How did you get into the workplace and FM industry?
I almost accidentally fell into it. I started my career on the Kent County Council graduate scheme and completed a rotation in their property team. During that time, I ended up managing a project to close multiple public service “Gateways” across Kent and work with local organisations to redesign and reprovide those services online. It gave me an early insight into how environments, services, and people all connect to shape experience.
After a stint at the British Council, I moved to CBRE just as COVID was beginning to reshape the world of work. I worked on developing new solutions for occupiers to rightsize office space, respond to hybrid working, and rethink what employees needed from the workplace.
My next move was to Leesman, the global leader in measuring workplace experience, where I led client engagement across the Americas. Some highlights included advising JP Morgan on workplace personas and strategy during the development of their new 270 Park Avenue headquarters in New York, and working with Cisco on the strategy behind their collaboration centres.
After some time at Boba Commodities, where I worked across workplace, operations, and people strategy in tandem, I joined Mastercard, where I now lead workplace experience in the UK and help shape the broader strategy across Europe.
What does it mean to you to be recognised as a Workplace Leaders Top 50?
It’s a huge honour. I’ve never really considered myself a “stand-out” workplace leader - I’ve simply always wanted to create the best possible experience for employees and make a genuine day-to-day difference to how people feel at work.
When I joined Mastercard, the three-day-a-week office mandate had recently been introduced, but we didn’t yet have the space or infrastructure to support it comfortably. The day-to-day experience was creating friction for employees, so a big focus for me was solving those challenges in a practical and people-focused way. That included opening a new London office for 400 employees, introducing team days to better manage demand, and creating more community-driven experiences that gave people reasons to genuinely want to come into the office, rather than feel forced to.To be recognised for helping shift that narrative - from obligation to experience - means a great deal.
It’s also incredibly special to be recognised alongside so many inspiring leaders and friends within the industry. It’s definitely a career highlight.
What is your favourite part of being in the workplace industry?
The opportunity to constantly rethink what the workplace can be.
Before COVID, there was often a perception that the workplace was a fairly transactional experience. People came into the office because it was routine, and the offering was usually just a desk. The pandemic completely challenged that thinking and created an opportunity for the industry to redefine the role and value of the workplace. That’s the part I love most - the creativity and experimentation. Once you get the fundamentals right around space, operations, and team experience, there’s so much opportunity to build connection, community, and moments people genuinely remember.
Across our global team, we’ve introduced everything from local business pop-up markets and showcases, to McLaren simulators, STEM-focused “Bring Your Kids to Work” days, talks from inspirational leaders in different industries, and virtual reality experiences. Last week alone, we had more than 50 adults dancing in pink feather boas to raise money for a charity that teaches dance to disabled children. I think the best workplaces create experiences that make people feel connected, energised, and part of something bigger than just work.
Tell us an interesting fact that no one knows about you?
I love travel and immersing myself in different cultures. When I was 20, I spent three months living in rural China with a local family while running a summer school for Chinese students. Very few people in the area spoke English, and I spoke very little Mandarin, so it was definitely a crash course in resilience, adaptability, and a little discomfort! It ended up being one of the most brilliant experiences of my life.
One particular highlight - and probably not something I’ll repeat anytime soon - was being chosen as the volunteer in the town’s annual magic show and getting “cut in half” on stage in front of hundreds of people.
If you weren’t working in the workplace or FM industry, what would you be doing?
I’d love to run my own business, and I think it would probably be a dog hotel. It’s something I’ve jokingly discussed with my friend as a ‘one day’ idea for years. It wouldn’t be kennels – we’d bring an actual holiday experience for dogs. I love the idea of delivering the sort of experience for dogs that humans get when they go on holiday: adventure walks, activities, good food, social spaces, comfy beds, and owners receiving photo updates throughout the day.
I think it comes from loving the idea of creating experiences that make bring happiness – in this case for dogs not humans. As a corgi owner myself, I know I’d absolutely be the target market.
What does it take to be a workplace leader?
I think it takes a balance of empathy, operational thinking, and creativity. Great workplace leaders understand that the workplace isn’t just a building, it’s an experience that shapes connect and perform every day.
A huge part of that is being willing to listen, and importantly, act on what you hear. The best workplace strategies don’t come from sitting behind a desk deciding what employees need; they come from understanding behaviours, team dynamics, and friction points, and being willing to design a strategy with the user at centre. It also takes resilience and adaptability. The workplace industry has changed enormously over the last few years, and there’s no longer a one-size-fits-all playbook. Leaders need to be comfortable experimenting, taking calculated risks, and continuously to meet changing employee expectations.
Most importantly, I think it takes the ability to build relationships and genuinely care about people’s experience. Workplace sits at the intersection of so many interconnected disciplines - real estate, HR, technology, communications, operations, procurement. Employees don’t experience those functions separately; they experience one joined-up environment. A strong workplace leader is able to bring all of those moving parts together in a way that feels seamless and inclusive.
To read more about the Workplace Leaders Top 50, see here: https://www.theworkplaceevent.com/workplace-leaders-top-50
To find out more about the Top 50 Celebration Event and to purchase tickets, see here: https://www.theworkplaceevent.com/workplace-leaders-top-50-celebration-party