Gesine Braun & Dr Laura Kienbaum discuss the world of work behind the cover stories

There is not always a close correlation between what companies say about themselves and what it is actually like to work there. It was precisely this tension that took centre stage in the ‘Coverwomen’ discussion between Dr Laura Kienbaum, founder of loop_creating places, and Gesine Braun, editor-in-chief of Harvard Business manager.

The starting point was the magazine’s front covers. Each cover distils a debate into a thesis: pointed, sometimes uncomfortable and full of questions about the modern world of work. During the discussion, these covers provided an opportunity to look beyond the headlines and compare corporate claims with everyday reality.

In doing so, two perspectives came together that complemented one another. As a journalist, Gesine Braun focuses on leadership, management and the stories organisations tell about themselves. As an architect and entrepreneur, Dr Laura Kienbaum translates questions of collaboration into tangible spaces. Whilst one asks what lies behind a promise, the other examines whether that promise can even be realised within a given space.

Corporate culture is also reflected in the floor plan

Openness, exchange and a sense of belonging are easy to write into mission statements. But what conditions do people actually find for these in their day-to-day working lives? Do spaces facilitate encounters? Do they offer room for different ways of working? And is a company’s identity tangible there?

From Kienbaum’s perspective, floor plans, circulation routes and communal spaces are an expression of working culture. The design of an office therefore touches on questions that go far beyond architecture: How do people want to work together? What connects them? And what kind of environment supports them in doing so?

The talk highlighted just how insightful it can be to juxtapose an organisation’s narrative with its spatial reality. It is precisely where the two diverge that important questions arise for leadership and change.

Two perspectives that raise new questions

‘Coverwomen’ thrived on the interplay between journalistic scrutiny and architectural reflection. Without PowerPoint or pre-packaged answers, a conversation emerged that invited participants to re-examine familiar notions of work.

One thought remains: if you want to understand workplace culture, you should both listen and observe. For between what a company says and what its spaces enable, there is much to be learnt about how people actually work together.

Gesine Braun and Dr Laura Kienbaum can be booked for lectures and talks via LEADING MINDS. Please feel free to contact us: +49 (0)30 640 777 42 or [email protected]