Ep 187: "Could More Play, Get Us Back Into the Office?" with Stephen Hargett

What if the key to better work isn’t another policy—but more play, curiosity, and humanity? In this episode, Rob visits with one of Los Angeles’ up and coming young entrepreneurs, Stephen Hargett, Founder at Wrkspace, to explore how our relationship with work is rapidly evolving. They discuss how the pandemic reshaped workplace expectations, why rigid mandates fall short, and how intentional, human-centered environments can unlock creativity and productivity. Stephen shares his vision for an intelligent workplace operating system—one that blends technology with emotional intelligence to elevate the human experience and help companies deliver better work experiences for their employees. Together, they explore the power of humility in leadership, the future of co-working spaces, and the essential questions every corporate leader should be asking to build a thriving, people-first culture. Feel free to follow and engage with STEPHEN here:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shargett/Website: https://wrkspace.app/ We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide. As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests. ¡Cheers y gracias!, Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurial Thinkers 04:00 The Evolution of Work: From Traditional to Flexible 11:39 The Future of Work: Play Spaces and Creativity 20:28 The Dichotomy of College and Work 24:53 The Changing Landscape of Co-Working Spaces 29:50 Workspace: The Intelligent Operating System for Workplaces 32:20 Understanding User vs. Customer 34:31 Nimble Solutions for Space Management 36:42 The Challenge of Point Solutions 39:51 The Origin Story of Workspace 45:32 The Vision for Workspace's Future 47:27 The Role of AI in Workspace 52:01 Life Lessons from Sports and Family 57:58 Key Questions for Corporate Leaders