The need for hospitality in the modern workplace

Bart ScheenaertsCoworking het Bolwerk | Edegem, Antwerpen

Be Coworking – co-President | Flanders Region

Social Workplace Conference – Brussels - 14/12/2016

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Modern workers need hospitality in the workplace as much as facility and infrastructure:

how to let corporations address the need

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Is it something about the bricks ?

my personal story: 20 years of working in corporations

as an employee, freelancer, entrepreneurand … as a human being with and

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1994 - 1998

the bricks: nothing specialA12 Wilrijk-Antwerpen

I the companya pizza for free every day

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1998 - 1999

the bricks: nothing specialHoboken, suburbs of Antwerp

I working for Kredietbank:exploring commercial creativity

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1999

the bricks: very nice building on top location: centre of Antwerp

I working for the company:way too much administration

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1999 - 2000

nice, functional business locationin Mechelen-Noord

neutral towards the company: a good place to start in ICT

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2000 - 2004

functional business locationin Oudergem (Brussels)

I working for Bull:intrapreneuring opportunities + time + place independent work

I the traffic jams fromAntwerp to Brussels every day

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2005top location in Diegem at Regus Pegasus business centre

I working there:company for sale, bad timing

+ poor human interaction withother companies in the building

I the traffic jams fromAntwerp to Brussels every day

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2006

old business centre in Vilvoordeno airco, just a room

I working there:specifically the fine layer of

white dust on the desk. Not sureif connected to the crematorium

difficult assignmentperhaps too early in life for me

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2007 - 2009top location in Mechelenwell connected on E19 highway

I the business projects,the colleagues, the personal development opportunities

I the restructurationsafter HP acquired EDS

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2007 - 2009

London HeathrowStockley Park

brilliant business opportunitiesenjoyed every moment at the

EDS EMEA Stategic Sales Centre

top business location in Londonnear Heathrow & M4-J4 junction

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2009

no fit between my personal view about life and Shell’s activities

top business location in NL incredibly fantastic building.

I working on the EDS deal making team on their Shell account

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suddenly …. everything changedresult: big priority shift

no more business traveland start freelancing

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I Antwerp’s 1st Coworking space: Aspace in Borgerhout

I the open interactionbetween entrepreneurs

in an inspiring loft in the city

I 45 minutes of traffic jams from Mortsel to Borgerhout

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2009 – 20112013 – 2016

I contributing to the human goals of this pharma giant

I the opportunity forpersonal development, even as

an external contractor to JNJ

I traveling between Mortsel and Turnhout: rarely traffic jams

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2011 - 2012

uninspiring ex-factorylocation in Kontich

I my assignment andworking with great people on interesting projects

I the restructurationsafter Philips acquired Massive

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I my own project in a nice pile of 150 year old bricks

coworking space het BolwerkIn Edegem, near Antwerp

3 years into the project: true cowo

+ business break even point

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250 customers in 3 years: creative new entrepreneurs+ traditional business clients

So, is it about the bricks ?Well … no, it’s not!

The social workplace = more than bricks

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think global, act local

TRUST

DNA

change

listen to your people

value creation

having fun

activity based workingempowerment

co-createengage transform

wholenesspurpose selfsteering

happiness

quality of life

freedom of choice

ecosystem

flexibilityknowledge sharing

agreements

inspiration

let’s work together

AGILE

community

hospitality

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What’s happening around our world of work ?Let’s zoom out to see the bigger picture.

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perhaps we’re doing something wrong in Belgium ?#worldchampsintrafficjamming

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what if … we would all stop commuting andstart working in the region where we live ?

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what if … we would all start buying goodsfrom local producents and startups ?

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4 generations are working together now

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4 generations are working together now

what if … we would improve knowledgesharing between these 4 generations?

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what if … we would start using the abundant space tocreate workspace ? Look around, it’s everywhere !

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so what’s next for you? for us ?

let’s do somethingabout it !

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Bart Scheenaerts

Coworking het Bolwerk - Edegem, AntwerpenBe Coworking – co-president for the Flanders Region

bart@blwrk.be | +32 3 291.02.00 | +32 495 26.13.60

www.blwrk.be | www.becoworking.be | www.bardoffice.behttps://be.linkedin.com/in/bartscheenaerts

www.oudersvanprematuren.be