XpatAthens

Wednesday, 30 March 2022 13:31

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

A public space, where everyone has free access and can participate in a multitude of cultural, educational, athletic, environmental and recreational activities and events. It includes the Greek National Opera, the National Library of Greece as well as the Stavros Niarchos Park, one of the largest green areas in Athens, covering 21 hectares.

The SNFCC was created thanks to an exclusive grant by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, which delivered it to the Greek State upon completion. SNFCC Single Member S.A. is a public-benefit nonprofit organization responsible for the operation, maintenance and management of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center and the Stavros Niarchos Park while developing and organizing its own series of cultural, educational, environmental and sports activities. It is supervised by the Greek Ministry of Finance.

Redefinig Public Space
The SNFCC and the Stavros Niarchos Park design and construction have significantly contributed to the revitalization of Athens’ Kallithea neighborhood and the Faliro Delta waterfront area after years of neglect.

The high-quality events and activities organized, realized and hosted at the SNFCC, as well as the staff and collaborators’ professionalism, have made the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center a reference point in the greater Athens area, redefining the concept of public space.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center is a public space open to all, without any barriers.

Architectural Landmark
Designed by the architectural firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop, the SNFCC is a donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). In February 2017, upon the completion of its construction, the SNF delivered the SNFCC to the Greek State and society. SNFCC has earned significant architectural distinctions, including the 2018 Award for International Excellence of the Royal Institute of British Architects – RIBA.

Sustainability Hub
Sustainability has been an integral component and a priority of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center since its original inception. This sustainability mandate is reflected upon every aspect of the SNFCC, emerging as a new paradigm in terms of construction, operation, and maintenance of public places and infrastructures.

Committed to being open to all, the SNFCC has been designed to be fully accessible to persons with disabilities. In addition, many educational programs are been organized to encourage collaboration among children with and without disabilities.

People aged over 65 with minor mobility impairments comprise another group for which the SNFCC has designed programs.

Learn more about the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center at SNFCC.org

Published in Museums & Sites

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Wednesday, 05 February 2020 07:00

Global Expertise Versus Local Players

Companies continuing to rely on global expertise of IWG instead of local players

A fact that virtually every company will agree with, regardless of size, is that business is becoming increasingly global. So regardless of where a firm is based, when it comes to choosing a provider for an essential service such as office space, it makes sense for them to choose someone that can provide that truly global outlook.

The world of flexible working is one of those services. Undoubtedly one of the emerging disruptive trends in recent years, and a growth sector for global business that shows no signs of abating, flexible-office space providers have sprung up to try and service this need in cities all over the world.

But regardless of whether they’re pursuing international growth, there are a range of crucial factors all firms should take into consideration before deciding on a flexible-office space provider. From stability to global reach, professionalism and reputation, it’s a simple fact that smaller companies simply can’t contend with what a worldwide provider like IWG can provide.

This is something that’s been seen in the Russian market. Smaller, local players may have emerged in the flexible-workspace market there but IWG – with its global reputation and respected brand – has continued to be a firm favourite with tenants in the country’s capital. “One international company planned to move to a competitor due to a lower price, but then preferred to stay at Regus as their HQ considered Regus the most reliable workspace-provider in Moscow,” says Irina Baeva, Country Manager IWG Russia.

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With IWG being the biggest global provider of flexible workspace and flexspace-industry experts, it also has an enviable reputation built up over 30 years with market expertise and an infrastructure built on tried and tested processes.

High corporate standards across every department, from legal, operations and HR, to training and management are all strictly monitored by head office too. As well as the longevity and stability provided by IWG, in markets such as Russia there are also the myriad of practical advantages that being backed up by a truly global business provides as well. “Some international/foreign companies choose Regus because they can pay in USD, not only in Roubles,” adds Baeva. “The local players do not accept payments in foreign currency.”

When deciding on a flexible-workspace provider, it’s also important to consider that IWG is following a model that has seen it establish and successfully operate in 3,300 locations in over 1,000 towns and cities in more than 110 countries.

