Ep. 390: “Critical Connections” – How Leaders Can Harness the Power of Community in the Workplace with Dr. Tracy Brower of Steelcase
Release Date: 02/24/2026
Ep. 398: “The Ubuntu Workplace” – Designing for Humanity and the Future of Work with Workplace Strategist Hassan Shaikh, PhD
Workplace Innovator Podcast | Enhancing Your Employee Experience | Facility Management | CRE | Digital Workplace Technology
Hassan Shaikh, PhD is a South African-born workplace strategist who brings over two decades of global experience to reimagining how people and organizations connect through space. Mike Petrusky asks Hassan about his research and the “Ubuntu” philosophy, which means “I am because we are” and serves as an inspiration to design workplaces that elevate our collective wellbeing. Successful workplace innovation requires challenging outdated models and embracing new approaches that center on human experience and diversity, so Mike and Hassan explore how human needs, cultural context,...
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Ep. 397: “Ahead by a Century” – AI Ethics, Continuous Learning, and the Future of Facility Management with Lorri Rowlandson of BGIS
Workplace Innovator Podcast | Enhancing Your Employee Experience | Facility Management | CRE | Digital Workplace Technology
Lorri Rowlandson is Senior Vice President, Strategy and Innovation at BGIS where she is a strategic and operational real estate executive with global experience delivering integrated real estate services in a distributed portfolio of diverse assets. Mike Petrusky asks Lorri about her updated perspectives on delivering “practical innovation” in the workplace with a focus on measurable results rather than just ideas or "innovation theater”. They explore how AI and automation are rapidly evolving and encourage FM professionals to view change through a variety of lenses including personal...
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Ep. 396: “Just Stay Human” – Designing Solutions that Create Value and Enhance Employee Experiences with Workplace Consultant Tonya Thornburgh
Workplace Innovator Podcast | Enhancing Your Employee Experience | Facility Management | CRE | Digital Workplace Technology
Tonya Thornburgh is an accomplished workplace leader with years of experience and a passion for leaving people, places and things better than she found them. Mike Petrusky asks Tonya about her career journey and why she believes continuous evolution, experimentation, and learning from failures are essential to long-term innovation and maintaining relevance in the workplace industry today. They explore how innovation in the built environment is less about adopting flashy new tools and more about deeply understanding human behavior, removing friction, and designing adaptable systems. As AI is...
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Ep. 395: “Beyond Aesthetics” – How Multi-Sensory Design Transforms the Workplace with Raul Garcia-Moncada, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP, WELL AP of BR Design Associates
Workplace Innovator Podcast | Enhancing Your Employee Experience | Facility Management | CRE | Digital Workplace Technology
Raul Garcia-Moncada, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP, WELL AP is Principal & Director of Design at BR Design Associates where he is passionate about collaborating with real estate executives to develop strategies and resource plans that empower teams to achieve high-quality, sustainable results. Mike Petrusky asks Raul why he believes that good design is not just about aesthetics but is intrinsically linked to positive business outcomes. They explore innovation in workplace design and encourage leaders to embrace flexibility, adaptability, and prioritizing well-being in their organizations. Raul says...
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Ep. 394: “You Need Intelligence First” – Smart Buildings, AI, and the Future of Workplace Technology with Melissa Marsh of PLASTARC
Workplace Innovator Podcast | Enhancing Your Employee Experience | Facility Management | CRE | Digital Workplace Technology
Melissa Marsh is Founder & Executive Director at PLASTARC where she is a passionate practitioner of workplace strategy and a leader in change management services delivering social research and people analytics for the built environment. Mike Petrusky asks Melissa why she believes organizations need to focus on digitizing their real estate assets, ensuring system interoperability, and bridging the gap between people and building data to truly realize the benefits of AI and IoT. They explore how the post-pandemic world has fundamentally changed how cities and offices are occupied, leading to...
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Ep. 393: “Grow Your Strengths” – How FM Leaders Can Embrace Self-Care and Lead with Awareness to Transform Workplace Experience with Sarah Sims of FTI Consulting & IFMA
Workplace Innovator Podcast | Enhancing Your Employee Experience | Facility Management | CRE | Digital Workplace Technology
Sarah Sims is Americas Regional Head of Workplace Experience at FTI Consulting and President of the Capital Chapter of IFMA in Washington, DC where she is passionate about designing human-centered workplaces at enterprise scale. Mike Petrusky asks Sarah about why she believes that self-awareness and focusing on personal strengths are foundational for professional growth and leadership in her facility management journey. They explore the fast-changing world of the built environment and share stories from their local FM community. Sarah says that innovation in the workplace involves both...
