FIKA Friday At the Office

Hello friends,Finance professionals don't usually show up on podcasts talking about Culture, Leadership and the soul of an office. But, Soundar Raj too is not your typical finance professional.Soundar is CFO at NXP Semiconductors India, a Chartered Accountant by training who has spent the better part of two decades navigating the explosive growth of global tech giants — from building Qualcomm's India operations from 25 people to 5,000, to steering finance through 14 years of acquisitions, expansions and transformations at NXP. I sat down with him at NXP's campus in Bangalore's Manyata Tech Park for a conversation that covered semiconductors, GCCs, Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), and — in one of the most quietly powerful stories on this show — why Soundar chose to stay in the older, less fashionable office building.The story of the older building. This was the moment of the episode. When NXP’s management team moved to the newer, better-designed office building, Soundar was about to follow. A casual coffee break conversation stopped him. A colleague mentioned, quietly, that people in the older building were worried that if all the senior leaders moved, service levels would drop. Soundar heard something different in that message.“What the human beings inside that space think about that space and environment makes a more critical thing than just the space itself.”He stayed. Three months later, colleagues told him how glad they were. A visitor from Hong Kong, hearing the story, said she had enormous respect for the decision. All of it started at a coffee machine.What stood out!Finance is no longer the rearview mirror. Soundar mapped out the transformation of the finance function with striking clarity. It used to report on what happened. Then it started predicting. Now the expectation is that finance tells the business where to go and how to get there.“Finance has moved from being a rearview mirror to being the GPS of the business. Now they have to be partnering with the business, navigating where the industry is going.”The office as magnet, not mandate. Soundar’s take on hybrid and the return to office was one of the sharper ones heard on this show. Remote work during Covid was, in his words, a laboratory experiment — a controlled environment where staying home was the only option anyway. Once the control was removed, the experiment changed.“Office has to be a real magnet and not a mandate.”GCCs, semiconductors and why your card tap works. For the less technically initiated: every time you tap your bank card, there is a very good chance an NXP chip is making that happen. NXP holds 70 to 80 percent of the global NFC market. Soundar also gave one of the clearest explanations of the GCC boom in India — from outsourcing to captives, from cost arbitrage to value arbitrage, and why IP protection is now the real driver behind companies bringing work in-house.AI takes the car, humans set the destination. On AI’s impact on work, Soundar landed on a useful frame: AI handles the routine, the mundane, the mechanical. Decision-making and direction remain with people. For now, he added. Worth watching.One thing I’ll keep thinking about : Soundar said something near the end that deserves more than a quick nod. The companies currently in the top 50 of India’s stock exchange? According to a NASSCOM survey, most of them will not be there in five years. Full churn. The pace of transformation has compressed from decades to years to, in some cases, months.In that context, the finance leader who only watches the numbers is already behind.Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Fika Friday at the Office and share it with someone who still thinks finance is just about the spreadsheet.Cheers, Ram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hej Friends,A very first for Fika Friday…This episode, I didn’t have one guest. I had two amazing leaders from INGKA Group, whose core business is the eponymous IKEA Retail.Jette Jørgensen is Managing Director at Managing Director for Ingka Group Multifunctional Hubs responsible for their global offices across 32 countries. Thomas Olofsson who works in Jette’s team is Multi-Functional Hub Manager based out of Bangalore, India — and, as it turns out, a man who only discovered coffee after 55, courtesy of a guy named Kiran who runs a garage coffee operation. There is no better coffee story!I met them both during Jette’s visit to Bangalore towards the end of 2025, and the conversation that followed was one of the most grounded, warmhearted episodes yet. Thirty-eight years at the same company. A forklift driver who turned into a global HR leader. A chance wrong turn on an Australian highway that launched an entire career. This one had it all!What stood outJette’s story is wilder than you think. Jette didn’t plan to join IKEA. She took a wrong exit on a highway in Australia in 1987, drove into a construction site, and was asked on the spot if she was there for the interview. She wasn’t. She went back that afternoon anyway. Thirty-eight years later, she’s still going strong!“Someone gave me the chance once when I was in Australia. They gave me the opportunity to do what I can do, with a hand on my back saying: yes, you can do it. We believe in you. That’s what it’s all about.”Togetherness isn’t a value on a poster. Both Jette and Thomas came back to this again and again. At IKEA, the cultural glue is real and it’s enforced. Three days minimum in the office, and Thomas was blunt about it.“I do definitely see us, for IKEA, it will never be less than three days. Because then I will quit for sure. Because then I don’t think it’s fun, and I don’t believe in it.”Activity-based working, done properly. Thomas walked through how IKEA’s global offices have moved away from assigned desks toward neighborhoods and activity zones: focus areas, collaboration spaces, soundproofed rooms for sensitive conversations. The logic is simple. When you move around the office, you bump into people you wouldn’t otherwise meet. That’s where things happen.Speed dating for managers. One of the more unexpectedly brilliant ideas in recent Fika Friday memory: Thomas gathered 30 managers for a structured speed dating session. No agenda, just people meeting colleagues they’d never properly spoken to. Personal friendships formed. Business problems got solved on the side.Danish versus Swedish, settled once and for all. Jette (Danish) and Thomas (Swedish) gave the most entertaining breakdown of Scandinavian cultural differences heard on this show. The Danes are direct, move fast, make the call. The Swedes want one more round of consensus. Neither is wrong. Together, apparently, they’re quite good.“The Danish are a bit more straightforward. Coming to the point. And in Sweden, sometimes we take one more turn. That is not always bad. That can actually be for the good.”One thing I’ll keep thinking aboutJette described how IKEA started inviting coworkers and their families into the office for family days. The kids played together, people met colleagues they’d never crossed paths with, and when it was time to go home, nobody wanted to leave.A workplace policy can mandate three days in the office. It takes something deeper to make families stay past closing time.Enjoyed this one? Subscribe, share it with a friend, and go grab a cinnamon bun. You’ve earned it. Have a fabulous fika!Connect with us here:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/jette-j%C3%B8rgensen-488b5a140/* https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-olofsson-1b111815/* https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Cheers, Ram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello friends,Yes, you read that right. This week, your host Ram (I) sat down with another Ram.Ram Viswanathan is Global Head of Digital Employee Experience at Philips — and if you want to understand what it actually takes to keep a global workforce productive in the hybrid era, this is your episode. Over coffee at the Philips Innovation Campus in Bangalore, we covered AI adoption, the generational office divide, Dutch decision-making, and why AI is basically oxygen now.What stood out The generational office split is real — and it’s backwards. Here’s a counterintuitive one: at Philips, it’s the younger generations who are less enthusiastic about coming to the office, not the older ones. Ram V’s take? People who started their careers during Covid proved to themselves they could work remotely. So now they’re asking the obvious question: why change what worked?