make you feel? Different spaces invoke different feelings and shift our ability to concentrate, collaborate or be creative. But it's not just our physical environment that we need to be conscious of….
2022-03-0828 minWork Life by DesignWork, Life & Mumming – Avoiding overwhelm, burnout and not taking yourself too seriously! With Dr Kristy Goodwin, Angela Lockwood & Dr Ali YoungWe've all been through a LOT the past 2 years and sometimes it can feel like it's only happening to us! We can sometimes feel like we are living in the middle of a total sh*t show, while Sally over the fence has it all together..... I'm super excited about today's episode because I have brought together three very special ladies Dr Kristy Goodwin, Angela Lockwood and Dr Alison Young in a panel-style discussion, exploring overwhelm, burnout and how we can put boundaries in place to support ourselves when we're navigating "all the things" Each of these wo...
2022-03-0148 minWork Life by DesignWhat's Happening in Workplaces? Are We in or Are We Out?One of the questions that I am asked a lot is "What are you seeing happening in workplaces? Are we working from home, going hybrid or is it just back to Business as Usual?" So as someone who has the privilege of seeing how various organisations are navigating the challenges and opportunities that come with our new world of work, I thought I'd share with you exactly what I see happening. Firstly, I want to give you my definition of Hybrid work, what it is and how it enables organisations before diving into answering th...
2022-02-2236 minWork Life by DesignSeason 3 wrap up: what it takes to design a work life you love!This whole season has been about designing a work life that you love; and when we move forward into a new year which will no doubt hold its own unique opportunities and challenges, I want to leave you with a highlight reel of important learnings to allow you to step consciously into 2022. In our final episode for Season 3, I'll be recapping the most valuable takeaways from our amazing array of guests to allow you to go back and relisten to episodes to provide you with tools and inspiration for the year ahead. I'll cover...
2021-12-1429 minWork Life by DesignBuilding A Better Tomorrow Today – Work Built On A Foundation of Care with Dr Gary Webb, Mars Inc.You probably know the name Mars Inc best for providing our favourite treats; Mars Bars, Snickers, Skittles, Malteasers, M&M's (I could go on and on!). But what you may not know is Mars Inc. is at the forefront of holistic employee health and wellbeing, making it one of the World's Great Places to Work. With 130,000 Associates, operating in 80 countries across the Globe, as a private, family-owned business, Mars Inc is motivated by the freedom to build a better tomorrow today. At the core of this is their understanding that the health and wellbeing of their associates...
2021-12-0746 minWork Life by DesignMyths About Goal Setting and How to Bust Them!One of my favourite quotes is; Only shine your light on the things you want to grow. It's become a bit of a mantra for me, reminding me that where I put my attention my energy flows and if I want to be intentional and make the most of the precious time that I have I should in fact be very mindful about where I direct it. If you focus on the bad stuff and you'll only notice more of it, sending you into a downward spiral, if you shine your light on...
2021-11-3018 minWork Life by DesignHybrid Work, 9 Day Fortnight & Meeting Free Wednesday - The Future of Work at Entain with Jessica SharpeThere has been a lot of conversation in the media of late about organisations handing out wellbeing days and rolling out new initiatives to combat The Great Resignation. However as you'll hear in today's chat, it's not as simple as adding a few extra days of leave to the calendar; it takes careful, long-term planning and material change at an organisational level. Jessica Sharpe is the Chief People Office for Entain Australia, a FTSE 100 company that is one of the world's largest sports betting and gaming groups operating in the online and retail sector. You may be...
2021-11-2336 min
The Passion Institute PodcastLiving My Life By Design with Melissa Marsden - AskShivani Podcast Episode 52Melissa Marsden is a Workplace Dynamics Strategist who works with emerging leaders, corporates and professional services firms to create environments that drive high performance teams. Her passion for business has enabled her to develop the workplace strategy framework recognized in the Innovation Category, as a multi-award winning entrepreneur and three-time finalist in the Telstra Business Women's Awards.
Join us today as Melissa shares her journey of seeking inspiration and opportunities to inspire others to make a difference.
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2021-11-2325 minWork Life by DesignI have a confession to make….This was the title of a recent post I shared. I was reflecting on the rough ride that I've been through personally over the last 12 months in my business and was surprised by the reaction to it. When I wrote it I felt like I was lowering the curtain a little however in hindsight I think it was actually quite a vulnerable share, that connected with so many on a deeper level. So, in today's episode, I wanted to share with you what I did to get me out of that funk! The work I...