As flexspace-industry experts, IWG serves a massive 2.5m people to work more productively right around the globe via state-of-the art offices that include business-class broadband, virtual offices, meeting rooms and shared office spaces. These facilities, combined with unrivalled expertise, make it simple for companies to up- and downscale, control their rental costs, stay agile and also make their businesses more appealing to potential new recruits, with 80% of workers saying they would choose a job that offers them the flexible-working option.

This all helps to ensures that every office and every new client is following a well-trodden path to success, and it’s this reliable reputation as flexspace-industry experts that Baeva says is continuing to place Regus as the preferred office space provider in the market, regardless of which newer, smaller companies emerge.

“Regus is known on the market for the ability to fastest set up an office space for a customer, so that they can move in ASAP,” she says. “While other market players are catching up, Regus still has the best standards and expertise in this regard.”

The outlook is clear: for companies looking for a reliable, stable flexible-office space provider with an established business model that’s stood the test of time, IWG is the ideal solution.

To find out more, visit IWG today.

This content has been sponsored by IWG - an XpatAthens Brand Partner.
Originally published at IWG

Published in Work & Business

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Friday, 03 January 2025 14:23

New Year’s Resolutions That Actually Work: A Fresh Take For Business Leaders

The dawn of a new year often brings with it a flurry of resolutions, but let’s face it: most fail before February rolls around. For businesses, the stakes are higher—half-hearted resolutions can waste resources and miss opportunities. Instead of recycling tired strategies, why not approach this year with a fresh mindset? Here’s how to make your New Year’s resolutions work for your business in a unique and meaningful way.

1. Stop Setting Goals—Start Identifying Problems First

Before you set lofty resolutions, pause and reflect: What problems need solving in your business?

Once you identify problems, your resolutions become solutions. For instance, instead of saying, "Increase customer retention," resolve to "Identify and address bottlenecks in our customer journey." Problem-solving is far more actionable than generic goal-setting.

2. Think in Themes, Not Targets

Traditional resolutions are often rigid and numerical: "Increase revenue by 20%" or "Hire five new employees." Instead, consider adopting themes for the year—broad areas of focus that guide your decisions. For example:

Year of Efficiency: Streamline processes and cut unnecessary costs.
Year of Connection: Strengthen relationships with clients, partners, and employees.
Year of Experimentation: Test bold ideas, new markets, or innovative products.

Themes allow for adaptability and creativity while maintaining strategic focus.

3. Resolutions Are Dead—Experimentation Is In

Why make a single resolution when you can experiment? Choose one aspect of your business, like marketing or customer engagement, and commit to running small, manageable experiments throughout the year.

For instance:

Test new social media platforms for engagement.
Experiment with remote work policies to improve productivity.
Pilot a subscription model for one of your services.

Track what works and scale it up. Think of this as a scientific approach to growth—data-driven and results-oriented.

4. Flip the Script: Resolve What Not to Do

Sometimes, the most effective resolutions are about subtraction, not addition. Ask yourself:

What activities or processes are draining resources without delivering results?
What meetings could be eliminated?
What products or services no longer align with your mission?

Make this the year of strategic pruning. Letting go of inefficiencies frees up time and energy to focus on what truly matters.

5. Put People at the Heart of Resolutions

Resolutions often focus on numbers, systems, or outputs, but the true engine of any business is its people. This year, resolve to invest in them:

Create a "personal growth fund" for employees to spend on courses, workshops, or hobbies.
Host monthly brainstorming sessions where every team member can pitch ideas.
Recognize and celebrate achievements—big or small—regularly.

A motivated, engaged team will help your business thrive far beyond 2025.

6. The 80/20 Approach: Leverage Your Superpowers

The Pareto Principle—80% of results come from 20% of efforts—can revolutionize your resolutions. Instead of trying to fix everything, focus on the few areas where your business already excels and double down.