“They’re questioning — I did this pretty well for two or three years. Why should I come to the office?”Culture is invisible until you’re in the room. Ram joined Philips in June 2020 — peak pandemic — and didn’t meet a colleague in person for seven months. His reflection on that period was one of the most honest things said on this show in a while.“Virtually it was very difficult to understand the culture. When you come into the office, the body language, the energy — that gives you a sense of the culture. That was missing.”Dutch vs. American decision-making. Having worked at GE and Cisco before Philips, Ram had a front-row seat to the contrast. US companies move fast and align later. Dutch companies deliberate (sometimes painfully), but once a decision is made, everyone’s on board and execution is clean. Neither is wrong. Both will frustrate you at some point.AI is oxygen. Ram has been using AI for about two years now and put it plainly: he can’t work without it anymore. But he also flagged a personal downside worth thinking about — he’s delegating less, because he knows he can just do things faster himself. A leadership trap hiding inside a productivity tool.“I don’t think I’ve seen any change like what I’m seeing with AI. This is as big as the internet was twenty-five years ago. Actually, it’s way bigger than that.”The next frontier: AI that reads your email and books your flights. Ram mapped out where this is all heading — agentic AI that senses a travel need from your inbox and asks if it should book the ticket. Convenient? Absolutely. A little creepy? Also yes. His word, not mine.One thing I’ll keep thinking about : Ram pointed out that in the next few years, it’s going to be genuinely difficult to tell what’s real and what’s AI-generated. Not as a distant warning — as a near-term reality. We’re already seeing the edges of it. That’s the one place, he said, we really have to watch out for.Hard to disagree.Enjoyed this one? Subscribe, share it with someone who works in tech, and maybe go book your own flights — while you still can.Cheers,RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hej friends,It’s been a few weeks since the last episode went on air. Some conversations just flow. This was one of them. I recorded this towards end of last year!For this episode, I sat down with Rupa Thakrar Bagoon, Market Manager Bangalore at Business Sweden — and honestly, I could have kept the recorder running for hours. Born and raised in Sweden with Indian roots via Uganda - Africa, Rupa brings a perspective on culture that is as layered as it gets. We talked Swedish Fika, Lagom, Påtår, multigenerational workforces, and why culture will always eat strategy for breakfast.Oh, and I got some specialty coffee from a brand new spot. Great start to the day!What stood outCulture is not a soft topic. Rupa put it plainly: people massively underestimate how much culture shapes the way business actually works. She shared the story of helping a Swedish pharmaceutical company run cultural workshops — one for their India team at the Swedish Ambassador’s residence in Delhi, and another for their European counterparts. The result? Teams that actually understood each other.“Not to say that any culture is right or wrong — but understanding, respecting, and being open to each other’s cultures. That is the key.”Fika is connecting with people on a deeper level. As someone who named a podcast after the concept, I loved hearing Rupa’s take as a Swede. She described Fika as the moment when titles disappear and real conversation happens.You can learn more about a person during a ten-minute Fika than you would over five formal meetings in a conference room.”At Business Sweden, she made it official — every Thursday, the whole team gathers, and whoever’s turn it is brings the surprise. They’ve worked through cinnamon buns, cardamom, pistachio, and saffron. Princess cake is apparently still pending. Rupa, we’re watching.Lagom is a life philosophy. Not too much, not too little. Rupa described how she never really noticed how lagom she was until she married someone who absolutely was not. Her words, not mine — but it made for one of the best explanations of the concept I’ve heard on this show.The office isn’t going anywhere — but neither is hybrid. Coming from someone who genuinely loves being in the office (”I like the vibe, catching up with colleagues”), Rupa was clear that hybrid is here to stay, and for good reason. Especially in a city like Bangalore where commute times can swallow your day whole.“For some of the new generation, no hybrid is a deal breaker. We are not signing. And I think that makes sense.”Her take? More tech-enabled workplaces, yes — but with a stronger pull toward human connection on the days people are in. People over places.One thing I’ll keep thinking aboutRupa mentioned that when she takes Swedish companies to meet Indian conglomerates, the message she hears back is simple: be open to learning from us. Don’t walk into emerging markets assuming you’re ahead. In many ways, you’re not.That’s the kind of thing that’s easy to nod along to and hard to actually practice. Worth sitting with.Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, share it with a friend, and if you haven’t already — go get yourself a proper Påtår.TackThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello friends,In this episode of Fika Friday at the Office, my guest Katja Larsen traces a geography of work across cultures and decades: what makes Scandinavian “hygge” feel at home in India, why coffee corners beat conference rooms for building trust, how data and behavioral signals are quietly reshaping offices, and where AI belongs when the brief is still profoundly human. If you build workplaces, lead expansion, or translate global standards into local truth, Katja’s map is a practical one.“Don’t transplant culture. Translate it. Ten kilometers can change the answer in India.”The playbook for crossing cultures* Don’t flatten difference. India is not “one” market, any more than Europe is. Ten kilometers can change the answer.* Translate, then design. Importing equality frameworks or office rituals wholesale rarely works. Start with local truth and build up.* Make wellness tangible. Air, materials, acoustics, light. People notice what they breathe and hear long before they read a policy.* Protect the informal. Coffee corners, festival briefings, and yes, bathroom sari pins. Culture scales in the small places.The last wordFrom a dataset in Brussels to a coffee corner in Hyderabad, Katja’s arc argues for a simple posture: be rigorous with information and generous with people. The future of work will have better sensors and smarter models. The best offices will still feel like someone lit the candles before you arrived.Do take a listen 🎧 & show your appreciation and love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment. Ask your friends also to listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.You can also connect with us on LinkedIn:* Katja Larsen : https://www.linkedin.com/in/katja-larsen-founder/* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Cheers, RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