2021-11-1621 minWork Life by DesignEnhancing Workplace Performance with Bruce DavidsonBuilding and sustaining an organisation that is still thriving 30 years on is no small feat. In today's chat I welcome Bruce Davidson. Executive Director of Davidson, an organisation specialising in enhancing workplace performance through their service streams of Business Advisory, Recruitment and Technology Consulting, they have continued to evolve to stay relevant in an ever-changing world. Bruce's main passion in life is assisting organisations and individuals to reach their potential. With an innovative mind, compelling attitude and ever-constant passion for the industry, he is committed to leading Davidson to the position of one of Australia's...
2021-11-0945 minWork Life by DesignLevel UP! The Power of Personal DevelopmentPersonal growth and professional growth are inextricably linked. In you career, you may think that professional development is what will get you to the top, but let me tell you, when things get really hard, it's not your professional capability that sees you through. It's your mindset, your resilience and your personal growth. In this episode, I cover; The power of personal growth How you can level up personally Finding direction, values and joy Taking 'The Next Right Step' Tools and Resources – where to start To get you started on your journey of personal development, do...
2021-11-0213 minWork Life by DesignRaise Your Brand, Profile & Purpose to Thrive in Work & Life with Nicole HatherlyWe've talked about Personal Brand for a number of years now, however our guest Nicole Hatherly, shares with us the opportunity that awaits us as we emerge from the effects of COVID 19; to own our Signature Brand. The opportunity to authentically communicate who we are at our core and the value we bring. I have had the great pleasure of knowing Nik for a number of years and the personally working with her over the last 3 years and she has been instrumental in supporting me to truly understand what it is that I do and articulate it...
2021-10-261h 00Work Life by DesignGet Lit UP!What makes you happy? What is something you do that makes you feel free, content and full of joy? Something that doesn't take energy but creates it. How often do you get to do that? If the answer is anything other than 'often', this episode is for you. These little things that bring us joy; rhythms and rituals we incorporate into our lives are the things that allow us to refill our tanks and continue to keep giving. After all, as the saying goes, you can't keep pouring from an empty cup. In...
2021-10-1926 minWork Life by DesignGetting you Future Fit with Andrea ClarkePreparing ourselves for the future of work can be a daunting task. Faced with the rapid transformation of technology, the adoption of automation and AI into our workplaces and let's not forget to throw in there a dose of global pandemic, who could blame you for thinking that the outlook was challenging. But as you'll hear from today's guest, it is also filled with possibility. Andrea Clarke, is an advocate for people becoming "future fit". As a former television news reporter and Washington D.C. correspondent, Andrea covered major news events for Al Jazeera English, the...
2021-10-1245 minWork Life by DesignTaking Back Your Personal Power"Being responsible for our own lives... our behaviour is a function of our decisions, not our conditions". – Steven Covey Often, we resign ourselves to the fact that we live in a world where so much is out of our control like global pandemics and external circumstances and the limitations they place on our actions. The world can begin to feel heavy. However, when we bring our attention back to focusing on what we can control, we are able to increase, expand and grow our personal power. In this episode, I explore; Your ci...
2021-10-0510 minWork Life by DesignLiving your Life by Financial Design with Mel BrowneTalking about Money is often a taboo subject, however if we want to be empowered to take control of our own financial literacy it's a subject that we really need to get comfortable with. Today's Guest Mel Browne an ex-accountant, ex-financial advisor & ex-working till she drops. These days she's a best-selling author, financial educator, business strategist & mentor and entrepreneur who is particularly passionate about helping women live a life by design, and not by default. Something we both have in common. Mel is passionate about changing the conversation that women in particular have around...
2021-09-2837 minWork Life by DesignClarity of VisionWhat does your dream life look like? This season is all about designing a work life you love and big part of that is making sure it fits with the life that you want to live. To do this you first need to define your own version of success, not what others or society consider to be a successful life. This is a trap we fall into often, and it's important to take a step back and re-evaluate as life and circumstances change to define what we truly want and how we'll know when we've...
2021-09-2112 minWork Life by DesignCareer Alignment Without Running Your Own Show with Olivia RuelloCreating a work life that you love doesn't mean that you need to head out and set up your own business. Often we hear of people who have climbed the corporate ladder, only to hit burn out and decide that the only way forward is to take their skills and go it on their own. Well today's guest is here to share with us, how if being an entrepreneur is not the path that you desire, there is another way. Olivia Ruello is the CEO of Business Chicks, stepping into the role in 2016, when founder...
