.png)
This insightful panel explored what it means to build workspaces that are both adaptive and enduring. Danielle Newton, Senior Director, Global Workplace Operations at Okta, Peter Whoriskey, Director, Global Workplace Experience at Intuit, and moderated by Omar Ramirez, Head of Strategy and Operations at Workshape brought forward strategies from their own organizations to create employee-centric spaces that respond to real needs, scale effectively, and stay grounded in sustainability and efficiency.
The conversation began with a focus on flexibility and connection. Danielle shared that at Okta, their approach starts with understanding what truly matters to employees. In a hybrid environment, this means recognizing that not everyone engages the same way. Hosting regular in-person gatherings and social events helps foster connection, but it is just as important to ensure consistency in experience across all touchpoints. Her team makes it a priority to align every interaction with company values so that employees feel grounded and supported, no matter how often they show up in person.
Peter followed by offering a look into Intuit’s post-pandemic workplace redesigns. His team observed how employees naturally collaborated within the office to identify what truly enabled great work. Their insight: successful spaces support both spontaneous interaction and focused individual work. A thoughtful environment can do both, and design decisions must reflect those dual needs.
To build a strong foundation of trust, the panelists emphasized the importance of data not just collecting it, but using it meaningfully. Danielle described “Data Day,” a recurring practice where her team reads every open-ended employee comment from surveys and identifies patterns. While the process is time-consuming, it is critical for surfacing blind spots and identifying areas of opportunity across employee experience, learning, development, and operations.
Omar added that data is only as impactful as the way it is shared. At Workshape, his team focuses on making insights accessible and actionable. That means grounding data in narrative and context so that workplace teams can make human-centered decisions that resonate with employees and drive real change.
As expectations around work continue to evolve, the panelists shared how they’re creating environments that grow with their organizations. Danielle and Peter both spoke to the importance of cultural guardrails, clear principles that offer structure without stifling flexibility. These help teams experiment confidently while ensuring that the employee experience remains consistent and aligned with company values.
Omar emphasized the role of rituals in distributed work. Whether it is shared events, recurring recognition moments, or consistent collaboration norms, these rituals create a rhythm of connection. They help employees feel a sense of belonging, regardless of location or team size.
One email, every month.
.png)
.png)
.png)