Why the office still matters
The pandemic showed us that remote work was not only possible, but in many cases, productive. But five years on, something’s missing — and according to senior HR strategist Ranya Nehmeh, it’s more than just chats over coffee.
In this episode of Visionary, recorded on campus at Here East, Ranya joins Georgina Godwin to explore what we gained, and what we lost, in the shift to remote work. Drawing on her new book In Praise of the Office, she argues that organisations now need to be far more intentional about what the office is for — and how to make it matter again.
Forget mandates. The future of work, she says, lies in meaningful design: making the office a hub for creativity, mentorship, collaboration and culture — not just another place to answer emails.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
How to redesign office life around what can’t be done remotely — from mentoring to innovation.
Why hybrid work, if done carelessly, creates inequality, siloes, and career blind spots.
What leaders can do today to rebuild trust, connection and a stronger workplace culture.
Watch the episode on YouTube below, or listen via your preferred podcast app.
