Jeff came to me with a problem. His meetings were being held in the conference room with 3 separate laptops, a wall mounted TV and a large beautiful oak conference table that felt like a scene out of Suits. But the problem was... the office environment didn't feel very Suits-like.
Looking over Bryant Park in one of many NYC historic and iconic buildings, he felt like everyone should feel inspired to come to work and sit down in back-to-back meetings. But the hybrid work setup that lingered from a situation that happened six years ago never quite brought the vibe back the way everyone expected.
Environments like these are prevalent throughout New York City. Beautiful spaces designed for collaboration and getting things done. Spaces that make you feel like you're walking into a movie about a tiny startup that's about to land its biggest client, IPO, and make everyone rich overnight.
But the spaces don't create that, motivated employees do.
So what did Jeff and I do?
We walked and talked.
We walked around the empty cubicles and large open-concept floors with executive corner offices collecting dust, asking ourselves one simple question:
How could we make this office inspire people again?
Enter Pro-A/V.
Not the flashy kind that makes you think of giant LED walls or complicated control panels. Instead it’s the one you don't even notice because it simply…works.
Imagine walking into a meeting where the camera automatically frames everyone in the room. The audio is so clear that the people joining remotely feel like they're sitting right beside you. One tap starts the meeting. No adapters. No searching for the right cable. No five-minute delay while someone says, "Can everyone see my screen now?"
When technology gets out of the way, people get to focus on what actually matters.
The conversation, ideas, decisions.
That's when an office starts to feel alive again. When it makes people want to suit up and feel like the main character of their company’s story.
This week's word is Conexión / Conexão
Spanish pronunciation: koh-nek-see-ON
"La tecnología en la oficina debe crear una conexión entre las personas, no una barrera."
Technology in the office should create a connection between people, not a barrier.
Portuguese pronunciation: koh-neh-SOWN
"A melhor tecnologia é aquela que cria uma conexão entre equipes, clientes e ideias."
The best technology is the kind that creates a connection between teams, clients, and ideas
It means connection, but not just between devices.
Connection between teammates who split their time between home and the office.
Connection between a client and the confidence they feel when they walk into your space.
Connection between an employee and a workplace that reminds them why coming into the office is worth it.
Midtown runs on meetings. Every day, ideas are pitched, deals are negotiated, partnerships are formed, and careers are shaped inside conference rooms across the city. Those rooms shouldn't be places people dread because the technology is unpredictable. They should be spaces that help people do their best work.
The way I see it, bringing an office back to life doesn't require a renovation.
Sometimes it just starts with asking a different question.
"How do we want people to feel when they walk through the door?"
Like a Harvey Specter or a Squidward?
Suits or Squidward?
Let's walk your office together.
If your office doesn't quite feel the way it used to, or the way you want it to, I'd love to help.
I'm offering complimentary office walkthroughs for businesses in Midtown Manhattan. We'll walk your space together, evaluate your conference rooms and collaboration areas, identify opportunities to improve the employee experience, and talk through practical ways Pro-A/V can make your office feel alive again.
No sales pitch. Just a conversation about creating a workplace people actually enjoy coming back to.
Reply to this newsletter or send me a message, and let's see what's possible.
-Jae