In today’s dynamic work environment, modern office spaces play an increasingly crucial role. In this interview series, we speak with tenants from our various office locations about their experiences, what they value in a workspace, and how their office environment influences their daily work. In this first edition, we were excited to talk to Natalia Bodziany, People Partner at JWA, about her experience at Cowork by Memos, the benefits of flexible tenancies and the impact on their day-to-day work. 

1) Tell us about yourself: Who are you and what does your company do?

My name is Natalia Bodziany and I am the People Partner at JWA. Together with the HR and Administration team, I co-create the organizational culture of our company - one that is based on trust, support and open communication. I believe that a healthy work culture is the foundation of an effective and engaged team.
JWA is a consulting company that works in the areas of sustainability, climate neutrality, energy efficiency and ESG strategies, with a focus on the commercial real estate sector. We support our clients in creating buildings that are energy efficient, comfortable for users and environmentally friendly. With modern and functional solutions, we increase not only the efficiency of facilities, but also their market and investment value.

2) What significance does the flexibility of the tenancy have for your work or your company? What prompted you to rent a flexible office space?

We rent three office boxes with a total of 12 workstations. Rental flexibility is of utmost importance to us; we operate on the basis of a distributed model, meaning that most of our team works remotely. At the same time, we want every employee to be able to use the office at any time - both for individual work and team meetings.
Thanks to the flexible space, we can create natural opportunities for meetings, experience sharing and relationship building, which is extremely important for our organizational culture. It's a comfortable solution that supports not only our efficiency, but also a sense of community, despite working remotely.

3) Have you worked in “traditional office spaces” before? If so, what distinguishes this experience from the coworking model?

Yes, as a company we worked in our own traditional office for many years. While this gave us full independence, it also required managing everything ourselves – from ordering and managing supplies and equipment to organising cleaning and maintenance. 
The coworking model significantly relieves us of these matters and frees up a lot of time to focus on our work. 
Coworking is not only a convenience for us, but also a valuable part of work life - regular exercise classes, themed evening meetings, joint activities to celebrate holidays or simply delicious lunches and fresh fruit. All this builds an atmosphere that really encourages people to come to the office. An additional advantage is the community - other companies with whom we can exchange a few words over coffee. It's always a nice touch during the day.
What is especially important from our perspective - the coworking we use meets our needs in terms of ecology, work comfort, ergonomics and adequate lighting. These are important values for us, and we are happy to work in a place that supports them.

4) Has flexible use changed your productivity or the way you work? If so, how?

Personally, I really enjoy working from an office - contact with people is indispensable for me. The possibility of daily conversations, exchange of ideas or simply being among others definitely has a positive impact on my work comfort and well-being.
For the other members of the team, flexibility is also of great importance, as is the office location. Easy access to public transport, especially the train station, certainly supports hybrid work, as does the proximity to the city centre. 
Overall, for us the Coworking model is a solution full of benefits. It allows us to focus on our work, without having to deal with all the maintenance. There's no need to book external meeting rooms - they're available on-site, fully equipped and ready to use at any time. The modern, comfortable space, flexible access and business standard of service would really make the day-to-day running of any business easier - regardless of size or industry.