[Manager] The Brain Embassy, first co-creating space in Poland.
An interview with Kasia, Program Manager at the Brain Embassy
Hi Kasia, could you please tell us a bit more about you and how you ended up in a coworking space?
My professional experience is kind of an unique collage. And now I’m using all of it here at Brain Embassy: human resources, lean management, internal communication, marketing, digital, training and coaching, interior design. Brain Embassy was the perfect match for me that I didn’t actually plan ;) Finally my creativity has decent place to develop and multiple every single day — it is afantastic feeling :)
Joining Brain Embassy has allowed me for the first time in my professional life to be completely authentic in my identity. It is so powerful to be able to bring my whole self to work every day :)
More about me you can find here.
What is Brain Embassy exactly?
Brain Embassy is the very first co-creating space in Poland. It is so much more than just a coworking space. Our activity based design space allows people to work together in different ways. Moreover we have development program “Be Smarter Together” for our Members that shapes future competencies: creativity, innovation, problem solving, critical thinking, system thinking, social intelligence. We do love to create happy, healthy, more human, yet agile and innovative work environment.
What is your role at Brain Embassy?
I’m co-creator of Brain Embassy involved in interior design, branding, creating inspiring neon statements on the walls, creating Community Team standards and much more. At the moment I’m responsible for BE Smarter Together program. We want to pay it forward to corporate world because we believe that they have power and responsibility to create sustainable work model. I’m inspirator for the whole BE team and author of many tiny and big innovations within the project.
You have put massive effort in interior design, could you please tell us a bit more about how the space has been conceived?
Brain Embassy was designed with respect to diversity, human body and energy.
You can find here high quality, ergonomic furniture which is not so common for coworking spaces. Unique for Brain Embassy are half open spaces for individual, small team work — they are beloved by our Members and always 100% occupied. We have had a dream to create space that release creativity, empower productivity and focus on work. That is why there are no design gadgets in space. Every item has a function — even gondolas and surf boards. We have place for silent work — both open and close, the heart of each BE is living room with dining area and fully equipped kitchen. For Members very important are meeting and workshop rooms, formal and informal meeting points. There is something for extraverts and Introverts, technology and offline lovers. People really learn how they like to work, where they are effective and more creative.
Almost 90% of Members told us that they tried for the first time another way of work than desk and chair. About 70% of them tell us that their creativity, focus at work and productivity arised in space. The rest don’t know since they work to short in space to say so. As you see the dream came true and we are so happy about it.
Let’s talk about your community, who are the members of Brain Embassy?
Our Community consists of like-minded people from diverse, distant fields and nationalities gathered together under one roof. It makes the Brain Embassy a unique melting pot in Warsaw for startups, freelancers, SMEs and corporates. BE Community is willing to share skills, knowledge and a smile which makes the work environment energizing and vibrant. When you enter BE, you feel like the place is happy dancing with the creative vibe all around.
We help our Community to grow their businesses exponentially, develop their competencies of the future and connect them with one another in a deep and meaningful way. That’s why our breakfasts, skillshare and co-creating sessions are prepared with thoughtfulness and pure love.
What is the favorite community activity of the Members at Brain Embassy?
Our Members love our every Tuesday breakfasts where one of them has spotlight. Member is sharing about his/her project and engage the audience in the way he/she needs. They also love Points of you tool — everyone who has experienced it says that it’s eye and mind opening, helps in finding new perspective tool which makes networking really fun and valuable. Some of them resolve even their personal problems during coaching sessions we do. And of course they do love our occasional parties, like Halloween, Carnival but also small celebrations we do in unexpected way ;) There is one thing we plan: human power report — they don’t know but they will love it ;) each Member will receive individual plan of energy management and as Brain Embassy we will plan activities that will help for crucial problems detected with research. I can’t wait to show you that ;)
What did you learn since you joined a coworking space?
O wow! That is a question with a never ending answer ;) I learn every day of my life. And I’m grateful everyday for these learnings. In general I have learned how to build coworking business from the scratch. I’ve learned how do I like to work. I’ve learned that there is a huge potential and energy in communities and coming back to the tribe roots makes me happy. I became a full time innovator because of the coworking space. Joining Brain Embassy has allowed me for the first time in my professional life to be completely authentic in my identity. There is such power in being able to bring my whole self to work every day :)
What’s next for Brain Embassy? Anything you can talk about?
Well I can tell you in secret that we go abroad :) So now is crucial to build BE Standards that can be followed in every other place in the world. That is huge and it’s exciting for the whole team. Look forward for new Brain Embassies here and there ;)
