By Rachel Walls
One of the most compelling sessions I attended at the CoreNet Global Summit this year centered on how a major global tech company reimagined its workplace strategy as employees returned to the office post-COVID.
The challenge? There was no one-size-fits-all solution—but scalability had to be part of the answer.
The team believed deeply in the value of bringing people together—not just for personal productivity, but to spark connection, creativity, and culture. This meant rethinking traditional workplace layouts in favor of environments that support collaboration: team neighborhoods, group work tables, work lounges, and event spaces. To get there, they had to re-examine how they planned, allocated, and supported their teams—starting with culture, the problems they were solving, and the people they were solving them with.
Originally planned as a pilot for 1,000 people, the program quickly expanded to a global rollout impacting 10,000 employees. That shift underscored the importance of change management. The presenters shared four core principles they relied on to navigate the transition:
- Transparency builds trust – Be upfront about the positives and the challenges.
- Strong executive sponsorship – Keep leadership engaged through a cross-functional steering committee.
- Empathetic, but thoughtful feedback loops – Accept emotional feedback, but avoid making sweeping changes for individual concerns.
- Manager and neighborhood lead engagement – Local team leads can make or break adoption.
One message that really resonated with me was the idea that success isn’t about making everyone happy—it’s about aligning with business goals. It’s a bold but necessary shift in mindset, especially when implementing large-scale workplace change.
My Takeaway
What struck me most from this session wasn’t just the depth of the case study, but the energy in the room. The audience—largely made up of facilities and workplace leaders—asked thoughtful, heartfelt questions that revealed a shared struggle: how to redefine the workplace in ways that balance business goals with human needs.
Later that evening, I had the chance to speak with one of the presenters, who shared that their team was also struck by the high concentration of end users in the session. Once they understood the makeup of the audience, it made perfect sense—many organizations are still navigating these same challenges, and there’s a deep desire to learn from those further along the journey.
This blog is part of a short series capturing key takeaways from the 2025 CoreNet Global Summit. Stay tuned for more reflections on the sessions that stood out and the ideas that are shaping the future of the workplace.