2021-09-1444 minWork Life by DesignValues – The Guide Rails to LifeOne of the foundations to designing a life and career that you love is understanding your values. That means understanding your own sense of right and wrong, good and bad, what's important and what is not important to YOU, not what you've been intrinsically taught, or to those around you. Values serve as the guide rails to our lives. They keep us moving forward in the right direction, stop us from wandering off course, or into areas that don't feel good, or right for us. They help us to embody the qualities that we want in order...
2021-09-0712 minWork Life by DesignNavigating the Messy Middle with Keri KriegerOne of the things that I have noticed as I have grown is that the experiences that we have are not unique to us and that if we look around often many of us are challenged by the paths that our lives have taken. While we may not be openly and outwardly shouting it from the roof tops or even whispering it to our closest of friends, there is for many of us a period of breakdown which leads to break through. And this is where today's guest Keri is here to share what she has learned...
2021-08-3134 minWork Life by DesignDo You Know Your Why?"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how" Friedrich Nietzsche Ask yourself this; What is it that you hope to achieve while you're here on this earth? And what is the impact that you want to make? Why do you do what you do? Why is it important? What is the impact that that is going to have on the people around you? Knowing why you do what you do is just as important, if not more important than, doing what you do. Knowing what you do...
2021-08-2419 minWork Life by DesignA Life of Gold & Dust: Alchemy, Authenticity & Courage with Samantha WillsIn this week's chat, I am incredibly excited to bring you our guest; the beautiful Samantha Wills. For those of you who are not familiar with Samantha, she is the creative powerhouse behind the Samantha Wills jewellery brand. Starting this business in 2004, as a fresh face 21-year-old from her dining room table, she grew it into a successful global business. She lived in New York for 10 years, had production houses in Asia and India, and offices in France and Japan. She then famously announced its closure in mid 2018, when it was continuing to enjoy widespread commercial success...
2021-08-1737 minWork Life by DesignIs Your Life in Balance?I'll let you in on a little secret. Balance is BS. There is no work/life balance. You can't have a work persona and a life persona. It's all about integration. In today's episode, I'm going to be discussing The Balance Wheel – the most useful tool I've found in examining and evaluating all the different segments of our lives and identifying where our time and energy needs to be spent. I'll go through: What is a balance wheel? The segments of life (outside of work!) Work/Life integration and boundaries Se...
2021-08-1021 minWork Life by DesignDesigning your One Beautiful Life with Tina TowerOne person that I believe optimises the idea of creating a work life they love is Tina Tower. Tina is a self-confessed professional development junkie and lover of work, but has also learned the hard way that continuing to push through is not always the best way. Tina has lived a vast and varied life to date, starting her first business at 20, she went on to found and grow her tutoring business into a national franchise of 35 centres. When her business was acquired in 2016, she began coaching other people on how to scale their service-based businesses, however...
2021-08-0348 minWork Life by DesignWho Are You? … No, Really.You're probably thinking, 'Mel, don't be ridiculous, I know who I am'. But do you really, truly know who you are? How you work, what makes you tick? What values you stand for or stand against? Could you tell me these things if I asked you? And the reason I asked this question is because until we truly know who we are, I believe that we are just really reacting to the expectations and requests of others, whether that be our family, our friends, our boss, our colleagues, our clients, or even just society in general. Just...
2021-07-2719 minWork Life by DesignTaking your own Powerful Steps with Tory ArchboldDo you trust your gut instinct? Maybe you only trust it in certain aspects of your life like work or relationships? Sometimes our gut feeling is our best indicator of which direction to take, but learning to tune in to it can be a journey. Today I am joined by Tory Archbold the Founder and Director of Powerful Steps. Prior to 2019 Tory was running the Global PR agency Torstar, launching big brands, celebrities, and influencers such as Megan Gale, Nespresso, Victoria's Secret and Drew Barrymore in the Australian market. However, while she was getting everyone e...
2021-07-1935 minWork Life by DesignDesigning a Work Life you Love! Welcome to Season 3! Work life by Design has just celebrated its 1st birthday so a BIG thank you for tuning in and listening in; I appreciate the support and love. This season I want to dive deep into what this podcast says on the tin; designing a work life that you truly LOVE. Today, I'm going to tell you a bit about my story; how I ended up here, including the parts where I blew up my life on purpose and how I searched high and low for my true purpose and the meaning of a...
2021-07-1308 minWork Life by DesignSeason 2 Wrap UpIs the office dead? Does productivity come at the expense of wellbeing? How do you manage Zoom fatigue? How do you maintain connection in a remote workplace?! It's been a huge season of Work Life By Design as we've explored all the big questions around what the future of work looks like after the impact of COVID. We've had some incredible guests from a wide range of backgrounds and industries all with different ideas on how to navigate the future of work and manage the expectations of their people with the bottom line of the...
