Pallavi Shrivastava
“The best workplace designs are more than just functional, they are also a thoughtful reflection of each client’s identity and purpose. ”
ArchNative, meet Pallavi Shrivastava!
Pallavi serves as Principal and Workplace Strategist at Arcadis, where she combines design research and strategic insight to create workplaces that are both high-performing and human-centered. With a deep focus on aligning spatial design with organizational goals, Pallavi champions environments that enhance employee well-being, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful, long-term transformation within the modern workplace.
Tell us a little bit about your introduction to commercial real estate. What made you want to pursue it as a career?
My degree in Architecture and Design was the starting point of my journey into the business of the built environment. I began as a designer, and later, I got the opportunity to lead a business for an international design firm. That’s where I discovered my strength in business transformation, P&L management, talent development, team leadership, and delivering high-quality solutions for occupier clients. From that moment, there was no looking back! I found that I thrived in conceptualizing and creating businesses that were not only successful but also strategically future-focused.
This also marked my entry into global property consulting firms, where I quickly gained a broader understanding of the real estate cycle and how my skills could make a difference for clients. Along the way, I realized I wasn’t just a creative thinker, I also had a natural business acumen. Combining those skills with a people-first mindset was a turning point for me because, at its core, real estate is essentially a people business.
You are a Principal and Workplace Strategist at Arcadis. Tell us a little bit about this role and what it entails.
As a Principal and Workplace Strategist, I collaborate with clients to explore their workplace portfolio and the context of their business operations. Together, we craft workplace strategies that align business objectives with human capital, focusing on talent and creating environments where people can perform at their best. It’s about understanding the workforce and addressing unique human needs so people can thrive individually and as a team. This approach encourages creative thinking, agility, and empathy—values that align closely with those at Arcadis. Recognized by Forbes as one of the World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies in 2022 and 2023, we prioritize inclusive strategies that enable every employee to thrive and contribute fully.
Our approach is people-first. It’s research-driven and engagement-focused. We design workplaces that are smarter, egalitarian, inclusive, and deeply human. Essentially, Workplace Strategy is the glue between space data and people’s needs, guiding designers to create workplaces that are not only relevant but highlight each client’s uniqueness and context.
You have both studied and worked in the US, India, and Singapore. How have these experiences shaped your career journey? How have they shaped your approach to workplace strategy?
Building a global career wasn’t intentional—but my early studies in India and the US broadened my horizons in the way I approach my work. Being Indian is a core part of my identity, and it anchors me with a deep sense of self. This East identity brings a fluid, introspective, and even spiritual way of looking at things. On the other hand, my experiences in the West have given me a more objective, results-oriented outlook.
This blended identity has become something of a superpower for me,it keeps me grounded while pursuing ambitious goals like going fiercely after business outcomes while also letting go of the outcomes in which we have less control over. It’s a balance. This dual perspective is my guiding force and something I value deeply.
For those who might not be familiar, what is workplace strategy and why is it important? How does it fit into the larger commercial real estate world?
Workplace Strategy conceptualizes the design brief for designers. We engage with leadership to understand the business goals, team dynamics, and future strategic direction for the workforce and workplace. We combine occupancy analysis and work patterns and styles with work personas to discover how space is used, how people work, and what really moves the needle to work effectively. Workplace Strategy looks at both efficiency and experience for the workforce. Through its engagements and data-driven approach, Workplace Strategy uncovers the unique needs and context of the project. There is no “one-size-fits-all.” It requires in-depth analysis and engagement with stakeholders and user groups. After a lot of listening, we craft a workplace strategy together, specific to the client’s needs and aspirational workstyles. These strategies range from right-sizing an office portfolio to providing a customized space program with specific space types, and providing key parameters that unlock a business’s ability to achieve goals like inclusivity, sustainability, holistic wellbeing, and experience design.
What does your day to day look like?
