How to Use Workplace Strategy to Maximise ROI - Leeson Medhurst - EP17

Leeson Medhurst is the Head of Strategy at AIS Interiors and a leading voice in the world of workplace strategy. Leeson’s journey into the Design & Build world wasn’t linear. He started at a company where he felt like a round peg in a square hole, before finding his stride through roles at several respected firms, ultimately specialising in strategic workplace consultancy. A firm believer in the power of deep, early-stage thinking, Leeson is a strong advocate for investing serious time in RIBA Stage 0—the point where workplace vision should begin. He argues that this phase is too often rushed or undervalued, when in fact it’s the foundation for getting a space that truly reflects the needs of its users. He shares why 18 months before lease end is the ideal time to engage in strategy, how culture and data should drive every workplace decision, and why meaningful discovery beats surface-level assumptions every time. Now at AIS Interiors, he’s helping reshape how businesses approach space—not through fast decisions, but through informed, people-centric planning. We explore: - How Leeson’s early experience shaped his views on workplace misalignment. - Why deep, data-driven strategy must begin up to 18 months before lease end. - How culture, not just square footage, should inform workplace design. - Why RIBA Stage 0 is the most undervalued—and most critical—phase in the project journey. A must-listen for anyone looking to elevate workplace design through meaningful strategy and long-term thinking.