In the past year, there has been a lot of change at WeWork, but our work has always been inspired by our members. Providing an exceptional member experience is at the core of what we do, and together we’re changing the way people work.
WeWork employees are now looking ahead and are excited for the future of the company and what’s to come. “This is a great time to be at WeWork,” says Cameron Femino, a producer and editor at WeWork, “because we have the opportunity to write the next chapter.”
Feeling this energy, Femino collaborated with senior copywriter David Corpuz and the wider brand team to capture the stories of fellow WeWork employees. While documenting their stories and hearing about their inspiration, This is WeWork came to life, a campaign that celebrates the work that WeWork employees do and showcases how their work impacts our members all over the world.
By highlighting employees across the globe—from a community lead in Birmingham, England, to the New York–based director of architecture—we get to hear their thoughts on their everyday work experience and the future of the company.
“Things are constantly changing, we’re constantly looking for ways we can improve, and in that way, we all get to be and feel like entrepreneurs,” says Rocky Kerns, a senior associate on the employee experience team, who has been with the company for more than four years. “Togetherness, that family aspect, and working through those challenges is what keeps us going.”
WeWork employees are consistently inspired and engaged—even during challenging times—because they get to witness the impact they have on members. As a community manager at 729 N Washington Ave in Minneapolis, Amanda Hart says she loves creating a space for companies to thrive and chase their dreams. “When I think about what I get to do every day, I want to jump out of bed,” Hart says.
Other employees find it incredibly valuable to be able to show up authentically each day. “What drew me to WeWork was its culture,” says senior community manager Erica Gomez, who is based in New York. “The fact that people have the ability to be themselves holistically and not feel judged.”
WeWork has always been committed to providing the best experience possible for the thousands of businesses in our spaces. That commitment has stayed true regardless of company changes. “WeWork is unique because we don’t just deal with the spaces and walls, we deal with people and their emotions,” explains Joseph Shulinin, a community director in Moscow, Russia.
WeWork employees know that there are still challenges ahead, but they’re choosing to view them as opportunities.
“My boss recently asked me, ‘Why are you still here after five years?’” says Peter Teachen, WeWork’s director of architecture. “I told her I think there’s an opportunity for this to be the best it’s ever been.”
Many WeWork employees share Teachen’s optimism about the future, and know that this next chapter is just beginning.
Ed Hobbs, a community manager at WeWork 6 Brindley Place in Birmingham, England, helped launch the first location in the city four months ago. “There’s a huge amount of opportunity,” he says. “I certainly don’t think we’ve gone all the way yet.”
Comradery and perseverance have driven WeWork employees throughout the past 10 years, and these attributes continue to frame the company’s goals moving forward. “If we’re able to bring the same energy and drive that got us where we are today to turning this place around, I have no doubt that we’ll be successful,” says Reed Langridge, a product operations director at WeWork.
Alicia Sowa, a community manager at 400 Spectrum Center in Irvine, California, agrees. “I’m looking forward to continuing to be part of a company that leads the way in community, in workspace, in connection,” she says.
Having an impact on the larger global community has always been a large part of the company’s mission, and employees believe that their impact extends beyond the walls of office spaces.
“If we can change how people treat each other here at WeWork, we can change how people treat each other out in the world,” says Gomez.
Santos Munoz, a community lead at 575 Fifth in New York, knows exactly who will lead that change. “At the end of the day, WeWork is about the people, about the community, about us,” he says.
Jenna Wilson is a senior associate on the social media team at WeWork and a writer for Ideas by We. She writes about impact, sustainability, and WeWork’s employees around the world.