G’day mates,When Eve Wilkinson-Bell describes her office, she does not start with headcount or floor plans ! She starts with coffee & the hum around the coffee machines in Amsterdam. I caught up with Eve on a quiet Friday in her Eindhoven office when the occupancy was just about okay and people deliberately chose the office for focus work.Eve is the Workplace Regional Manager for Western Europe and the Nordics at HERE Technologies, responsible for a portfolio that just secured Leesman+ certification in four locations, including Amsterdam office that ranks in the Top3 out of more than 10,000 workplaces surveyed worldwide. She trained as an architect at the University of Liverpool, managed high-end residential projects in Notting Hill, led fire safety projects at London’s Natural History Museum, and then shifted into corporate real estate.In this episode of Fika Friday at the Office, Eve talks about coffee culture, focus spaces, Leesman data, and why the future of workplace design depends on both sensors and human judgment.“I think AI will play a role in analyzing data and working out the trends and the occupancy and all these different things that will then help us make decisions around our real estate.”Listening to Eve, a few themes repeat.* Focus is non‑negotiable. Collaboration matters, but most people still spend a majority of their time in focused work or calls. Offices that ignore this reality will struggle, no matter how Instagrammable their social spaces are.* Communal hubs need intention. The Nexus in Amsterdam works because it was designed as a true center of gravity, not an afterthought. One good space beats several half‑used corners.* Leadership space must earn its keep. Private offices that sit empty are not just a cost problem; they undermine fairness and flexibility. Models like “offices for a day” retain privacy without locking in unused square meters.* Tech should be felt as ease, not surveillance. Sensors, booking systems, and AI only create value when employees can see and use the outputs in ways that make their day smoother.L𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 🎧𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 and show your love by clicking the subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also to listen to this freshly brewed season of ‘’FIKA Friday At the Office’’.You can connect with us on LinkedIn:* Eve Wilkinson-Bell : https://www.linkedin.com/in/eve-wbell/* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Cheers, RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello friends,When I listened to Anshul Agarwal talk about his morning routine, I expected discipline. What I didn’t expect was how seamlessly he’d connect tennis footwork, coffee conversations, and CFO strategy into a single coherent philosophy.Anshul is Chief Financial Officer and Board member of Akkodis in India, a global digital engineering company and part of Adecco Group, Switzerland. He’s a chartered accountant by training, but his versatility runs deeper than credentials. Over thirteen years in Bangalore, he’s evolved from tracking balance sheets to architecting business strategy, proving that modern finance is much more about foresight, not hindsight.“The CFO’s role has moved from running the scoreboard to running the playbook. We are no longer sitting on the sidelines. We are in the huddle deciding plays.”We recorded this episode in Bangalore, where Anshul has traded his hometown lemon tea for a strong South Indian filter coffee. What emerged was a masterclass in how curiosity, consistency, and strategic thinking compound over time.Do take a listen 🎧 & show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also to listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.You can also connect with us on LinkedIn:* Anshul Agarwal : https://www.linkedin.com/in/anshulagarwal26/* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Cheers, RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello friends,Sometimes the most powerful workplace insights come from someone who’s seen the industry from every angle. Bex Moorhouse has managed serviced offices before WeWork made coworking cool, shaped the culture at Nike where “progress over perfection” was more than just a slogan, and now leads global workplace strategy at WPP, one of the world’s largest advertising & creative agencies.In this episode of Fika Friday at the Office, Bex and I talked over coffee about what actually makes workplaces work. Not the surface-level stuff, the gym that nobody uses or the wellness room that’s just an empty box, but the experiences, behaviors, and leadership approaches that create environments where people want to be.“A lot of those boring or repetitive tasks drain energy. If we had AI agents doing those bits, it would free us up to really listen to people.”We covered:→ Why Mark Dixon, legendary Founder of Regus deserves more credit than WeWork→ How taking care of yourself makes you better at your job→ What Nike taught her about speed, trust, and valuing every voice→ Why activation matters more than amenities→ AI as a workplace ally, not a threat→ The security guard who gave her a dopamine kick when she needed it most𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 🎧𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 and show your love by clicking the subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also to listen to this freshly brewed season of ‘’FIKA Friday At the Office’’.You can connect with us on LinkedIn:* Bex Moorhouse : https://www.linkedin.com/in/bexmoorhouse/* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Cheers, RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hola amigos,Que tal !..Como estas!!When Ricardo Chacon talks about office space, he doesn’t mention square footage first. He talks about the Energy. About the low vibe of an empty floor. About what happens when companies overspend on real estate and still fail their people.Ricardo’s path from Costa Rica to Singapore reads like a case study in cross-cultural workplace evolution. Trained as a civil engineer, he’s worked through the full stack of corporate real estate: from construction materials supplier to global portfolio strategist at Standard Chartered and HP. Today, he runs Common Blue, a consultancy focused on making workplaces work better with less.“Even if you spend all that money, you have more space than you need. That also harms the employee experience. Not because the office is too crowded, not because it’s too noisy, but because the office is too empty.”We recorded this conversation over morning coffee, Ricardo’s daily ritual, a non-negotiable inherited from Costa Rica’s coffee culture. What emerged was a clear-eyed view of what companies get wrong about workplace strategy, and what they’ll need to fix.The Goldilocks ProblemRicardo recently published an article on what he calls “the Goldilocks office.” The premise challenges the dominant narrative around return-to-office mandates. Everyone worries about overcrowding. Almost no one considers the opposite risk.When HSBC announced a £200 million spend to accommodate everyone back in the office, Ricardo saw it differently. If utilization remains low, that investment creates ghost towns: floors with energy so depleted that collaboration becomes forced, serendipity vanishes, and the cross-pollination of ideas stalls out.The measurements we use don’t capture this. You can’t quantify the absence of energy. But people feel it immediately.𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 🎧𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 and show your love by clicking the subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also to listen to this freshly brewed season of ‘’FIKA Friday At the Office’’.You can connect with us on LinkedIn:* Ricardo Chacon : https://www.linkedin.com/in/richveg/* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Muchas Gracias, RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! This post is public so feel free to share it.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hola amigos,Corina Ocanto didn’t grow up dreaming about workplace strategy. She trained as an architect and designer, went on to work with some of the world’s most coveted companies, and built a career grounded in creativity, purpose, and people.But somewhere along the way, drawing buildings became less important than understanding the people inside them. In this episode of Fika Friday at the Office, I sat down with Corina to talk about how she moved from the drafting table to the heart of employee experience, and why she believes the future of the workplace is less about assets and more about intention.