The role of workplace in building employee experience, with Emily Day at HashiCorp

In the latest episode of The Desana Podcast, our CEO and Co-Founder Michael Cockburn sat down in person with Emily Day, Senior Director of Global Workplace Experience at HashiCorp. 

Over 30 minutes she shared her insights on employee connection, workplace design, and the evolving nature of remote and hybrid work - as well as her journey from the hospitality business to leading workplace strategy at a major tech company. 

Emily offers a unique perspective on how organizations can create meaningful and engaging work environments, regardless of location. If you’re interested in the future of workplace experience, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 

Listen to the full episode

If you’re navigating the challenges of remote work, employee engagement, or workplace design, listen to the full episode to gain deeper insights into how HashiCorp is shaping the future of workplace experience.

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You can listen to their conversation above, or search for ‘The Desana Podcast’ wherever you get your podcasts.

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Building connection and engagement for remote employees

Emily previously worked in the hospitality industry, and one of the most compelling takeaways from their conversation are the clear parallels she found between hospitality and workplace operations. Both fields focus on creating seamless experiences, fostering community, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. 

Just as a great restaurant considers every detail of a guest’s experience, companies must thoughtfully design employee interactions, from onboarding to daily collaboration. A well-orchestrated work experience fosters a sense of belonging, purpose, and satisfaction, ultimately driving long-term loyalty and engagement.

With HashiCorp’s globally distributed workforce, maintaining employee engagement across different locations is a top priority. So how do you ensure remote employees feel just as connected as those in an office? Emily highlighted:

• Encouraging virtual engagement through channels like Slack - as a “virtual HQ”
• Utilising workplace tools like Desana, to enable in-person meetups and collaboration.
• The importance of leadership participation in driving engagement.

Her key takeaway is that intentionality is key - simply providing tools or spaces isn’t enough. Companies must design purpose-driven experiences that actively bring people together.

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Rethinking the role of flexible workspace

‍Emily highlights how building an effective workplace policy extends beyond physical offices - it’s about crafting experiences that support employees wherever they are, and can flex in response to business needs. 

HashiCorp initially relied on offering fixed co-working memberships to employees, but found them inefficient and underused, and impossible to track accurate utilization. Instead, they adopted Desana, a flexible workspace solution that allows employees to access office space as needed.

This shift reflects a broader industry movement towards the acknowledgment that workplace experience isn’t just about real estate, it’s about creating seamless, supportive environments that are tailored to employees’ needs and support them to deliver their best work.

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Why employee experience Is a business imperative

‍Emily emphasizes that workplace experience isn’t just about providing perks, it has a direct impact on business success through its role in driving engagement, productivity, and talent retention. Companies that invest in thoughtful, well-designed workplace strategies see better outcomes across the board. 

Some of the key challenges for workplace leaders to tackle include:

• Measuring success: Engagement surveys alone don’t provide the full picture—companies must track event participation, digital tool usage, and qualitative feedback.
• Bridging the gap between digital and physical spaces: Connection isn’t just about having an office; it’s about how employees interact, collaborate, and feel a sense of belonging.

Emily and Michael’s discussion reinforced the understanding that companies that prioritize workplace experience will have a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining top talent.

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The future of workplace experience: AI and digital tools

‍Looking ahead, Emily sees AI and digital tools undoubtedly playing a bigger role in optimizing the employee experience. Companies are now analyzing micro-interactions - from calendar management to Slack engagement - to streamline workflows and reduce friction, and this will only continue to grow in importance.

Ultimately, the future of workplace experience is about continuous iteration: making small but meaningful improvements that, over time, create a dramatically better experience for employees.

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To find more episodes from The Desana Podcast, head to our host page.