On the Way to New Work - Der Podcast über neue Arbeit

#541 Jennifer Kossow und Yannick Müller, Co-Founder Days With Us

·1 hr 7 min·5 clips

A former bank compliance head and a Vitra-trained designer explain why offices will still exist in the future.

The episode features an interview with Jennifer Kossow and Yannick Müller, co-founders of the Swiss workplace consultancy Days With Us. Hosts Michael and Christoph explore their guests' unconventional career paths. Kossow detailed her journey from head of legal compliance in banking to interior architecture, driven by exhaustion and a search for meaningful work. Müller described his start at Vitra, the design furniture manufacturer, and a fortuitous call that led him to a workplace consulting role in Zurich. The pair met at a firm in Zurich and later founded Days With Us. They explain their company's origin, founded in 41 days, and its growth to eight people. A key part of their model is their Zurich office, which they rent out to other companies to create a curated co-creation space and showcase their design philosophy. The conversation delves into the current debate about the necessity of offices. They present data showing a disconnect between employee desires for hybrid work and executive preferences for office mandates. Days With Us's consulting process is outlined: it begins with strategy workshops with top management to define goals and values, followed by employee workshops and surveys. They emphasize this is not just about furniture selection but a holistic transformation involving change management. The firm develops spatial concepts based on collected data before moving to aesthetic design, ensuring the office reflects the company's identity beyond its logo. Examples include working with a financial client on employer branding and a project with Siemens focusing on scientific approaches to creativity. They discuss the importance of testing materials, lighting, and acoustics. The episode touches on how AI might influence future office design, suggesting concepts like 'AI lounges' for collaborative human-AI interaction. The hosts and guests share a prior connection, as Michael serves on Days With Us's advisory board. The episode concludes with the guests' personal and professional goals, including expanding their thought leadership in the DACH region and achieving better work-life balance.

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