“Design the employee experience like a product. What are the pain points? What brings joy? Build from that.”Each of Corina’s insights comes from real-world experiments. From her time at tech unicorns to her current work designing agile workplace playbooks, she’s been at the center of what’s changing and what still needs to change.𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 🎧𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 and show your love by clicking the subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also to listen to this freshly brewed season of ‘’FIKA Friday At the Office’’.You can connect with us on LinkedIn:* Corina Ocanto : https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinaocanto/* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Muchas Gracias, RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Viva, amigos!In this freshly brewed episode of Fika Friday at the Office, I’m joined by Rodrigo Rolim, a Workplace Strategist with an Architect’s eye and a People-first mindset.Rodrigo trained as an architect in São Paulo, Brazil. However, it didn’t take long for him to realize that what he cared about most wasn’t the space itself; it was the people moving through it. That shift in focus, from structure to experience, would shape the next two decades of his career.From consulting at CBRE to leading workplace transformation projects at WPP, Rodrigo has worked across Latin America and Europe, helping global organizations move from asset-focused thinking to people-centered design. Today, he’s based in the Netherlands, continuing that mission with a calm, grounded clarity.“You can’t take attendance for granted. You need to earn it.” During my fika chat, he shares what it takes to create spaces that earn your attendance, and why coffee, culture, and clarity matter more than ever.In this episode, we explore:✅ Why workplace strategy needs to move beyond square meters ✅ How hybrid work only succeeds with structure ✅ What real estate teams must unlearn to stay relevant ✅ Why earning attendance is the new north star ✅ And yes, why coffee culture still matters𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 🎧𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 and show your love by clicking the subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also to listen to this freshly brewed season of ‘'FIKA Friday At the Office’'.You can connect with us on LinkedIn:* Rodrigo Rolim : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rrolim/* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Obrigado,RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello friends,This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Elizabeth Nelson, researcher, engineer, and author of ‘‘The Healthy Office Revolution’’."Your office design might be affecting your biology more than you realize." 🧠I invited Dr. Elizabeth for a coffee chat to explore the science behind how workplace environments impact our bodies at a cellular level⁠. Have a listen and discover:☕ Much like that afternoon fika break, rituals in the workplace can transform our stress levels and even alter our brain chemistry⁠.🧘‍♂️ The surprising finding that just three interruptions per hour can prevent you from reaching a state of flow.⁠✏️ Why inclusive design means considering the needs of everyone, especially those traditionally overlooked in workplace planning⁠.🏢 The importance of having younger generations co-design the spaces they'll inherit⁠.⁠Too often, the future of work is being decided by people in power positions who won’t even be in the office a few years from now. That’s a real risk, Elizabeth warned. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are walking into spaces built for Baby Boomers. The design language, and the power dynamic, just about everything needs to shift.“If you want to keep women and underrepresented talent, design for their autonomy, their energy, and their flow, you’ll end up designing something better for everyone.”"Spaces are never neutral," as Dr. Nelson reminds us. Neither are the people within them⁠⁠.𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 🎧𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 and show your love by clicking the subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also to listen to this freshly brewed season of ‘'FIKA Friday At the Office’'.You can connect with us on LinkedIn:* Dr.Elizabeth Nelson : https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsonelizabeth/* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Cheers, Ram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello friends,In this episode , I sit down with Denise Brouder, founder of The Future of Work Alliance, to talk about how AI, autonomy, and trust are reshaping the work world. There’s magic that happens when people are together. Creative sparks fly. That’s still essential.Tune in to this to hear how Denise went from Wall Street to the frontlines of workplace transformation, and why she believes leadership needs to rethink how performance, trust, and flexibility really work.Take a listen 🎧 & show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also tolisten to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.You can also connect with us on LinkedIn:* Denise Brouder : https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisebrouder/* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Cheers, RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Olá amigos,What does a company without bosses look like? On this latest episode of Fika Friday at the Office, I head to Porto, Portugal to talk with Luis Simões, the force behind Mindera a 1200 person software company built around the core principles of Self-management, Autonomy, and Human Connection. * No org chart x * No approvals x * Just teams figuring it out together to create magicTake a listen 🎧 & show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also tolisten to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.You can also connect with us on LinkedIn:* Luis Simoes : https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisalbertosimoes/* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Cheerio, Ram#FutureOfWork #Leadership #Culture #WorkplaceDesign #SelfManagement This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello friends,𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵, 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻-𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻? You get Emmanuel Daniel, Former Global Head of Smart Buildings at Microsoft, Current CEO and Founder of Alosanar. He’s always thinking five steps ahead.In our latest podcast episode, Emmanuel shares how he led the transformation of Microsoft’s campus experience, and why he believes the future of work must be built around the life journey of the employee.💡 From coffee rituals to AI-driven buildings🌍 From campus planning to cultural experience design🤖 From data chaos to intelligent environmentsIt’s a conversation you don’t want to miss this Friday, July 4th which happens to be the Independence Day & holiday weekend in US.Take a listen to this podcast episode & show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also to take a listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.You can also connect with us on LinkedIn:* Emmanuel Daniel : https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanueldaniel/* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Cheers, RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello friends,By the time you hear Jason Shearer describe his work, you get the sense he is designing something much bigger than the Workplaces. As the Workplace Field CTO at Cisco Systems, Jason bridges technology and real estate, helping global companies rethink how environments support people and purpose.Jason doesn’t believe technology should be layered on at the last minute. He argues that the best workplaces start by thinking about technology early... Very early. In a world where hybrid is the new normal and AI keeps evolving, he builds spaces that are ready to adapt.