A typical day for me is all about staying connected–to market trends, clients, and my team. Since it’s still early days at Arcadis, I’m focusing a lot on understanding the shifts happening in today’s workplace landscape and identifying opportunities for us within Workplace Strategy. This also means conversations with clients to understand what kind of changes they are observing and the shifts they are experiencing in their portfolios. These insights are key to shaping innovative strategies to support the future of work. So, my day is a mix of collaboration and exploration. I spend time interacting with the team members, exchanging ideas, and refining our approach. I also meet with clients and industry partners to ensure we’re staying ahead of the curve. It’s about weaving all these pieces together to build unique strategies and solutions for our clients globally.
How has the role changed throughout your career? How has it changed after the COVID-19 pandemic? How has it changed with the introduction of work from home and a more global workplace?
On a personal level, I think the biggest shift for me has been moving from producer to manager. Shifting from an individual contributor to managing a business and a team requires a paradigm shift—you now carry responsibility for the health of the business and wellbeing of the team members. We live in an agile and fast-evolving world and to stay relevant as a business for our clients is critical. Hence, I always keep track of industry trends and shifts that are happening.
Recently, my work has focused on crafting hybrid work models that not only support how people work today but also keep the workplace engaging and relevant for talent retention. Before COVID, we primarily tracked occupancies to ensure workplaces were sized appropriately for headcount. The pandemic changed all that. We began analyzing occupancy patterns within hybrid work models—looking at trends across different days of the week and the types of activities people were doing at the offices, like focus work versus collaborative tasks. We began customizing office spaces to accommodate the nuances and provide the right space types accordingly.
What are key indicators that you look for when determining if a workplace is successful?
When it comes to defining success, one of the most important factors is user satisfaction. It’s crucial to ensure that employees are satisfied with the work environment and feel supported with work settings and tools to do their best work. Engaged employees are strong indicators that a workplace strategy has been successful.
To measure satisfaction and engagement, we have piloted a Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) tool. The best workplace designs are more than just functional, they are also a thoughtful reflection of each client’s identity and purpose. Our workplace strategy aims to highlight this relevance through immersive engagements, ensuring a supportive workplace that resonates with each client’s core values.
How has environmental resilience played a part in workplace design?
Environmental resilience is an essential piece of the puzzle. It’s not just a trend, but a critical consideration for our clients and a fundamental part of our practice at Arcadis. Our mission is to create a planet-positive future, and this goal permeates everything we do. We’re committed to designing sustainable spaces that benefit both people and the planet.
For example, a key component of our approach is circular design, which focuses on minimizing waste and reusing resources wherever possible. This means specifying sustainable materials and promoting sustainable facilities management practices. We also have a team dedicated to improving building efficiency through smart building technology, which tracks people’s work habits and preferences to make optimized energy use seamless. We champion these principles to ensure our workplace strategies inform designs that are as environmentally resilient as they are functional, creating spaces that support a healthier planet.
You are a published author. Tell us a little bit about your book, The City Observed- Notes from an Unfolding India, and what your writing process was like?
I wasn’t planning to be a published author, but I have always had a passion for expressing myself through writing. I started writing a weekly publication on Indian cities and the built environment because I was keen to understand the social and cultural aspects of built spaces. I wanted to understand how things like cities, public spaces, and buildings impacted the humans that inhabit them. I did this for many years, which eventually a publisher wanted to compile and turn into a book. And that is how my book, “The City Observed – Notes from an Unfolding India” was born.
You are very active in mentorship, serving on several boards and committees in the commercial real estate space. Tell us a little bit about why this is important to you.
Our real estate and construction industry is very relationship-driven. It envelopes you and gives amazing opportunities once you are part of the “club”. Over the years, I have gained so much through learning, networking, and other growth opportunities because people invested in my professional journey. It’s only fair that I pay it forward and share my learnings and knowledge with younger professionals. This is also personally important to me as a woman leader in the field. I want to share my journey and learnings so that the next generation of women leaders can benefit directly through my experiences.
What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
I would like to advise my younger self not to be afraid to make mistakes. Fail fast, learn fast, and move forward with those learnings. And also, don’t get entangled in other people’s opinions of you—they don’t know your journey.