For example:

If word-of-mouth brings in most of your clients, resolve to amplify customer referrals.
If your team shines in creativity, invest in innovative campaigns.
If a specific product dominates sales, explore complementary offerings.

Play to your strengths, and let them work harder for you.

7. Celebrate Imperfection

Here’s the thing: resolutions aren’t about perfection; they’re about progress. Instead of rigidly sticking to a resolution that’s not working, give yourself permission to adapt. Build a culture where failing fast and learning from mistakes is celebrated.

At the end of the year, success isn’t just about achieving every resolution—it’s about growing, learning, and building a better version of your business.

8. The One-Word Challenge

If all else feels overwhelming, simplify your resolutions into a single, powerful word that encapsulates your business’s focus for the year. Words like "growth," "innovation," or "trust" can serve as guiding principles for every decision you make.

Published in Tips & Advice

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Friday, 27 September 2019 12:35

The First Regus Business Center Opened In Thessaloniki

The largest provider of ready-made workplaces came to Thessaloniki offering flexible solutions for every professional.

Regus, with presence in over 110 countries and 1000 cities around the world, opened its first offices in Thessaloniki this early July.

In a 1,934-square-foot space that spans 5 floors, Regus has created 66 offices, two meeting rooms and 211 individual workspaces for anybody who wants to save on office costs, start their business quickly and hassle free, for those in need of a flexible contract for their headquarters or for companies that want to be active in the city without spending time on looking for a conventional space.

Regus's offices in Thessaloniki are located in the city center, on Karolou Del Street, very close to the port and across from Otton Square, with easy access to the bus stop and the main train station. Main buildings such as the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle and the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki are only a few steps away.

Katerina Manou, Regus General Manager for Greece said in a statement: “We are excited about the expansion of our offices in Thessaloniki, a city with strong entrepreneurship and significant growth in recent years. We believe our offices will be of great help to anyone looking for a modern and easily accessible workplace in the heart of the city, providing all the modern services and networking opportunities in our well-designed spaces. "

Regus is reaching out to any freelance professional or company of any size looking for a professional and enjoyable workspace enhanced with state-of-the-art equipment, high speed internet infrastructure, administrative support and an ergonomically designed environment that stimulates employee profitability.

About Regus

First established in 1989, Regus is one of the original pioneers of flexible workspace, helping businesses choose a way of working that’s best for their people.

Now spanning the world with over 3,000 locations, Regus’ global network of bright, inspiring workspaces allows modern businesses to work where, when and how they want, in a more agile way. Regus provides businesses with the flexibility to grow without risk or commitment, and attracts a diverse network of 2.5 million people, from entrepreneurs and SMEs to multi-national blue-chip companies.

Regus is an operating brand of IWG plc: the holding group for a number of leading workspace providers. Other brands in the IWG portfolio include Spaces, HQ, No18 and Signature by Regus.

Check out Regus' flexible workspace locations to find a base for your international team!

This content has been sponsored by IWG - an XpatAthens Brand Partner.

Published in Business News

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Friday, 27 September 2019 13:27

Serviced Offices Take-Off In Greece

While flexible working may have been the natural choice for SMEs, it is becoming a cost-effective option for large, global corporate companies who want to become more agile.

Greece's recovery from the economic crisis is still ongoing, but as its startup and tech community has begun to grow in earnest, so has the demand for flexible co-working spaces from entrepreneurs and executives over the traditional, fixed office environments that come with long-term leases and high overhead costs.

Co-working spaces provide shared, collaborative environments that can house like-minded people, and have been used by companies to better manage risk and reduce CapEx/OpEx, while Athens has become a real hub for the country's burgeoning tech sector, which is now starting to truly thrive.

Marco Veremis, an angel investor and the founder of one of Greece's tech success stories, Upstream, recently told the Financial Times that he estimates Greek tech companies today have a combined market capitalisation of around €2bn – a decade ago, it was nearly zero.