“Be curious. Try to understand what the real problem is, not just the symptoms you see at first.”In this episode of Fika Friday at the Office, Jason spoke with me about what future-proof workplaces really require—and why curiosity might be the most important tool we have.Top10 Takeaways from our conversation:* Technology needs to be part of the blueprint* Workplaces should adjust to the work being done* No one has hybrid work completely figured out* AI will be a strong force behind better workplace decisions* Meeting equity needs more than just good Wi-Fi* The next wave of workplace tech is already happening* Future-proofing requires a flexible foundation* Generational diversity will shape what workplaces need* AI should augment people, not replace them* Curiosity beats certaintyThis mindset runs through Jason’s work. Curiosity leads to better questions, which lead to better spaces.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! This post is public so feel free to share itJason Shearer blends his passion for technology with a deep understanding of human behavior. He has spent more than two decades building, testing, and improving the places where work happens. In this conversation, it becomes clear he isn’t chasing trends. He is trying to design workplaces that will hold up five years from now—and that starts by asking better questions today.“Curiosity makes you a better technologist. It also makes you a better designer’’Take a listen to this podcast episode & show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also to take a listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.You can also connect with us on LinkedIn:* Jason Shearer : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonshearer/* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Cheers, RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hola Hola Amigos,In this first of my US trails, I sit down with Luis Morejon, Head of Global Workplace Operations at UBER.By the time you’ve visited three of Uber’s offices across three continents, one thing becomes clear: someone is thinking deeply about how we show up to work-and why we bother coming in at all!That someone is Luis Morejon. He drives workplace operations across 68 countries where Uber has offices. You’d expect a role like that to be all floorplans and facilities. But when Luis talks about the workplace, it’s not just about square feet. It’s all about movement, behavior, meaning, and purpose.“The most important perk in the office is the human being,” he says. “You come to see your colleagues. That’s the reason you’re there.”In this episode , I listened to Luis explain what makes Uber’s spaces work and how Uber uses both design and culture to keep teams engaged. The conversation moves from lattes to logistics, but the focus stays on people.Uber’s CEO Khosrowshahi recently said:"While remote work has some benefits, being in the office fuels collaboration, sparks creativity, and increases velocity."10 Takeaways from this conversation:1. Office spaces are being redesigned with a long horizon in mind“We’re designing our offices not only for tomorrow. The decisions we make today need to support the coming years as well.”Luis and his team are rethinking Uber’s workplace guidelines. They gather insights from employees and leaders to shape the environments they manage.2. Workplace design depends on understanding daily behavior“What you do shapes the space you need. That can change throughout the day.”Luis describes a layered approach to planning. Meeting rooms, quiet zones, and social areas all exist to serve specific tasks.3. Teams return to offices because they feel motivated to do so“We don’t push people into the office. They show up because of what they’re building together.”He sees high attendance in Uber locations like San Francisco and Amsterdam. Offices there are busy on Fridays, which is rare in other companies.4. Design teams consider local customs and cultural preferences“In India, we lean into chai. In San Francisco, we have a barista. In New York, espresso machines. The goal is to reflect each place.”The physical elements of an office can help employees feel at home, wherever they are.5. Workplace equity begins with access to quality space“Some people have a home office. Others don’t. That’s why we create environments that work for everyone.”Luis sees office spaces as a shared resource that gives all employees the same tools and conditions for focused work.6. Workplace planning includes a wide range of personal preferences“People respond differently to sound, light, temperature. That’s especially clear in teams with global backgrounds.”From neurodiversity to cultural norms, design must support more than one kind of person.7. AI plays a growing role in workplace operations“We’ve started using AI to track how spaces are used—cafeterias, desks, meeting rooms. It helps us respond faster.”Luis is piloting AI tools to measure occupancy, improve layout decisions, and make daily operations smoother.8. The shift toward hybrid working began well before the pandemic“I stopped using a private office around 2005. Things have been changing since then.”Luis views COVID as an accelerator rather than the origin of flexible work trends.9. Collaboration tools work best in physical space“You can have a screen and a good Wi-Fi connection at home. But many things still happen faster when people are together.”Luis sees the office as a hub for energy, mentoring, and spontaneous problem-solving.10. The future workplace combines human connection with smart design“We’re building around the idea that people and technology will share the office. Both will need room to thrive.”He believes that workplace design will need to keep pace with both AI and the evolving needs of employees.Luis brings decades of global experience to every decision he makes about office design. His perspective is grounded in practice, shaped by years of travel, and supported by the feedback of thousands of employees across the world. In a time when many companies still debate the role of the office, Luis and his team continue to shape it with care and clarity.“I want to create spaces where people can do their best work. That’s the whole point.”The best thing about this conversation was how clear it felt. No buzzwords. No wishful thinking. Just a steady voice explaining how space, people, and intention need to move together.Luis Morejon understands offices. But more importantly, he understands people. And in a world that keeps changing how we work, that feels like the kind of compass we still need.Take a listen to this podcast episode & show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also to take a listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.You can also connect with us on LinkedIn:* Luis Morejon : https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-morejon-mcr-03b99a6/* Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Muchas gracias, RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello Friends,In the last of my Nordic trails across Stockholm & Copenhagen, I sat down with Anne Sofie Fedders, Partner & Licensed Business Psychologist at Kløgt, for a powerful conversation about Leadership, Workplace Culture, and why Well-being is more than a buzzword.Anne Sofie brings sharp insights from her time at LEGO, Deloitte, and now her own practice-where she helps leaders make wiser decisions for their people and themselves.“We all need to feel competent. We all need to feel we belong. And we all need autonomy.”We talked about:✅ The invisible toll of unstructured hybrid work✅ Proximity bias and team trust✅ Why leaders must take their own medicine when it comes to well-being“You can’t demand culture. It’s created by how people show up and support each other.”From new ways of working to what leaders get wrong about culture and wellness, this episode covers the stuff that actually shapes how people feel at work.