JANUARY 2027
How Workplace Strategists
Drive Project Success
Brenda Farmiloe
Workplace Strategist
Brenda brings an exceptional background in leadership across the real estate industry, with extensive experience in international program management, global project management operations, and PMO leadership. She has a strong focus on corporate workplace strategy and services, successfully managing projects of all sizes—from small initiatives to highly complex programs.
If you have heard the term Workplace Strategist and wondered what the role entails, you are not alone. Workplace Strategists play a critical role throughout the entire project lifecycle, from initial programming and space needs analysis to design development, change management, move planning, and post-occupancy evaluations.
On any given day, a Workplace Strategist may partner with Human Resources, Information Technology, Facilities, Real Estate, Leadership, and business stakeholders while collaborating with architects, engineers, furniture vendors, audiovisual consultants, and project managers to ensure cross-functional alignment and successful project outcomes.
These professionals are responsible for developing workplace standards and guidelines, conducting detailed occupancy and utilization analyses, and staying informed on evolving workplace trends. They provide strategic recommendations on current and future workplace solutions, educate and advise teams, facilitate workshops and programming sessions, support critical decision-making, and offer guidance on space planning, test-fit layouts, finishes, and materials. Capturing lessons learned and applying those insights to future projects is also a key component of the role.
Organizations can engage a Workplace Strategist at any stage of a project, whether at the outset, during implementation, or toward completion. Workplace Strategists provide flexible support based on project needs and can seamlessly integrate into existing teams. These individuals bring extensive experience in design, project management, and workplace planning, enabling them to assess requirements, identify opportunities, and deliver tailored strategic support.
While no two days are the same for these professionals, one constant remains: the value they bring to organizations. Through effective space management, strategic workplace solutions, cost optimization, and flexibility planning, Workplace Strategists help drive business performance. They enhance the employee experience, support talent attraction and retention, facilitate organizational change, and maximize the value of real estate investments.
The following diagram indicates the phases of a typical project and the assistance that a Workplace Strategist can bring to during the project life cycle:
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