2021-07-0634 minWork Life by DesignWhy Your Workplace Doesn't Work!It may be beautiful but it just doesn't work.... There many reasons why your workplace doesn't work; layout, lack of understanding, doing what you've always done. Often clients underestimate the impact of interrogating their brief. It's common for them to approach a designer or a builder with a wish list, layout and design in mind and the builder complies. But there is so much more to it. This week I discuss: Why offices just don't work, even if they look amazing The essential things you need to consider when designing a...
2021-06-2915 minWork Life by DesignAre we just creating Digital Silos?More productivity = less innovation? Communication with our immediate teams has increased with the move to remote working styles, however interactions outside our team or with distant networks has significantly diminished. We've been able to increase our productivity, but our hybrid communication structures, water cooler conversations, impromptu brainstorming sessions and incidental interactions have been lost. So, have we created digital silos, or as I call it, the cubicle of 2021? In today's episode, I look at how the rise of digital communication has impacted us and how to tackle the delicate balance between digital overload...
2021-06-1524 minWork Life by DesignManaging Cognitive Overload with The Third Space with Dr Adam FraserThe ability to transition from one event to another has a significant impact on how we show up in those spaces. The mindset and mental state that we approach each task, activity, conversation or moment with ultimately defines how that situation turns out. As more of us are continuing to work from home or engage in a hybrid work style, the conscious awareness that we know need to bring to these moments has become increasingly important. So, who better to chat to about the impact of these moments than Dr Adam Fraser; researcher, speaker and...
2021-06-0846 minWork Life by DesignIt's all about the Chemistry"People will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel" Maya Angelou In today's episode, I delve into the relationship between clients and designers and why a fundamental connection is essential for success. This is a topic I'm incredibly passionate about and one of our core values at COMUNiTI is "it's all about the Chemistry". Essentially, that means we seek to work with people we gel with; people who get us, what we do and how we do it. We've been...
2021-05-1817 minWork Life by DesignShaping Work Lives with Kursty GrovesAs Australians we have been relatively insulated from the impact of COVID unlike the rest of the world, so as part of this season and understand the future of work, I was keen to understand what "work life" looks like on the other side of the globe. In today's episode I chat with Kursty Groves a workplace strategist and innovation consultant based in the UK. Kursty helps workplace leaders reinvent the future of work and spaces that support connected cultures. With a background in innovation consulting, capability development and design, Kursty's approach to workplace is grounded in co...
2021-05-1145 minWork Life by DesignHow Persona Profiling Shapes your Workplace DesignWhen we talk about persona profiling, we usually think of psychometric testing and other sorts of personality profiling tests. In the workplace, we generally use these in the context of recruitment and understanding a candidate's personality before we hire them to understand if they are a cultural fit for our organisation. What you may not have thought of is personality profiling is incredibly useful from a workplace design perspective. Understanding personal preferences of teams, and individuals within those teams allows us to design a workplace that aligns with different ways of working. Join me as...
2021-05-0413 minWork Life by DesignMaking Work Absolutely Human Rhonda Brighton-HallWork is an incredibly important aspect to the lives of many of us and finding a workplace that enables us to thrive and to contribute forms a large part of our personal feeling of purpose and of belonging. Rhonda Brighton-Hall is CEO of mwah. Making Work Absolutely Human, Chair of the AHRI Institute, National D&I Advisory Panel, a Patron for ASPECT (Autism Australia) and recognised as a game changer in the future design of organisations, HR, leadership, diversity and inclusion and work. Having worked, lived and lectured in Asia, Europe and the USA, Rhonda i...
2021-04-2742 minWork Life by DesignThe Real Cost of a Fitted Out WorkplaceTaking over the lease on a fitted out workplace to support your organisational growth often makes sense on paper however, I often see the intangible costs of this decision realised down line. In this episode I'll share with you how these intangible costs show up and the impact on the performance of your business and how you can begin to build the capability internally to transform your business. Your Workplace Future Ready Program https://www.melissamarsden.com.au/your_workplace_future_ready Melissa Marsden
2021-04-1912 minWork Life by DesignDecoding Tomorrow: a futurist perspectiveOne of the things that I observed during the last 12mths was how we likened the experience of the pandemic to the themes and realities of science fiction movies. Some more positive experiences such as the opportunities that technology has enabled to connect us into a global community, and others less so, as we navigated the changes to our realities with the introduction of a virus that was beyond our ability to control. Today's guest is Futurist and Founder of the think tank and trend analysis firm, Thinque, Anders Sorman-Nilsson. Thinque provide data-based research, foresight and thought le...