🎧 Tune in for a conversation full of warmth, hygge (pronounced hue-gah), clarity, and straight talk.Take a listen to this podcast episode & show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also to take a listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.You can also connect with us on LinkedIn:* Anne Sofie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annesofiefedders/ * Ram Puranam : https://www.linkedin.com/in/puranamram/Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Tak! Ramhttps://www.mapiq.com/Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello Friends,Continuing my Nordic trails, I’m pleased to bring you yet another fascinating episode of ‘‘FIKA Friday At the Office’’ from Denmark. In this episode, I catch up with Claus Sneppen, Associate Partner, Author & Futurist - Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies after doing a long bike ride and a longer fika.During our conversation, Claus spoke about Work, Trust, AI, Coffee badging, and what comes next when everything familiar begins to shift."You have to separate what is likely from what you would like," Claus said early in the conversation. "Most people don’t, and that’s a problem."He knows offices, not from a single desk, but from years of watching work evolve across borders, companies, and technologies. His new book, The Future (R)Evolution of the Office Workspace, maps out where we're heading and why most businesses are not ready for it.Here are ten takeaways from the episode, each rooted in the kind of examples that turn big ideas into clear actions.10 Takeaways from the Conversation1. Presence isn’t engagement2. Shorter workweeks are more than just talk3. The digital workplace is real, and it works4. The current office model is losing relevance5. We want flexibility, but we build systems that block it6. Trust replaces visibility7. Real engagement comes from relationships, not routines8. AI is the disruption we can’t yet measure9. Revolutions don’t give warnings10. Most modern offices will be outdated within a few yearsClaus doesn’t speak in hype. He observes, questions, and explains. This conversation on Fika Friday at the Office is a wake-up call for anyone still treating hybrid as a phase. The revolution isn’t ahead of us. It’s already begun.Take a listen of this podcast episode & show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends also to take a listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.Tak!RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello Friends,Welcome back to yet another episode of ‘‘FIKA Friday At the Office’’. In this episode, I catch up with the FIKA OG (short for Original - Gen Z lingo): Henrik Jarleskog, Head of Future of Work, Sodexo Europe based out of Stockholm, Sweden.Henrik brings a unique perspective to workplace transformation. His journey has taken him from playing ice hockey in Sweden to leadership roles across Nordic countries, including strategy positions that ultimately led to his current focus on the evolving workplace landscape. With his background spanning line management, consulting, and now future of work strategy, Henrik offers valuable insights into how companies are adapting to post-pandemic realities.The Fika Culture and Workplace Connection:I explore the Swedish concept of "Fika" (coffee breaks) with Henrik and how it relates to modern workplace dynamics. Henrik explains that Fika is about more than just coffee—it's about meaningful face-to-face connections:"I'm a strong believer in the Fika culture where you actually meet up face to face. You break some bread or some smaller cookies and you have a coffee to it. You do it every now and then when you want to and when you need to... I think it's a beautiful thing because it is really strengthening both the weak and strong ties that you have with people around you."Golden nuggets from Henrik:1. Meeting colleagues remains the top driver of workplace happiness - "Still in the absolute top of workplace happiness is to meet your peers and your workplace friends that you build relationships over time."2. Flexible work is becoming a performance driver - "I made a pretty bold statement a few weeks ago where I said that 2025 will be the year when flexible work becomes a performance driver."3. Top-performing companies tend to be hybrid - "The Fortune 500 companies in Europe in October 2024, if you look at the top ten from a stock performance perspective at the time were 100% hybrid companies."4. Team-based work agreements are the logical next step - "One size fits all decisions regarding where and when to work doesn't make sense anymore. Leadership of groups or teams, they will sit down with their teams to figure out what's the best way we can work."5. Workplace strategies should connect to company purpose - "When you sit down and you really try to update or redesign your workplace strategy or your future work strategy, connect that strategy to the purpose of the company."Take a listen of this podcast episode for practical insights on evolving Hybrid Work world & more.Show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends to take a listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.Tack så mycket (Thanks so much)RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello Friends,Welcome back to FIKA Friday At the Office. In this episode, I catch up with Sabine Spoelstra, Global Program Manager - Workplace and Real Estate at Adyen, Fintech giant from The Netherlands.In this insightful conversation, Sabine shares her perspectives on creating localized workplace experiences across different cultures while maintaining Adyen's distinctive identity. She discusses how the pandemic accelerated technological adoption and transformed workplace expectations, while emphasizing the enduring importance of physical office spaces for social connection.Here are my Top 6 key takeaways:Key Takeaways:1. Balance is Essential: Sabine says "I think for me the main important lesson is balance. Whenever I have a super busy week, I try to balance it out with quieter weekends."2. Coffee Corners Create Connection: Sabine explains how Adyen places coffee stations only on ground floors with baristas, encouraging movement and cross-department interactions that support their company principle of seeking different perspectives.3. Digital Tools Enable Global Collaboration: "I think that is the digital collaboration tools. They were always there, but I think after COVID and especially during COVID, we've noticed how important they actually are."4. Physical Offices Remain Essential: Despite managing global projects remotely, Sabine goes to the office almost daily because she values face-to-face connections, demonstrating why physical workplaces will endure.5. Cultural Adaptation is Key: Sabine describes how her anthropology background helps her design offices that balance Adyen's identity with local cultural elements, as she did with the Shanghai office.6. Employee Wellbeing is Increasingly Important: She highlights how Adyen focuses on air quality, ergonomic furniture, and natural lighting to support employee health and comfort.Take a listen of this podcast episode for practical insights on evolving Hybrid Work world & more.Show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends to take a listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.Happy International Women’s Day 🚀Ciao, RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello Friends,In this freshly brewed episode of FIKA Friday At the Office, I catch up with Ashwini K.T, General Manager of Research and Design at Vestian. She brings a unique perspective to workplace design. With her background in architecture and over twelve years of experience, she has witnessed the evolution of office spaces from traditional hierarchical structures to modern, people-centric environments. Her expertise in sustainable design and focus on human-centered spaces makes her a valuable voice in the conversation about the future of work.In this engaging discussion, Ashwini shares her insights on the dramatic transformation of workplace design, particularly emphasizing the shift from purely functional spaces to environments that prioritize human well-being and community building."The future is all about this war for talent. Special skilled labor is hard to find. So everybody is looking at attracting the best talent and retaining it. Attracting is easy, even with diversity. It's