This has been helped by the government-backed investment schemes created in recent years to help young Greek businesses get going. Uni.fund provides seed capital to startups in Greek universities focusing on R&D and the tech space, while SMEs can apply to EquiFund, a fund-of-funds co-financed by the European Investment Fund that aims to strengthen the venture capital market in Greece.

While tech companies grow and the country’s economy continues to recover, flexible workspaces are becoming increasingly popular. By September, IWG will have opened four coworking spaces in Greece in the space of a year.

Katerina Manou, VP Sales at IWG in Greece, says flexible workspaces have emerged in the country as a response to specific market conditions and firm requirements. “Increased external volatility, high sunk costs for setting up conventional office space, an emphasis on flexibility to expand and contract operations in line with business development are all factors that have contributed to making flexible workplaces an attractive option,” she said.

One of the outcomes of the crisis over the past decade has been that perceptions within the business community about the most efficient way to run both small and large firms have been “fundamentally reshaped,” Manou said. “It is now clearer than ever that the workspace should not be a liability for the bottom line of a firm, but an asset contributing to a firm's operations,” she added.

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And Manou says that “a new generation of entrepreneurs and executives have embraced the idea, and are driving demand, as the Greek economy is slowly picking up again”. On a real estate level, turning conventional office premises into coworking spaces can breathe new life into under-utilised properties, and can revive entire districts that are run down due to the economic downturn,” she added.

But flexible workspaces offer benefits to all types of businesses, not just start-ups. And as IWG's 2019 Global Workspace Survey has shown, flexible working is the new norm. After canvassing more than 15,000 businesses across 80 countries, IWG found that the number of employees who want flexible working options has grown to 75 per cent, while over half of workers globally are getting their job done from outside their main office headquarters for at least 2.5 days of the week.

And while flexible working may once have been the natural choice for small-to-medium sized businesses, it is becoming a cost-effective option for a number of large, global corporate companies that are using it as a way to become more agile and to help mitigate risk, the research found. A total of 65% of businesses said having a flexible workspace helped them to reduce CapEx/OpEx, shed unnecessary assets, and consolidate their portfolio.

Manou adds that while flexible workspaces allow companies to reduce the cost of operations and become more competitive, which in turn benefits the Greek economy, they are also helping a new era of business leaders “who have come to terms with the idea that business survival depends on how flexible firms are in reacting to external disruptions, and are able to adapt by turning challenges into opportunities,” she said.

Could a serviced office be the right option for you?
Check out Regus' flexible workspace locations to find a base for your international team!

This content has been sponsored by IWG - an XpatAthens Brand Partner.

Published in Business News

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Friday, 27 September 2019 14:15

Co-Working Is The Innovation That HR Can't Afford To Ignore

The great skill in human resources is having a sixth sense for how people want to work. It takes a certain amount of clairvoyance to know what the talent of today is thinking – how, where and why they want to turn up to the office.

In today’s world, the increasingly apparent truth is that employees value flexibility, convenience and vibrancy – all great benefits of moving to a co-working space.

“The war on talent is really in full force,” says Sharon Edmondson, IWG Vice President of Human Resources – Americas & Global LSCs. “To be competitive, you have to be able to offer more to your employees than just competitive compensation and benefits. People are wanting more of a sense of community and vibe, to be able to find more to connect to than just the job role itself.”

Employees who are considering a change of employer, then, are looking at a much wider range of considerations than salary alone. And rewarding that desire quickly feeds back into productivity.

“If you've got segregated employees sitting in remote spots, or working from home,” adds Edmondson, “then that isolation leads to drops in both productivity and engagement. What I love in IWG spaces is that you start to see employees from all different companies eating together or grabbing a coffee. You start to leverage the benefits of other employers to build that community and brand within your own organization.”

Employees increasingly want to be in a flexible, lively, dynamic environment. It’s no secret that a trusted, engaged employee is a productive one. In the 2019 IWG Global Workplace Survey, 85% of employers confirmed that productivity had improved as a result of greater flexibility.