2021-04-1348 minWork Life by DesignThe Impact of Wellbeing on Business Performance with Dr Adrian MedhurstThe global pandemic has had a significant impact on the way we all work and live, and this impact has had a flow on effect to our wellbeing; physically, mentally and emotionally. As you'll hear in this conversation, its not only our work and life that we need to be considering its also our wellbeing and performance. Today's guest is Dr Adrian Medhurst, the co-founder of Benny Button a work-life wellbeing and performance business. Adrian explains the inherent link between our wellbeing and our performance and how this impacts our ability to perform at work.
2021-03-2637 minWork Life by DesignReturning to the Workplace: Optimising Space for People with Claudette LeemingClaudette is the Head of Property Strategy & Performance at Australia Post where she is responsible for managing their corporate property portfolio and the continual evolution of their workplace to support the highly dynamic and changing organisation. Claudette has worked in the property industry for 25 years, graduating from RMIT with a degree in Interior Design. Claudette's focus quickly centred on workplace design and strategy where she spent 20 years delivering workplace projects for a broad range of clients and industries. In today's chat, Claudette and I discuss: What Australia Post's property portfolio looks like, across the e...
2021-03-1531 minWork Life by DesignThe Future of Work: The Impact of CovidThe pandemic has changed the way we work forever. In Season 2 of Work Life by Design, we will be exploring what the future of work looks like and impact that COVID has had on how, where and why we work. We will be looking at how workplace design has evolved, the expectations of employees and employers, the health & wellbeing agenda and our need to belong. I'll be bringing you guests from a wide range of expertise surrounding our world of work, including one of Australia's largest employers, wellbeing and performance experts, futurists and w...
2021-03-0911 minWork Life by DesignHow Long Does It Take To Design and Build A New WorkplaceA question I am asked A. LOT! But I can also tell you that many companies don't allow enough time! 😖 The answer is not that straight forward.... it depends 🤷♀️ Today I talk you through the variables that impact how long it takes to design and build the workplace of your dreams! So you can make sure you don't leave your run too late and need to compromise on one of your largest business investments. 🤗 Doors are closing TOMORROW to the Your Workplace Future Ready program. Join the program to build your own internal capability and s...
2021-03-0114 minWork Life by DesignYour Wellbeing Strategy, More than just a Fruit BoxTo celebrate the launch of the Your Workplace Future Ready program, I'll be going LIVE daily discussing all things work! If you'd like to join and have a question you can find me on Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin – see the links below. While many organisations have the best of intentions in supporting their employee's wellbeing, we need to be looking beyond offering a fruit box or introducing a step challenge. The health and wellbeing of our employees is an employers responsibility, as Gallup say; "People with thriving wellbeing simply do better in life. And com...
2021-02-2611 minWork Life by DesignWhy Flow, Routines & Rituals Are Important In Workplace DesignTo celebrate the launch of the Your Workplace Future Ready program, I'll be going LIVE daily discussing all things work! If you'd like to join and have a question you can find me on Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin – see the links below. It wasn't until we all packed up and went home during our first lockdown at the end of March 2020, that we realised the impact that having a daily routine and rituals had on structuring our day. The act of getting up, getting dressed and "going" to work, all work together to shift us mentally and physically into...
2021-02-2516 minWork Life by DesignTranslating Your Purpose into CultureTo celebrate the launch of the Your Workplace Future Ready program, I'll be going LIVE daily discussing all things work! If you'd like to join and have a question you can find me on Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin – see the links below. Purpose is the reason an organisation exists beyond making money. Finding our purpose as an organisation can be a difficult path to navigate. Not because we don't have one, but because as an organisation we may find it difficult to articulate or communicate in a way that engages our employees. However, when we k...
2021-02-2412 minWork Life by DesignReimagine Your Future of WorkTo celebrate the launch of the Your Workplace Future Ready program, I'll be going LIVE daily discussing all things work! If you'd like to join and have a question you can find me on Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin – see the links below. To kick it off today I'm talking about reimagining our future of work. What we need to be observing in our organisations, the data we need to be collecting and the trends and opportunities that we can be looking to, in order to imagine what our future of work looks like. The doors to the...
2021-02-2317 minWork Life by DesignIS YOUR WORKPLACE FUTURE READY?Doors open to Your Workplace Future Ready next week!!! Tuesday 23rd February. What is Your Workplace Future Ready? This is my signature 7 week online program where I guide you through the 5 pillars that underpin the workplace dynamics in every organisation. There is an art and a science to creating high performing workplace that people actually love and want to be in everyday and over the last 20 years I have been developing the tools and methods that I share through this program. Imagine a workplace that not only enabled productivity but enhanced wellb...
