On 16 April, SkyHall at Warsaw's Spektrum Tower hosted another edition of the Walter Herz Akademia Najemcy, under the theme "One Office, Many Perspectives." The event was dedicated to the challenges of making office decisions from the perspective of management, HR and administration.

Attendees included professionals responsible for administration, HR and workplace organisation. The programme focused on how office decision-making processes work today – and how to reconcile business expectations, employee needs and market realities.

The event was hosted by Magdalena Zagrodnik, Co-owner and Partner at Walter Herz. "To properly prepare for an office move or lease renewal, you need at least eighteen months to two years. Yet management boards are often unaware that the market today looks entirely different from a few years ago," she noted. "Back then, a tenant could receive a turnkey office as standard – high-quality fit-out, sometimes even furniture. That is no longer achievable. On top of that, vacancy in central Warsaw is virtually non-existent, with queuing for space, tougher negotiations and the need for significantly longer planning horizons. Many companies will soon face a dilemma: search for new space or stay put? If they choose to stay, the process deserves the same rigour as finding a new office – a technical assessment, a needs analysis, employee input and realigning the space with the organisation's current strategy. Today, an office should be an investment, not a cost."

Three perspectives, one room

The first session was the panel "Management Expectations vs. Market Reality," exploring how boards perceive the office today and what factors drive decisions about workspace. The discussion was moderated by Magdalena Zagrodnik and Piotr Aftewicz, Managing Director at Walter Herz, with contributions from Anna Korwin-Kulesza (Head of Asset Management and Leasing, Globalworth), Anna Panek (Member of the Management Board responsible for HR and Administration, Soonly) and Adam Tencza (President of the Management Board, Paytel).

The panellists explored the tension between cost pressure and employee expectations, and the shifting role of the office in organisations operating under hybrid models. A recurring theme was the need to bring together financial, operational and people perspectives within the decision-making process. One point came through clearly: boards expect administration and HR teams to engage in substantive, data-driven dialogue – not just flawless delivery.

When theory meets practice

Between sessions, illusionist Adam Pruski of Just Edi Show took to the stage. What might have seemed like light entertainment proved unexpectedly apt: things are rarely quite what they appear to be. Anyone who has ever negotiated an office budget knows that feeling all too well.

The second panel, "HR and Administration: Between Expectations and Reality," addressed the everyday challenges of managing office operations and coordinating employees' return to in-person work. The session was moderated by Magdalena Zagrodnik and Emilia Legierska, Transaction Director at Walter Herz, with contributions from Ewelina Mrozińska (HR Generalist, Matexi), Eryk Gąsiorowski (Facility Manager, DSV), Agata Szrek-Walkosz (Administration and Event Coordinator, People Can Fly) and Angelika Piwnik (Senior Manager, Office Management and Procurement Department, EOS).

The conversation covered hybrid work organisation, adapting workspaces to evolving team needs and the role of administration and HR in translating strategic decisions into day-to-day organisational life. The panellists agreed that well-prepared, substantive dialogue with management opens genuine space for co-determining the working environment.

The office gambit

A highlight of the programme was a Power Speech by Michał Kanarkiewicz, leadership coach and chess player. His talk, "Gambit 2026: How to Think Strategically in Administration and HR?", explored the application of strategic thinking to workplace management and decision-making.

Anna Węgrzyn, President of the Terapia to NIE WSTYD Foundation, also addressed the audience, drawing attention to the importance of psychological wellbeing and the human needs that underpin every office decision.

In the afternoon, participants took part in the Inspiration Zone – roundtable discussions dedicated to specific workplace challenges, facilitated by Katarzyna Milkiewicz (Director of Wellbeing Events, Medicover), Helena Kudrewicz-Czarniecka (Project Manager, Walter Herz) and Monika Szymaszek (Managing Director, Kobieca Moc Biznesu).

The day closed with a partner prize draw, open networking and a live piano concert performed by Marcin Cichocki.

Akademia Najemcy was held in partnership with Globalworth, CreoConcept, AVORA, BAFEO, TRILUX, Kron International, Better Workplace, Kwiaty dla biura, Fundacja Terapia to NIE WSTYD, Kondrat – wina wybrane, Just Edi Show and Storymakers, under the media patronage of the Warsaw Business Journal.