Crafting a Talent-Attracting, Future-Proof FinTech Hub in India
confidential fintech client
As Lead Consultant, I spearheaded the strategic planning for a FinTech client's new Bengaluru campus, aiming to set a benchmark for dynamic and supportive work environments. This involved a comprehensive evaluation of real estate options and developing a data-driven strategy tailored to their growing workforce and India's specific business context.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Experience: November 2019 - April 2022, Mumbai and Bengaluru, India
My Role: Lead Strategist
Contribution: Real Estate Advisory and Consulting, Workplace Strategy, Space Planning,
Team: Gensler - Aradhna Kapoor, Shravan Bendapudi
Project Copyright Gensler. All rights reserved.
Key Challenge:
To design a new workspace that not only supported growth and a hybrid work model but also:
Creating an Equitable Global Experience: Ensuring consistent quality of workplace and amenities across different Firm offices.
Attracting and Retaining Talent: Addressing attrition in a highly competitive landscape.
Supporting Diverse Needs: Designing a campus that is inclusive of all genders, generations, and abilities.
Accommodating Growth: Planning for a significant increase in headcount.
Adopting a Hybrid work model: Determining the ideal mix of a remote/in office setup.
Action:
Applying extensive experience in workplace strategy and a thorough evaluation of potential sites, this project was approached strategically:
Campus Evaluation: Evaluated five developments against key parameters like access, sustainability, amenities, and alignment with the client's workplace strategy.
Comprehensive Research & Analysis: Conducted employee surveys, leadership interviews, and benchmarked against other leading companies.
Strategic Recommendations: Focused on the following key themes:
Cultivating an Equitable Experience: Providing equal access to high-quality resources and amenities across global locations.
Creating a Welcoming Impression: Integrating personalised concierge services and hospitality.
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion: Designing spaces and policies that cater to all employees.
Supporting 24/5 Operations: Delivering amenities and utilities for all working hours.
Enabling a Variety of Working: Offering various work settings optimised for collaboration, focus and rejuvenation.
Adopting a Flexible Hybrid Environment Creating a community with individual workstyles and individual choice for working conditions.
Health & Wellbeing: Prioritise physical and mental wellness through design interventions.
Focus on learning and Development Shift training from classic to a more “sandbox” environment.
Outcome:
Developed a strategic design framework that informed the client's campus selection.
Established a vision for a future-ready workplace that will enhance employee well-being, foster innovation, and support the firm's growth trajectory in India.
This initiative demonstrates how strategic workplace planning, combined with a deep understanding of employee needs and business objectives, can create a competitive advantage in the talent market.