2021-02-1910 min
Work.Mama.Life with Dr Ali YoungYours, Mine and Ours... with Melissa MarsdenMelissa Marsden is an Interior Architect with a difference. Not only is she a mum with an amazing blended family of yours, mine and ours (don't worry, this makes way more sense on the podcast), she is also owns the amazing COMUNIiTI - a design firm shaping spaces to shape lives. Melissa's mothering journey, her return to work and her family structure are amazing to learn from, and how she has navigated all of this without losing sight of her sense of self, her values and what make her tick is really inspiring. I really h...
2021-02-1720 minWork Life by DesignDrink Anyone? The sh*tstorm that was 2020Well, we didn't see that one coming, and like many I'm sure that we could all use a drink and good lie down after this year! This episode was a challenging one to record, because honestly it has been an incredibly difficult year, but none the less, here we are. 2020 has been the year that saw us switch to working from home overnight, achieving something that years of change programs have struggled to do! It saw us embrace "top dressing" and introduced us to a raft of new skills that we didn't know we needed o...
2020-12-2037 minWork Life by DesignBusiness Innovation Enabling Work That Matters with Fiona TriacaFiona is the Founder and CEO of Naked Ambition, a design-led innovation company. She is also the host of Naked Ambition the Podcast where she interviews the people who are making an impact in leadership, Innovation and design, across the world. As a fellow design thinking and purpose led business owner I'm really excited to have been able to interview Fiona on how she has supported the transformation of organisations through her work and the positive impacts that she has seen this bring to individuals, clients and businesses. This episode unpacks what innovation is within o...
2020-12-061h 00Work Life by DesignSetting Your North StarGaining clarity on our own sense of purpose and the values that we wish to live by form the foundation from which we can then live out a life of alignment. When we are unclear on these aspects of our life, we can get off course, make decisions that don't feel right and enable others to make decisions for us, as we have no real clarity on where we are heading, our North Star. By centring ourselves around our purpose and being able to articulate what it is that we stand for and stand against, we are e...
2020-12-0616 minWork Life by DesignSelf Fidelity, How to Thrive at WorkCassandra Goodman is a coach, facilitator and the author of the newly realised book Self-Fidelity. With over three decades of business experience across multiple industries she has held many different senior leadership roles, including Global Director of Employee Experience at a healthcare company where she activated the organisation's purpose 'Longer, Healthier, Happier Lives' for their 86,000 employees across the world. In addition to growing her own business, Cassandra is a Thrive Global facilitator and executive coach. Thrive Global is an organisation founded and led by Arianna Huffington with the mission to end the global epidemic of stress and bu...
2020-11-3051 min
Work Life by DesignCassandra Goodman is a coach, facilitator and the author of the newly realised book Self-Fidelity. With over three decades of business experience across multiple industries she has held many different senior leadership roles, including Global Director of Employee Experience at a healthcare company where she activated the organisation’s purpose ‘Longer, Healthier, Happier Lives’ for their 86,000 employees across the world. In addition to growing her own business, Cassandra is a Thrive Global facilitator and executive coach. Thrive Global is an organisation founded and led by Arianna Huffington with the mission to end the global epidemic of stress and bur...
2020-11-3051 minWork Life by DesignThe Link Between Values & BehavioursHave you ever considered the link between the values and the expected behaviours in your organisation? When we set the values of our organisation, we need to go deeper in order to clearly communicate the expectations of our culture. In going to that next level we are looking at the behaviours that we expect to see when we are living in alignment with the values of our organisation. When we have clarity of the behaviours, we can then begin to use our environment to encourage people to do more of the things that align with the expected values of the...
2020-11-2311 minWork Life by DesignThe Business of DesignIn today's episode, the tables are turned and I'm being interviewed by Amanda Bulow from the Awesome Women Podcast. We discussed; all things workplace design, how our workplaces have evolved, the different types of typologies and space settings that we have in our workplace environments, we debate whether or not the open plan office is dead, what we might be expecting to see in our workplaces in a post COVID World; and how the workplace will need to consider the next generation. Amanda wraps up the episode with a dive into my career history, discussing how I c...
2020-11-1627 minWork Life by DesignWho to Hire & WhenCreating a new workplace environment can be a really exciting, but also a pretty daunting time. So it's important to get the right people on your team to guide you. This episode gives you a shopping list of the external advisors that you might want to have on your side and engaging with across your journey. Designing and building your new workplace doesn't happen all that often and you want all the help you can get to make this as enjoyable and as fun as possible, while making sure that you're getting the right advice. We...
