Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real Estate

Despina Katsikakis•purposeofplace.transistor.fm

How can we future-proof real estate investments in an era of uncertainty? Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real Estate is the podcast for investors, landlords, and occupiers adapting to the shifting demands of the commercial real estate market. As new work models and evolving lifestyles challenge traditional approaches, each episode explores strategies to minimize risk, drive sustainable growth, and design places that are thriving and resilient. Hosted by workplace visionary Despina Katsikakis, the podcast brings together insights from industry innovators to ensure your investments stand the test of time—financially, environmentally, and socially.

Last refreshed: August 24th, 2025 at 9:56 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Balancing Legacy with Flexibility – with Vivienne Grafton of the Bank of England

What does it take to transform one of the world’s iconic financial institutions into a workplace fit for the future? In this episode of Purpose of Place, Despina Katsikakis speaks with Vivienne Grafton, Managing Director, Operations & Transformation including Property, Procurement & Corporate Services, at the Bank of England. Drawing on her extensive leadership experience at HSBC and Barclays, Vivienne shares how she is helping the Bank of England evolve its estate—balancing legacy and s...

May 31, 2025•27 min•Ep. 8

Designing for Innovation with Mikkel Lyngbo Nielsen of Ericsson

At Ericsson, real estate plays a critical role in driving innovation, attracting top talent, and showcasing the company’s leadership in technology. In this episode of Purpose of Place, Despina Katsikakis speaks with Mikkel Nielsen, Chief Real Estate Officer, about how Ericsson is designing intentional workplaces that balance legacy and future growth across its global portfolio. Mikkel shares how his team is using data to map work processes, create hybrid strategies rooted in productivity and eng...

May 07, 2025•25 min•Ep. 7

Aligning People, Place & Purpose with Shelley Boland of Standard Chartered

At Standard Chartered, real estate is deeply connected to the bank’s identity, culture, and strategy. In this episode of Purpose of Place, Despina Katsikakis speaks with Shelley Boland, Global Head of Corporate Real Estate & Services, about how the bank has integrated real estate, HR, brand, and corporate strategy to shape employee and client experiences across 50+ markets. Shelley shares how her team is moving beyond traditional cost metrics to focus on experience and productivity, the role...

Mar 12, 2025•29 min•Ep. 6

Redefining the Value of Sustainable Development with Coen van Oostrom of EDGE

The real estate industry is at a crossroads, and Coen van Oostrom, Founder & CEO of EDGE, is leading the charge toward a more sustainable, tech-driven future. In this episode of Purpose of Place, Despina Katsikakis explores how EDGE is revolutionizing buildings by integrating real-time data, AI, and human-centric design to enhance environmental impact, employee well-being, and workplace experience. Coen shares why the industry must move beyond traditional sustainability labels and focus on r...

Feb 11, 2025•27 min•Ep. 5

Creating Lasting & Shared Prosperity with Dan Labbad of The Crown Estate

Dan Labbad, CEO of the Crown Estate, leads one of the UK’s most historic and influential property organizations, managing assets that span from Regent Street in central London to the seabed around England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Under his leadership, the Crown Estate is redefining property’s role in addressing the challenges of our time, including climate change, economic equality, and urban resilience. In this episode of Purpose of Place (recorded in August 2024), Despina Katsikakis speak...

Jan 07, 2025•28 min•Ep. 4

Investing with Purpose with Bill Hughes of Legal & General

Bill Hughes, Global Head of Real Assets and recently appointed Co-Head of Private Markets at Legal & General Investment Management, oversees more than £40 billion of assets under management, as well as playing an active role in a number of influential government and industry committees around housing, infrastructure, regeneration and sustainability. His innovative approach to investment has positioned him at the forefront of reshaping the landscape of real assets through strategic and progre...

Dec 05, 2024•24 min•Ep. 3

From Boxes to Places: Transforming Office Design with Sir Stuart Lipton

In this episode of Purpose of Place , Despina Katsikakis sits down with Sir Stuart Lipton, one of the most influential figures in UK commercial real estate, known for creating some of London’s most iconic developments. Together, they discuss the evolution of workplaces over the past 40 years, exploring how office design must move beyond traditional "boxes" to create environments that inspire, engage, and connect people. Sir Stuart shares his insights on human-centered design, social change, and ...

Oct 27, 2024•20 min•Ep. 2

Building Resilient Places with David Partridge of Related Argent

David Partridge, Chairman of Related Argent, has been a driving force behind some of the UK’s most iconic regeneration projects, including King’s Cross. He is also a Trustee of the UK Green Building Council and Chairman of the Governance Board of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard. In this inaugural episode of Purpose of Place , Despina Katsikakis sits down with David to discuss the evolving role of commercial real estate in creating thriving, resilient places that respond to changing soc...

Sep 30, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1

Introducing Purpose of Place: The Future of Work & Real Estate

Sep 29, 2024•2 min•Ep. 1

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