It's not about RTO Mandates. It's about Fostering Community
Release Date: 05/01/2024
Master your Focus in a world of Distraction with Angela Lockwood
Work Life by Design
In a world where distractions rule and our attention is constantly hijacked—how do we reclaim our focus and find clarity? In this powerful and practical episode, I sit down with Angela Lockwood, occupational therapist, author, speaker, and the brilliant mind behind The Focus Formula. With a career dedicated to helping people tune out the noise and tune into what truly matters, Angela shares the tools, mindset shifts, and daily habits that can help you own your attention and thrive—especially in leadership and business. From a life-altering accident that changed the course of her...
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Maximising Northrop's Investment Opportunity with Stephen Fryer
Work Life by Design
What if your next office move wasn’t just about real estate, but a radical reset for your entire business culture? In this episode, I sit down with my client Stephen Fryer, Greater Sydney Leader at Northrop Consulting Engineers, to explore how a lease expiry sparked a workplace transformation that redefined leadership, engagement, and innovation. From flexible work models to culture-led design, discover how Northrop turned relocation into reinvention, and how the team at COMUNiTI supported him to make it happen. 🎧 We talk: Turning a lease expiry into a growth opportunity Building a...
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A return to community with Amber Hawken
Work Life by Design
In today’s episode, we explore something deeply human yet often overlooked in business: community. When we shift focus from the bottom line to the broader picture—our people, our values, and our environment—we open the door to more meaningful success. I’ve welcomed Amber Hawken, a thought leader in this space, to explore how leadership, mindfulness, and nature can help reshape workplace culture. What You’ll Learn: ✔ The first steps businesses can take to foster a deeper connection with their communities. ✔ Why leadership must drive the change from the top down. ✔ How small...
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Body Burnout: Know the signs and what you can do with Filipa Bellette
Work Life by Design
Burnout isn’t just feeling tired—it’s your body waving a red flag. I know because I’ve been there, pushing through exhaustion until my body forced me to stop. That’s when I found Filipa Bellette, and everything changed. As co-founder of Chris and Filipa Functional Medicine, she’s helped thousands heal beyond just “managing” burnout. In this episode, we uncover: 💡 What body burnout really is—and why it’s often overlooked 💡 Why traditional medicine misses the root cause 💡 How deep-seated beliefs and stress patterns keep us...
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7 Things I've Learned from Being in Business
Work Life by Design
The past year could be described as the ultimate paradox. A year that was both deeply challenging and incredibly transformative. It reminded me that there cannot be light without darkness. In this episode, I’m sharing 7 key lessons I’ve learned in business and leadership—insights that have shaped not only my work but also how I show up in life. From redefining success and trusting my own intuition to embracing rhythm over hustle, these lessons have shifted everything. 🎯 Bigger Isn’t Always Better – A lean, high-performing team can drive more impact than a...
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Creating a Neuroinclusive Workplace with Mariane Power
Work Life by Design
Creating a workplace that celebrates neurodiversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the smartest business move you can make. In my latest episode, I sit down with Mariane Power, a clinical psychologist and neurodiversity specialist, to discuss how businesses can better support neurodivergent employees, and why fostering an inclusive environment benefits the entire organisation. We explore: What is Neurodiversity? Understanding the natural diversity in human brains and why it’s so important for businesses to embrace it. Universal Design Principles: How simple, inclusive...
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My health journey and what it taught me
Work Life by Design
I’m pulling back the curtain on something deeply personal in this week’s podcast episode - my journey through burnout, adrenal fatigue, and the hard-won lessons that led me back to myself. For too long, I ignored the exhaustion, the brain fog, the emotional overwhelm, until my body finally said, ENOUGH! What followed was a wake-up call that changed everything: a deep dive into my health, my beliefs, and the way I was living my life. In this episode, I share: 🔥 The warning signs of burnout (that I continued to ignore!) 🧠 How my body was screaming for change (even when doctors said I...
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What's on my heart & mind + how Mastery is guiding me in 2025!
Work Life by Design
This season of Work Life by Design is deeply personal. Inspired by Brené Brown’s reflections on "what’s on my heart and mind," I’m bringing you honest, unfiltered conversations about the challenges, insights, and lessons that have shaped both me and the work we’re doing at COMUNiTI over the past year. Over the last 12 months, I’ve faced my own health challenges—burnout, adrenal fatigue, and gut issues that left me completely exhausted. This experience has reshaped how I approach 2025, and this season is all about sharing that journey with you....
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Season 6 - Wrap Up
Work Life by Design
When I kicked off this season it was with the intent to reconnect to the roots of our namesake COMUNiTI, and it has not disappointed! This season was to encourage us to take a broader look at what we should be focusing on to encourage people back to our workplaces. After first answering the pre-vailing question “Why?” we need to then consider that creating a workplace worth going to, requires more than a fantastic fitout! Across this season I have shared a framework for building Community within your workplace, the role of place, and in turn its own detailed...
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Optimising Real Estate to Build Community - with Jeremy Pollak
Work Life by Design
info_outlineIf 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 centuries our communities have centred around sharing an imagined reality crafted out of words, which has enabled large numbers of strangers to come together to coordinate effectively”
Yuval Harari, Author of Sapiens.
At COMUNiTI, we use our Workplace Dynamics Blueprintä to dive deep with our clients to understand the purpose of place and the fundamentals that needs of a place. By using our five pillars we can identify the opportunities and the gaps across the organisation to co-create a space that lays the foundations to building a community.
In today’s episode, I’m sharing with you the framework that I’ve developed to building community in organisations, from the foundations up!
LINKS
Doors to our Workplae Dynamics Blueprint program opening soon - join the watilist here!
Get your copy of Mel’s new Book “The Next Workplace; Designing Dynamic Environments that Inspire Human Potential”
Connect with Mel;
Email | Insta | LinkedIn | Website | Website | Whitepaper - The Road Map to Employee Experience
Book a 30min Complimentary Discovery Call with Mel https://calendly.com/melissa-marsden/30min