Long-Distance Worklife - A Hybrid & Remote Work Podcast

Wayne Turmel is joined by Sam Rosen, the founder of Deskpass, to explore how the office landscape has changed in recent years. Sam shares his journey from opening one of Chicago’s first co-working spaces to developing tools that connect companies and remote workers with flexible workspaces. They discuss the evolving role of offices, how companies can make strategic real estate decisions, and the benefits of offering co-working options to remote and hybrid teams. Sam also dives into the differences between designing workspaces with a human-centered approach versus the traditional real estate mindset. Tune in to discover how you can leverage flexible spaces to improve productivity and retain top talent.

Key Takeaways

• Flexible workspaces provide a valuable alternative to traditional offices, offering professional environments tailored to diverse work needs.
• A human-centered design approach prioritizes worker needs over merely filling office space, unlike traditional real estate perspectives.
• Companies are reducing their office footprints to save costs while using co-working spaces to maintain access to professional environments.
• Proximity and convenience are key benefits of co-working spaces, making them ideal when working from home isn't suitable.
• In-person meetings should be reserved for deep collaboration or cultural reinforcement, with a focus on asynchronous work whenever possible.
• Successful remote companies prioritize culture, communication tools, and processes over physical office space.
• Access to flexible workspaces helps attract and retain talent, expanding the hiring pool and supporting employees' varied work preferences.

Featured Guest

Name: Sam Rosen

Bio: Sam Rosen is the co-founder and CEO of Deskpass, an online marketplace connecting teams and individuals to thousands of coworking spaces and conference rooms across the country. A creative problem solver, Sam's passion for coworking began with co-founding The Coop, Chicago’s first coworking space, and he has since become a recognized entrepreneur and voice in the design community. Prior to Deskpass, he co-founded The Post Family art collaborative and One Design Company, a digital branding agency that blends research, communication, and design for top brands.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammyrosen/

https://www.deskpass.com/