difficult and retention is even more difficult."She emphasizes that the pandemic has accelerated the focus on employee well-being, forcing organizations to reconsider their approach to workplace design and flexibility."People are no longer questioning investments on the real estate side, but they're questioning value. They're questioning healthier environments. They're demanding healthier quality spaces."The insights you’ll get from the conversation & key take aways:* People-Centric design is essential* Understanding multi-generational workforce needs & the cultural aspects attached to it* Community based design principles* Hi-Tech vs Hi-Touch office environments* Hybrid working is here to stayTake a listen of this podcast episode for all of these & more.Show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends to take a listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.Let’s go 🚀Ciao, Ram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello friends,In this fabulous episode of Fika Friday at the Office, I catch up with Anjali Raghuvanshi, Chief People Officer of Randstad India.Anjali brings extensive experience in leading people and business transformation. Recognized as the CHRO of the Year by Business World People in 2022, she has been instrumental in shaping workplace policies and employee experiences at one of India's largest staffing companies. Her unique perspective comes from managing both Randstad's internal workforce and understanding the broader talent marketplace.In this engaging conversation, Anjali shares her insights on the evolving workplace landscape, particularly focusing on employee experience, engagement, and the ongoing Return-To-Office (RTO) debate. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining a people-centric approach while balancing organizational goals."It's not that I just think about me and people will just follow. Those days are gone. Today, an employee wants to know what's the purpose, why am I here? What am I getting out of it?"Anjali highlights how workplace expectations have fundamentally shifted, with employees now seeking more purpose and flexibility in their work arrangements. She advocates for a balanced approach that considers both employee preferences and organizational needs."I hear from people asking questions about this return to office debate. Say why? Why should I come to office? I can work from anywhere. I can make the same money. Someone else is giving me a remote option. So why should I work for you?"Take a listen of this podcast episode for practical insights on evolving Hybrid Work world & more.Show your love by clicking subscribe button, like, comment & ask your friends to take a listen to this freshly brewed season of FIKA Friday At the Office.Let’s go 🚀Ciao, RamThanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday At the Office! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hola Amigos,We start 2025 with a brand new season of the FIKA Friday At The Office podcast, featuring our guest Lisa Gill , acclaimed Coach and Trainer at Tuff Leadership Training and host of the "Leadermorphosis" podcast✨In this episode, Lisa unpacks:• The rise of self-managing teams and radical transparency.• Why equal relationships are essential for improving workplace dynamics.• The shift in workplace expectations post-pandemic.• How data and real feedback can guide meaningful change. "It's like the best of times and the worst of times in my field, the new ways of working field."Don't miss this chance to gain insights into the rapidly evolving workplace landscape.If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, hit subscribe & do ask your friends to take a listen as well.Cheers, Ram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello mates,I'd like to bring you a very quick update on ''FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience'' podcast 🌏 which I've been hosting for the past 8-9 months. I met some amazing guests & while I thoroughly enjoyed hosting every episode, some of the talks were clear stand-outs for me.So, what I did was to compile a small recap aka highlights episode just for you as a special edition.I hope you enjoy this & show your love as much as you did for the previous episodes.Ciao Ciao for now & see you with a brand new season of ‘‘FIKA Friday At the Office’’ very soon.Yours, Ram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Good day mates,It’s another Friday & time for Part2: Episode10 of podcast ''FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience'' with our awesome guest from Australia: Tica Masuku. Tica is a professional Human Geographer & is currently Director, Workplace Strategy at Spaceful based out of Sydney.In this episode, she literally walks us into the ‘’Future of Work’’, ‘’Future of Workplace’’, ‘’New Ways of Working’’, ‘’Impact of AI & Need for Creativity (and the need to look beyond AI)’’. On a lighter note, Tica’s shares her own Fika experience in the beautiful city of Berlin at The Barn. More on this coffee shop in my previous article on Substack a few weeks ago (Read full story down below).So, let’s give it a go, tune in and listen to this freshly brewed episode on Apple, Spotify, or any podcast player of your choice. If enjoyed tuning in, do spread the joy by liking & sharing it with your friends and family. Please do take a moment to subscribe to this podcast.Cheers This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Good day mates,I’m super excited to bring this awesome double shot episode with Tica Masuku who is currently Director, Workplace Strategy at Spaceful, Australia.In this Episode10, Part1 she shares about her recent World Tour; what she has seen at the Workplaces from San Francisco to Singapore to Sydney & every major city in between. She also explains about ''Human Geography'', ''Workplace Topophilia'' and her quests to master 'Aussie slang'!!Tica talks about creating amazing office experiences & why it’s super important to have those canteen conversations with colleagues to keep the ‘‘lines really short’’!So, let’s give it a go & enjoy listening to this episode while I get ready to bring you Part2 very soon.Tune in and listen to this on Apple, Spotify, or any podcast player of your choice. If enjoyed tuning in, do spread the joy by liking & sharing it with your friends and family. Please do take a moment to subscribe to this podcast.Cheers(3) Ram Puranam | LinkedInThanks for reading FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience ! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello Friends,Welcome to the final episode of Season1 of FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience. My guest this time is the versatile virtuoso Parag Kulkarni who is SVP- International & President – India Business for A.O. Smith Corporation, a leading global water technology and manufacturing company.In this episode, Parag talks about how he built his career working with Swedish Giants like SKF, Atlas Copco early on, then to Indian MNC Wipro for couple decades and now for the past 9+ years with US behemoth: A. O. Smith.He also speaks about his twin passions of ''Running & Wildlife Photography'' and what shaped him into the person he’s today at ''Work & Life''.Importantly, he says that in all successful enterprises there’s a common theme :Passion to SucceedStrong Customer / Consumer OrientationContinuous Innovation & Staying ahead of the CurveOf course, my FIKA questions about Coffee turned into a beautiful conversation about ‘’Water Cooler Moments & Coffee Machine Moments” at the New-age workplace and how the office still retains its place in the workplace pantheon for Collaboration, Building Culture, Problem Solving etc.,I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as I did in bringing it to you.Tune in and listen to this on Apple, Spotify, or any podcast player of your choice. If enjoyed tuning in, do spread the joy by liking & sharing it with your friends and family. Please do take a moment to subscribe to this podcast.I will be back .. Pretty Soon .. Until we meet again .. Ciao Ciao!Thanks for reading FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience ! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello Friends & Network,Welcome to yet another awesome episode of FIKA Friday: Brewing Workplace Experience!In this Episode 8 I meet with multi-talented Stephanie who talks about pivoting her business during the pandemic & how important cash flow is to any business!“It’s not a matter of not being modest. It’s a matter of doing something that matters”She also talks about her transition from Architecture to Entrepreneurship; Changing Workplace Dynamics; Finding a New Passion and a Purpose; Starting an entirely new business; Smart Cities; Sustainability, Cycling and many more riveting topics.Tune in and listen to this on Apple, Spotify, or any podcast player of your choice. If enjoyed listening in, do spread the joy by liking & sharing it with your friends and family. Please do take a moment to subscribe to this podcast.Meet you soon. Ciao Ciao!Thanks for reading FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience ! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello Friends & Network,Welcome to yet another awesome episode of FIKA Friday: Brewing Workplace Experience! This time I meet with passionate Pim de Morree. Pim together with his childhood amigo Joost, known as the Corporate Rebels, are on a mission to make work more fun. Nearly a decade ago working out of beautiful city of Barcelona, they quit their frustrating corporate jobs to visit the world’s most inspiring companies. While checking off their renowned Bucket List, they share what they have learned so far in their epic book – ''Corporate Rebels : Make Work More Fun''.In this episode, Pim talks about many interesting topics: with highlights being Async Work; How they started Corporate Rebels, Why that revolutionary name & the new book which is slated for launch later this year : ''Self Managing Organizations''This episode is for people who know workplaces could, and should, be better. Whether you’re in the management team, an unconventional who has been suppressed by corporate rituals or a manager who is trapped in the broken system, this one’s for you.Tune in and listen to this on Apple, Spotify, or any podcast player of your choice.To my Dutch friends if you had your Gezellig moment listening to this episode & for everyone else if enjoyed tuning in, do spread the joy by liking & sharing it with your friends and family. Please do take a moment to subscribe to this podcast.Meet you soon. Ciao Ciao!Thanks for reading FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Thanks for reading FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience ! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello Dear friends,Here I’m .. Your FIKA Man.. back again after a brief pause.This is a super special episode. Why do I say it? It’s because this is the first time ever I interviewed a career Diplomat who’s into Diplomatic affairs, with a major focus on assisting Dutch companies doing business in emerging markets.Introducing Ewout de Wit, who is the Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for South India. He is a Dutch diplomat, with extensive experience in economic diplomacy, development cooperation and peace and security issues.In our conversation, his excellency talks about his stints in various countries in Africa, NATO and why he is loving his current stint in Bangalore. He  talks about the positive energy & vibe he gets in interacting with people out here and embracing cultural differences to foster collaboration. Of course, Coffee certainly helped :-)Don’t miss his nuggets of wisdom on the Dutch Way of Working & their Direct Communication Style.Tune in and listen to this on Apple, Spotify, or any podcast player of your choice.To my Dutch friends if you had your Gezellig moment listening to this episode & for everyone else if enjoyed tuning in, do spread the joy by liking & sharing it with your friends and family. Please do take a moment to subscribe to this podcast.Meet you soon. Ciao Ciao!Thanks for reading FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Thank you for reading FIKA Friday : Brewing Workplace Experience . This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello Friends,Lovely to see you here as I take you on yet another coffee-fuelled journey covering host of workplace experiences & insights.In this Episode 5, I catch up with Brett Hautop to share his stories and strategies on Creating Intentional Friction; Slow down before you Speed up and how we can Get more out of Getting together.We’ll breeze you through interesting topics covering Intentionality, Events & most importantly how workspace has to go beyond the chairs, desks & meeting rooms to deliver an impactful experience.Tune in and listen to this on Apple, Spotify, or any podcast player of your choice.If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, do spread the joy by liking and sharing it with your friends and family.Arrivederci This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello Friends,Good to see you here as I take you on yet another coffee-fuelled journey covering host of workplace experiences.In this Episode4, I catch up with Dulles Krishnan to share his stories, insights and strategies on why Constant Learning is crucial in ever changing Tech Industry & his success formula for building High Performance teams in the enterprises he worked for.We’ll breeze you through interesting topics covering Workplace Experience, Culture, Collaboration, Hybrid Work & offer insights on why Humility is a Way of Life at Avalara and Dulles’s connection with Coffee!Tune in and listen to this on Apple, Spotify, or any podcast player of your choice.If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, do spread the joy by liking and sharing it with your friends and family.Arrivederci This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello Friends,Delighted that you’re here as I once again take you on a coffee-fueled journey through the world of workplace experiences.In this Episode3, I catch up with Nicholas White to share his stories, insights and strategies on treating our place like a lab, understand about Smart Building Certification & how Healthy Workplaces can significantly boost our work-life harmony.We’ll breeze you through diverse topics covering Smart Buildings,  Hybrid Work, Sustainability & why enterprises cannot take the subject of coffee lightly in Sweden 😊Tune in and listen to this on Spotify, Apple or any podcast player of your choice.If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, do spread the joy by liking and sharing it with your friends and family.Till we meet again,Ciao This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Ciao Amici,Glad you’re here as I once again take you on a coffee-fueled journey through the world of workplace experiences.In this second episode, I catch up with Sander to share his stories, insights and strategies for enhancing our work-life harmony.We’ll breeze you through diverse topics covering Hybrid Work, Collaboration, Sustainability & importantly why Finland is rated as the Happiest Nation in the World 😊and their Connection with Coffee.Tune in and listen to this on Spotify, Apple or any podcast player of your choice. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, do spread the joy by liking and sharing it with your friends and family.Till we meet again,Arrivederci! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hello Friends,Glad you’re here as I take you on a coffee-fueled journey through the world of workplace experiences. In this very first episode, I sit down with Andreea Mares to share her stories, insights and strategies for enhancing our work lives.Tune in and listen to this on Spotify, Apple Podcast or any platform of your choice. If you liked it, please subscribe and ask your friends to take a listen as well.Till we meet again,Arrivederci! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com

Hola Amigos,I hope you enjoy this trailer as I prepare to be your Podcaster discussing everything around FIKA, Coffee, Workplace, Productivity and Happiness.Ciao This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ramtherocket.substack.com