“Employees want to go to an environment that's lively and vivacious and drives energy and change,” says Edmondson. “People want the ability to collaborate and the ability to get stretched beyond where they are. We're living in a society where people want to continue to learn and grow. If you're not feeding the employees, then that tends to reduce productivity and talent retention.”

“If you don't have that kind of space to offer, then you're really missing out on driving the most out of your workforce and gaining that engagement and productivity, which in turn creates innovation, and ultimately ties directly into revenue and profitability for the organization.”

Another crucial factor is geography. Offices with huge, city-center headquarters that pull employees from miles around are forcing many of those workers to endure long, thankless commutes, which are not only environmentally unfriendly but also ultimately a chunk of personal time they can’t get back. “People won’t want to commute so far,” says Edmondson. “You risk losing employees, and you also lose a ton of productivity time because employees are spending that time commuting.” Co-working spaces closer to where workers actually live can give them the professional setting of the office, keep their work and productivity up – and extra free time each day.

There’s also the consideration that the work/life balance doesn’t have to refer to being at work vs being at home – perhaps if work was that bit more vibrant, it wouldn’t be such a necessary contrast. As Edmondson says: “Through leveraging the benefits of a co-working environment, work doesn't seem like work all the time. If you have a frustrating moment, you’re able to go and catch a break, to go up to the patio rooftop terrace and play a game of ping-pong – something your traditional employment spaces don't offer.”

When it comes to the value of flexible working to employees, the results are in. In IWG’s survey, over 80% of respondents said that if faced with two similar job prospects they would turn down the one that didn’t offer flexible working.

And what if HR doesn’t catch up? “The reality is you'll miss out on having the ability to stay competitive in terms of talent. Certainly, from an attrition and engagement perspective, there's no doubt that will start to impact potential employees and the organization as a whole.”

Can you afford to lose out? Find out more about how co-working can work for your company.

This content has been sponsored by IWG - an XpatAthens Brand Partner.

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Thursday, 12 December 2019 23:16

Flexible Workspaces Add $254 BN To Local Economies

Flexible workspaces add $254bn to local economies and contribute to worker well-being, study finds. A new report from IWG's operating brand Regus finds that the introduction of a flexible workspace adds an average $16.47m and a better quality of life to local economies.

According to a new report from Development Economics and commissioned by Regus, flexible-office space will contribute $254bn (£196bn) to local economies over the next 10 years. The research is an indication that providing more office space closer to home and cutting down on commute times is having a significant impact on both job creation and employee well-being, with the demand for flexspace on the rise in response to the changing nature of work.

Mark Dixon, the CEO of International Workplace Group (IWG), believes this growth in out-of-town workspace is partly down to support for a flexible working policy among employees: “When people commute into major cities, their wallets commute with them,” he says. “Working locally keeps that spending power closer to home. What this study shows is that providing more opportunities for people to work closer to home can have a tremendous effect, not just on them, but on their local area too.”

The first major socioeconomic study of its kind, it found that the presence of flexspace created up to 128 new jobs and a Gross Value Add (GVA) – or sandwich economy – of $16.47m (£12.7m) per area.

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The independently-conducted report examined 19 countries from Belgium to Brazil, and also revealed the positive impact a local workspace can have environmentally and socially. A local flexspace is expected to save an average of 7,416 hours in commuting time per year – and also help to save 118 metric tonnes of carbon in the process.

Globally, this amounts to 2,560,000 tonnes a year – the equivalent of 128,000 flights between London and New York – which has huge implications for the way we think about the where and how of work in the 21st century (especially when green issues and worker well-being are considered).

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According to its author, Steve Lucas, the report shows a profound change in global working culture: “This study reveals a shift in jobs and capital growth moving outside of city centres, where it has been focused for the last few decades, into suburban locations,” he comments.