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Ep. 392: “Bringing Their A-Game” – How FM Leaders Can Prioritize Employee Experience and Create Environments Where People Thrive with Bex Moorhouse of WPP
Workplace Innovator Podcast | Enhancing Your Employee Experience | Facility Management | CRE | Digital Workplace Technology
Bex Moorhouse is Global Head of Strategy, Ops Excellence & Performance - Procurement & REWS at WPP where she is passionate about helping to prioritize employee experience and create environments where people thrive. Mike Petrusky asks Bex about her new role and her passion for cultivating such engaging environments where all employees feel seen, valued, and empowered. She believes that empathy and curiosity are crucial "power skills" for workplace professionals, enabling them to adapt, learn, and lead effectively in changing environments, so she shares that storytelling and clear...
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Ep. 391: “Shaping the Felt Environment” – The Science and Practice of Emotional Wisdom in the Workplace with Joshua Freedman of Six Seconds EQ Network
Workplace Innovator Podcast | Enhancing Your Employee Experience | Facility Management | CRE | Digital Workplace Technology
Joshua Freedman is CEO and cofounder of Six Seconds, the global emotional intelligence (EQ) network where he is passionate about helping organizations achieve higher engagement, better leadership, and scalable culture change. Mike Petrusky asks Joshua about his new book, “Emotion Rules: The Science and Practice of Emotional Wisdom”, in which he equips leaders with scientific and practical tools for harnessing emotional intelligence to create a positive "felt environment" at work. Emotional intelligence is not only individually measurable but can also be assessed and developed at the...
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Ep. 390: “Critical Connections” – How Leaders Can Harness the Power of Community in the Workplace with Dr. Tracy Brower of Steelcase
Workplace Innovator Podcast | Enhancing Your Employee Experience | Facility Management | CRE | Digital Workplace Technology
Tracy Brower, PhD, MM, MCRW is a sociologist studying community, happiness, and the future of work and life. She is VP of Workplace Insights at Steelcase and a Senior Contributor for Forbes and Fast Company. Mike Petrusky asks Tracy about her brand new book, “Critical Connections: Build Relationships and Harness the Power of Community in Work and Life”, in which she delivers inspiration and pragmatic new insights on community and connection. They discuss how organizations can help to foster connections among employees, which can lead to higher levels of well-being and performance. Research...
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Ep. 389: “Onwards and Upwards” – Technology, Workplace Innovation and Transforming Work with Sophie Wade of Flexcel Network
Workplace Innovator Podcast | Enhancing Your Employee Experience | Facility Management | CRE | Digital Workplace Technology
Sophie Wade is a work transformation strategist, workforce innovator and well-known authority on the future of work. She is Founder of Flexcel Network where she advises executive leaders on human-centric, AI-driven change while also hosting her own show, the Transforming Work Podcast. Mike Petrusky asks Sophie about her latest book, “Empathy Works: The Key to Competitive Advantage in the New Era of Work”, and why she believes we need a more holistic approach to workplace innovation, considering the human element and the psychology of collaboration. They explore the importance of...
info_outlineTracy Brower, PhD, MM, MCRW is a sociologist studying community, happiness, and the future of work and life. She is VP of Workplace Insights at Steelcase and a Senior Contributor for Forbes and Fast Company. Mike Petrusky asks Tracy about her brand new book, “Critical Connections: Build Relationships and Harness the Power of Community in Work and Life”, in which she delivers inspiration and pragmatic new insights on community and connection. They discuss how organizations can help to foster connections among employees, which can lead to higher levels of well-being and performance. Research shows that 50% of people globally are lonely with record levels of depression and anxiety, so Tracy believes the workplace can provide a sense of stability and identity for the workforce. Proximity and presence can increase performance and knowledge sharing among employees, and leaders should be intentional about creating cultures that support connections and community, so Mike and Tracy share some inspiration that will encourage you to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization!
Connect with Tracy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybrowerphd/
Order Tracy’s new book “Critical Connections”: https://tracybrower.com/9218-2/
Learn more about Steelcase: https://www.steelcase.com/
Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSkmmkVFvM4H3pwnlU2AuqynuRDpvnh4J
Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/workplace-innovator/
Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/