Brink urged leaders to rethink conventional talking points around RTO, shifting the question from “How do we convince people to get into the office” to “How do we create places that people want to come into?” Instead of being viewed as a mirror of company culture, she believes that the office itself can be a driver of company culture.
All workplaces need a “heart,” Brink argued: a central place where people naturally gravitate to come together, like a lounge, coffee bar, or other multi-use space. At the same time, work can’t be all heart: spaces should be “balanced ecosystems” that allow employees to focus on deep intense work in private when they need to, as well as collaborate and connect with colleagues.
“The future of work is not about control or compliance. It’s about creating meaning,” Brink said. “We have the opportunity and responsibility to design for that very human future.”