As the trend for a flexible-working policy continues to spread, the numbers are getting bigger too: from the roles created by running the building itself, to the ancillary jobs that spring up to serve the new business community. Amongst these many economic benefits, flexible office space is predicted to add a staggering $254bn of value to local economies around the globe over the next 10 years – roughly the same as the entire economy of the Czech Republic in 2019. It’s perhaps another indication that growth is still an important part of an economy – but it’s shifting location, and it’s doing so with the potential to be more evenly distributed.

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As the world’s leading workspace-provider, the global reach that Regus provides means it can spread a positive influence that goes beyond the merely practical: its size allows it to make a real socio-economic impact on a local community, and a positive impact on quality of life. As new generations enter the workforce, question the old way of doing things, and respond to the various challenges presented by life today (from environmental considerations to a better work and life balance), flexwork appears here to stay.

Dig deeper: read the full Regus report here.

Check out Regus' flexible workspace locations to find a base for your international team!

This content has been sponsored by IWG - an XpatAthens Brand Partner.
Originally published at Regus.com

Published in Business News

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Friday, 13 December 2019 09:50

The Rise Of The Freelance Workforce

There’s been a lot of talk recently about freelancers disrupting the workforce and existing markets. A 2016 McKinsey Global Institute report found that a huge 20-30% of the workforce in Europe and the US engage in some form of independent work – and its more than just new players like Uber making up the numbers. We’re seeing a broader shift in both corporate strategy and workforce attitudes that’s changing the way we do business, for the better.

Empowering Individuals

A big factor in the rising freelance workforce comes from an increasing desire for more freedom and control. Around 61% of respondents to our Great Big Survey, which included 40,000 workers from around the world, said that work-life balance is the main driving force behind flexible working.

Workers also want greater autonomy to forge ahead on their own path. You can see this in the OECD’s Entrepreneurship at a Glance 2015 report, which surveyed people aged 18-64 from 41 different countries. This study found that 48% of men and 36% of women would rather start their own business than work for someone else.

Spotting The Trend

The people behind the gig economy (using freelancers on an ad-hoc basis) were early birds: they recognised a rising value for independence and entrepreneurial spirit and they leapt at the chance. All companies have the power to respond and integrate this system to benefit their own workforce, and there’s evidence they’re starting to do so. Around 42% of executives surveyed by Deloitte in their Global Human Capital Trends 2016 report said they planned to employ more ad-hoc workers over the next three to five years.

This isn’t simply a response to worker demands. 58% of businesses told us that reducing permanent staff overheads is key to their post-recession plans. It also helps them work in a more agile way, scaling their workforce up and down to meet changes in demand and new industry developments.

Building Networks, Improving Organizations

To integrate larger numbers of freelance workers, companies are changing their office environments. PwC’s 2016 Emerging Trends in Real Estate survey found that more and more businesses are looking for high-quality, flexible and serviced office and co-working spaces, like Regus, where they can scale up and down quickly.

This also benefits the workforce in providing a space to share ideas, do business and collaborate – rather than simply taking work home. This helps productivity, but also wellbeing. Around 84% of respondents to the 2016 Regus Great Big Survey said co-working reduces loneliness, while 53% said it helps fight stress.

Creative Networks

The next step is to ensure that these flexible, changing teams are working in the most creative and productive ways possible. According to the 2017 Deloitte Human Capital Trends report, this will mean moving away from management hierarchies and towards groups of empowered networks that are able to change regularly and quickly.

These project networks will work closely together to get the job done, before disbanding and relocating for the next task. That will require flexible and creative office spaces that can adapt to new challenges and opportunities. We’re confident that our Regus shared and co-working office spaces with short-term leases are the solution for the foreseeable future.

Explore Regus' flexible workspace locations to help increase business productivity!

This content has been sponsored by IWG - an XpatAthens Brand Partner.

Published in Business News

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Wednesday, 08 January 2020 07:00

Diverse Teams Drive Better Outcomes

“Diverse teams drive better outcomes.” IWG’s Chief Customer Officer and Chief Sales Officer talk female leadership and diversity.

