Kayla Gottschalk, SFP, FMG is Launch Lead at Switchyards, the world’s first neighborhood work club, where she is a passionate advocator within the built environment. She believes the physical space truly enhances the overall human experience. Host Mike Petrusky talks to Kayla about her facilities management and workplace career journey as a young professional who entered the field on a mission to lead space transformations, improve business operations, and create globally inspiring spaces.
Agenda
- Kayla’s role at Switchyards and the concept of neighborhood work clubs
- The importance of technology and data in workplace management
- The future of work and the importance of workplace and facilities teams in companies
What you need to know: Workplace takeaways
Takeaway 1: Switchyards is expanding the notion of workspaces, emphasizing neighborhood work clubs over traditional coworking spaces.
Kayla Gottschalk, the Launch Lead for Switchyards, emphasized the importance of creating neighborhood work clubs, which are consumer-facing, instead of traditional B2B coworking spaces. “The easiest way to think of a Switchyard is it’s a membership coffee place or coffee shop to go to,” she explains. Rather than booking a desk or office for a whole day, members of these clubs typically work for a few hours a day, a couple of days a week.
Takeaway 2: The use of technology and data analysis is essential for improving workplace efficiency and employee experience.
Throughout the conversation, Gottschalk discussed the importance of utilizing technology and data to enhance employee experience and overall productivity. “A lot of folks are trying to use technology more to just be better at what they’re doing,” she stated. She further emphasized the need for better automation and utilizing technology to view what’s happening in building operations or with employee experience in real time.
Takeaway 3: Facility and workplace teams are fundamental to any company, contributing to the smooth operation of buildings and impacting employee culture.
Gottschalk highlighted the importance of facility and workplace teams and the impact they have on employee culture. “Workplace and facility teams are very important and valuable to any company. When you lose them, you’re not necessarily adding more risk to just how your buildings are being operated, but you’re also going to be impacting your employee culture,” she argued. In this context, she underscored the value of these teams as essential to maintaining the smooth operation of buildings and fostering a positive work culture.
Takeaway 4: The future of work will likely involve a more holistic and strategic approach to managing workplaces, incorporating elements of design, architecture, and business operations.
Gottschalk touched on the need for a more strategic approach to managing workplaces, one that integrates elements of design, architecture, and business operations. “I went in to go to architecture school and then our dean presented to say that you can condense by continue going into architecture or construction management or facility management,” Gottschalk recalled. This approach, she suggested, provides numerous opportunities within the FM industry and allows for a more balanced and comprehensive view of facility management.
Workplace management insights
- Companies are adopting flexible work policies and third places like Switchyards are becoming popular.
- The facilities management industry is embracing change and using technology to improve operations and employee experience.
- There are numerous tech options available for companies focusing on employee experience or culture, making it complex to choose the right one.
- Facility management teams are crucial to companies as they not only manage building operations but also impact employee culture.
Do a deep dive into more workplace insights by exploring all Workplace Innovator podcast episodes