2020-11-0918 minWork Life by DesignWorkplace Technology, It's More Human Than You Think with Aston ConsultingTom Price is the Founding Director of Aston Qld and Simon Backhouse is the company's Associate Director of Workplace Technology. Aston are specialist building services engineers and technology consultants operating solely in the commercial workplace sector. They are dedicated to delivering advice, design and technical support in the areas of engineering and workplace technology. With clients such as Atlassian, Zoom & Dropbox in their portfolio, Aston are at the forefront of what's happening in workplace design and technology and the impact on our future of work. I was fortunate enough to get an insight into how they see the...
2020-11-0249 minWork Life by DesignDesigning Your Future Workplace | Who Needs to be InvolvedAchieving optimal results from your next workplace requires input from a variety of stakeholders. It requires a diverse range of opinions and view points to ensure that you have looked at the possibilities from the view point of each of the users, and you might even be a little surprised by what you learn about your organisation. In this episode I'll be guiding you through who you should be involving in the process in order to achieve the best outcome. We talk about why you would involve these people and the contribution that they can make...
2020-10-2616 minWork Life by DesignDigital Wellbeing and The Impact on Productivity with Dr Kristy GoodwinDoes that "ping" of your email make your whole body tense? Chances are you could be experiencing "digital stress". Dr Kristy Goodwin is a speaker, author, researcher and media commentator exploring the impacts that our digitalised lives have on our physical health, mental wellbeing and productivity. She works with organisations, both big and small, to optimise employees' digital wellbeing and productivity as they navigate remote working arrangements. Kristy makes understanding the why of how we engage with technology and how we can counteract our dependencies with it, easy and tangible. Using scientific research, Kristy works wit...
2020-10-1952 minWork Life by DesignThe Importance of Brand in Workplace DesignAn organisations brand is far more than a logo, website or a suite of colours. It is the representation of the organisations purpose, why they exist, where they came from and where they are going. It is their story and personality. Your brand is much more than a logo and a suite of colours. Your brand is a representation of who you are, what you stand for and how you want people to experience you. "Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room". The brand of an o...
2020-10-1219 minWork Life by DesignCreating the Rules of Belonging with Fiona RobertsonAs humans we are hardwired for social connection in order to survive, a deep need to feel like we belong. My guest in this episode helps us to understand the connection between organisational culture and the rules of belonging. Fiona Robertson is a culture and leadership expert, she is also the author of Rules of Belonging - change your organisational culture, delight your people and turbo-charge your results. Fiona was also the Head of Culture at NAB, and was actually there at the same time as our last guest Sarah Skeats who was Head of Bra...
2020-10-0652 minWork Life by DesignHow much space do you need? How do you know what size tenancy is going to be right for you? Current space +10%? Industry average? In this episode we'll be exploring some of the common mistakes that are made in determining how much space you need. I'll then share with you three steps that you can take to analyse how your organisation is using your workplace in order to put some data and science behind determining the floor area that your business will need. This episode covers a LOT and gets into the finer details of determining your office space requirements so that...
2020-09-2820 min
Awesome WomenMelissa Marsden – Founder & Director of COMUNiTIMelissa Marsden is a Workplace Dynamics Strategist who works with corporates & professional services firms to create physical environments that drive high performance teams.
Mel believes that our environments have the opportunity to positively influence our behaviour and performance at work.
Mel has enabled her clients to realise not only substantial financial business profits, but also shift employee and business mindsets from slow, stagnant operations to agile and flexible environments, enabling them to swiftly adopt new business opportunities and streams, whilst establishing a premium level employee experience.
Mel’s business acumen has been recognised by...
2020-09-2230 minWork Life by DesignThe Business of Brand in the New Era with Sarah SkeatsSarah Skeats is a Partner of BoB Group, or otherwise known as Business of Brand, where she is also the Managing Director of BoB Australia. BoB are a purpose driven business supporting organisations to make an impact and "shift the world into a new era". Sarah has delivered record-breaking acquisition, retention and brand campaigns with leading global and national brands including Microsoft, Telstra and recently as the Head of Brand at NAB, where she delivered the latest brand strategy, More than Money. However as you'll hear in our discussion, Sarah realised that in order to t...
2020-09-2145 minWork Life by DesignHow much does a new office cost?Creating a new workplace can be a really exciting but also daunting time. There are a lot of big decisions that need to be made and these decisions are ones that we are going to be needing to live with for a long time. In this episode we discuss all the factors that influence the cost of your workplace from floor area and workplace style through to how your brand influences the level of finish that you desire. We'll also be looking at how time impacts on costs and how with the right lease deal, you can ac...