On average, only 33% of women living and working in the European Union are likely to hold a management position. When it comes to the world’s largest corporations, only 24% of women (4.8%) are CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, with female professionals accounting for less than a quarter (24%) of senior roles globally, according to the 2018 Fortune list. In practice however, attitudes are changing.

A 2019 survey by Ipsos reveals that globally, 75% of respondents said they would be comfortable with having a female boss. And following a 2018 IWG gender gap report, it was revealed that 69% of upper middle management roles at International Workplace Group (IWG), the operating brand of Regus, Spaces, HQ, Signature and No. 18 are occupied by women, and women represent close to half (41%) of top paying roles at the company.

For Lorraine Veber and Fatima Koning, Chief Customer Officer and Chief Sales Officer respectively, the reason lies in IWG’s unique company culture in which diversity, flexibility and balance are core values.

Veber, a New York resident, has spent over 20 years nurturing her career with IWG. When she joined Regus – now the largest operating brand of IWG – the company hadn’t opened a single flexible workspace location in the United States. In her new job, she was given the green light to build from scratch.

“The first few months were full-on but being thrown in the deep end allowed me to see the company’s potential and the part I could play within it. Instead of getting carried away by the current, I laid down an anchor, defined what I wanted to achieve, then committed to reaching my goals.”

Veber cites several factors that helped her progress. Build relationships. “Talk to people, especially those you don’t work with directly. Chances are they’ll help you solve a problem by looking at it from a different angle.” Expect as much from your boss as they expect of you. “I need a boss who is always 50% ahead of me in the game. Your boss can demand a lot of you, and that is good, but you can demand a lot of them in helping you grow in return – and you should.”

Above all, Veber holds, you need to strike a balance between what you know and what you don’t.

“I was once asked to manage a finance team and didn’t know the first thing about what they did. I had to tell them: ‘Guys, I’m not going to help you grow in your knowledge, but what I can do is challenge you to see things differently.’ Rather than squeezing myself into a role that didn’t suit me, I used what I did know to best serve the team at hand. It’s another sign that diverse teams complement each other and lead to better outcomes.”

A belief in the value of diversity is also shared by Fatima Koning, a long-term resident of the Netherlands with Moroccan heritage. Koning joined IWG as a Sales Director in 2015 before managing a national market in 2017; she was promoted to Global Senior VP of Sales Transformation the same year before finally beginning her current role in 2018.

“From the moment I stepped through the door, I was struck by the employee diversity. In the Barcelona office alone, almost 40 languages are spoken. It was such a pleasant surprise – I knew I’d joined a company that shared my own values.’”

As a boss, she has made a conscious effort to continue the legacy. “I believe in diversity and the impact of diverse teams on performance. It is my mission to build teams with this outlook, and giving female leaders a fair chance to step up. I’ve definitely had a chance to achieve this while working for IWG.

“It would be great if every single female leader out there commits to supporting the career development of another talented female professional. Women must help other women grow.

“When I hire people, I’m never concerned that because they are a mother, or because they might have to look after someone at home, they won’t be capable to deliver a great job. It just never crosses my mind. At IWG, flexibility is at the top of the agenda.”

With IWG’s recent Global Workspace Survey concluding that 83% of professionals would turn down a job without flexible working, Koning’s mission to promote flexibility and fairness at work is timely.

“As technology is truly enabling flexibility, it’s about time we make use of it and let our people work flexibly. If a boss gives employees the time and space to get their home life totally under control, it fosters loyalty, job satisfaction and ultimately the kind of employee productivity that drives results.”

This content has been sponsored by IWG - an XpatAthens Brand Partner.
Originally published at International Workplace Group

Published in Business News

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Monday, 13 January 2020 09:37

New Business Hubs Attract Startup Talent

Entrepreneurs, SMEs and startups flock to new wave of business hubs

The tiger economies of Asia may conjure up striking neon images of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, but there’s a new player on the scene. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, has been earning an enviable reputation in recent years for its vibrant startup ecosystem.

