Despina Katsikakis

Despina Katsikakis is a seasoned professional in workplace consultancy and real estate, currently serving as the Podcast Host for Purpose of Place Podcast and Guest Lecturer at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. As the Executive Partner and Global Lead for Total Workplace Consulting at Cushman & Wakefield since 2017, Despina enhances corporate strategies by integrating employee engagement, productivity, and wellbeing into real estate decisions. Previous leadership roles include President of the British Council for Offices and Global Head of Workplace at Barclays, where Despina influenced cultural transformation through innovative workplace strategies. With extensive experience dating back to DEGW, where Despina shaped workplace consultancy, and positions at AECOM and Perkins and Will, Despina has developed a reputation for delivering measurable improvements in business performance and client relationships. Despina holds a Master of Arts in Architectural History and Theory from the Architectural Association and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Illinois Chicago.