2020-09-1417 minWork Life by DesignA Pragmatic Approach to the Tough Stuff with Ali HillDealing with the tough stuff is not new to any of us, but actually doing this and doing it well can be a challenge for many us. Thankfully this is at the heart of what Ali Hill loves to support leaders and organisations to do daily. Ali is a registered psychologist and CEO of three-time AFR 100 company Pragmatic Thinking. Using her expertise across leadership, culture and psychology, she and the team at Pragmatic thinking help organisations build better leaders by building better people. Ali is also the author of two best selling books and the hos...
2020-09-0759 minWork Life by DesignWorkplace Styles | What are the options?Workplace styles - What are our options? What are the various types of environments that exist for us to consider when moving into our new workplace? Now is a really exciting time for us to reimagine our workplace in the future. We've been presented with so many possibilities that lie before us. We're going to be looking at everything from the traditional right through to running a remote workforce, and what makes up each style and how different types of industries have typically aligned with each style. We look at how technology is enabling us to work differently and...
2020-08-3116 minWork Life by DesignCoworking: Designing Space for People with Jonathan O'ByrneCoworking is a concept that has fascinated me for years. In this episode, Jonathon and I unpack how these spaces operate and what the financial metrics & community engagement needs are to make this model work for both the operator and the resident. But perhaps even more importantly we discuss how the design of our physical environment influences our behaviour and organisational performance, and how he has seen this first hand through the tenants of his coworking space. Born in Ireland, raised in the Middle East, educated in the United Kingdom and living in Singapore. Jonathan has experienced som...
2020-08-2454 minWork Life by DesignWorkplace Trends Beyond 2020The global pandemic has shifted how we work. While we can't predict the long term impact that the pandemic will have on our workplaces, what we have seen is an acceleration of the future of work and the role that technology is going to have in keeping us safe and enabling our productivity. In this episode we explore what some of the technology's that our buildings may look to incorporate into the future and how workplace management technology will enable us to monitor, manage and coordinate our workplaces. We'll discuss the role of wellbeing and how our bu...
2020-08-1823 minWork Life by DesignWhy you need a Wellness Strategy with Katrina WaltonWhy does your organisation need a wellness strategy? As we are navigating our way through one of the most challenging times in our history, never has there been a more important time to develop and implement a wellness strategy that responds to the needs of your organisation. Many organisations roll out fruit boxes, flu shots and engage their people in step count challenges. While done with the very best of intentions, these initiatives can often be seen as failing to provide an ROI to the organisation, as they aren't connected to the corporate objectives and goals of...
2020-08-1035 minWork Life by DesignThe True Purpose of WorkplaceWhat is the True Purpose of our Workplace? This episode explores why we go to work, how we came to be at this place we call work and how our workplaces fill a social need and connection in each of us. We also look at how our workplaces connect our personal purpose to that of the organisation and how we can achieve significant productivity and performance gains when we socialise at work.
2020-08-0318 minWork Life by DesignBabies at Work, It can Work! With Nadia Taylor"If in doubt, do it!" Putting off starting a family in exchange for your career, is a conversation that I have had many times with my female friends and colleagues. In this episode of Work Life by Design I'm chatting with Nadia Taylor from Mapien on her experience of shifting from thinking she didn't want children to integrating her new son Atlas not only into her career but also into her workplace. As a passionate advocate for returning mums to the workplace, I was fortunate enough to watch as Nadia navigate this experience successfully, returning t...
2020-07-2731 minWork Life by DesignTransforming Leadership with a Calm Mind with Amber Hawken & Brett Robinson"I believe the most powerful thing on the planet is the human mind, and we all have one. So why not take the best version of it with us everywhere we go." Brett Robinson In this episode I had the pleasure of chatting with Amber Hawken and Brett Robinson. These two individuals have an infectious passion for enabling people to achieve their biggest potential and for each of us to be the most optimised human being we can be, and together they have founded Calm Mind Co. Created to shape conscious leaders and shift cultures using mindfulness, me...
2020-07-1352 minWork Life by DesignThe Brand Story Founded on Country Values with Dugald WarbyYour brand is so much more than a logo. It's your story, what you stand for and how you want to be seen. In this episode I'm pleased to be introducing you to Dugald Warby. Duge is one of the partners at Hall Chadwick Qld, a firm that was founded 40 years ago with deep roots back to Western Queensland. In this episode, Duge and I discuss their pride for their history, how they have managed to maintain their small firm mentality and what it takes to make it 40years in business. With a client base that spans fro...
2020-06-2924 min