With a population of 7.5 million people, Vietnam’s most populous city has established itself as somewhere entrepreneurs can set up a business on a limited budget, with more and more staff from established companies in the States such as Apple making the trip there to begin their own startup dream.

With 70% of the population under 30 years old, the city bursts with the kind of vibrant spirit that truly embraces a thriving business culture, while low costs (local wages range from $500-$1,500) make the scene doubly attractive for any new business.

Take a trip over 7,000 miles away and you at Tel Aviv. Israel’s business and financial centre has embraced the startup scene like few others cities in the world. An enviable talent pool and corporate entrepreneurship combine to create a city that truly feels dynamic, welcoming and that has its eye firmly fixed on the future. Because of its burgeoning reputation, the city’s business rents are fast catching up to those of more established business centres in the USA and Europe, but serviced offices such as those operated by Regus offer a ready-made way to keep costs online, while still enabling startups to truly make the most out of being part of this vibrant destination.

The Finnish capital of Helsinki, quite simply, has it all. Combining access to a wealth of local talent, business accelerators and the government’s own support for newly formed business known as the Finnish Start-up Permit, there are few better places in Europe to turn dreams into entrepreneurial reality. And while the West Coast of the States has earned plenty of kudos for its tech giants like Google and Facebook, Helsinki has got its fair share of heavy hitters too, with companies such as Nokia and Linux helping establish it as a true technology and innovation powerhouse.

If warmer climes are what you’re looking for, the subcontinent might have just what you need. Previously known as Bangalore, Bengaluru boasts a wealth of tech talent that has seen the city ranked as the third-largest tech ecosystem in the world. Its fast-growing reputation has led to an influx of both new businesses, and government funding for affordable housing has helped drive continued growth.

While Berlin may earn all the plaudits when it comes to new business and a vibrant night-time economy, Cologne has the added bonus of being much quieter, less populated and altogether less stressful than the German capital. The presence of companies including Electronic Arts and Deutsche Telekom mean the city is no stranger to corporate giants and has an enviable history of investing heavily in media and tech.

As the gateway between Europe and Asia, it’s no surprise that Istanbul should have established itself as an up-and-coming entrepreneur hub. Formerly Constantinople, a combination of Eastern mystique and a culture that still feels familiar and open to westerners, affordable housing and laws which provide equal investment rights to foreigners as they do to Turkish nationals, have all helped turn Istanbul into a truly enterprising jewel on the Bosporus.

Over in Iceland, things are certainly warming up in a business sense too. Despite being one of the least populated areas in the developed world, Reykjavik benefits from an open business culture and a true entrepreneurial mindset. With a range of incubators, co-working spaces and a government that has put innovation firmly at the top of its business agenda, Reykjavik really is an exciting place to be.

From chilly and sparsely populated to sunny and busy, with a gargantuan population of 12.11 million people, there’s certainly no shortage of potential customers in São Paulo. Brazilians may be known for their love of football, but as a business hub this sprawling certainly knows where the back of the net is when it comes to scoring a startup success. And with business accelerator schemes and co-working spaces playing host to some of the most innovative startups in the country, an impressive higher education system also makes it a great place to attract the very best talent.

Taking a step across the Atlantic, there’s another city bathed in warmth that’s also earning an enviable reputation in SME and startup circles. Nestled in the shadow of Table Mountain, Cape Town is a true Africa Business Center and has its sights set firmly on being the continent’s main technology hub. With its thriving incubator scene, diverse population and great universities, the city has also benefited from ‘the Silicon Cape’ initiative, combining a community of venture capitalists, developers and creatives.

With the rise of flexible workspace, all these incredible locations can easily become the new HQ for a startup or SME looking for a Scalable Network. Regus has affordable, serviced offices in each location, each with the same business-grade IT infrastructure and high-speed Wi-Fi access. What are you waiting for?

Find out more about how Regus can help your business!

This content has been sponsored by IWG - an XpatAthens Brand Partner.
Originally published at Regus

Published in Business News

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