Francis Aquino

08/16/2025

Ahhh! I couldn’t wait to write about a new friend that I met!

Just had the joy of meeting Lee Kim at WorkX Boston. She is the Design and Change Management Lead at Pfizer and wow she radiates pure positive energy, creativity, and confidence.

And yes, she wears those crazy hats everyday. But here’s the incredible part: for the past 8 years, Lee has been creating a new hat every single day as part of her project called Wearable Tracy. The one she was wearing when we met was hat number 1,911! Even more inspiring, she wears each hat all day, and then gives it away to a lucky person at the end of the day as her way to create relationships and spread happiness.

In just a short conversation, I walked away inspired to be a Lee Kim advocate: to spread joy, embrace playfulness, and most importantly, always show up as my authentic self.

Lee’s story (and her incredible hats!) is such a beautiful reminder that workplace culture isn’t only about the spaces we design—it’s also about the spirit and personality we bring into them.

If you haven’t read about her journey, I highly recommend this New Yorker piece: Wearable Tracy and Connections Forged Through Funky Hats.

Here’s to more moments of joy, connection, and authenticity in the workplace! I hope one day I am worthy enough to own a Wearable Tracy.

12/22/2024

Thanks for the sick fade .c

10/14/2024

After a refreshing break and a whirlwind of interviews with amazing companies, I’m thrilled to announce my new role as the Director of Real Estate and Workplace Experience at Metropolis Technologies. This role will focus on aligning people, processes, systems, and data to ensure the BEST in workplace and employee experience.

I am grateful to be back to building great workplaces in New York, Los Angeles Nashville, and more! Something I am very passionate about!

09/12/2024

KFC and flowers! Best birthday ever!

06/14/2024

Excited to be part of the upcoming - Future of Work Meets Workplace Transformation conference by SSON in Dallas, Texas!

Can’t wait for the insightful conversations ahead! Hit me up if you are going too!

06/14/2024

05/27/2024

Have you ever set up an all IKEA workspace?

When I was tasked with finding a temporary overflow office for Headspace in Santa Monica and setting it up within a few weeks, we ran to IKEA and ordered everything we needed. From desks, chairs, couches to cups, plates, and snack bins, IKEA had everything necessary to create a functional and comfortable workspace.

Even though it was a temporary space, we made sure it was comfortable and shared the fun and vibrant feeling of our main office. It was important to have a space that showcased the culture of our company.

Here are 5 key learnings from this experience:

1. Master the art of choosing IKEA furniture and accessories that doesn’t look like IKEA. Find unique shapes and colors that can really make an area pop.

2. Liven up the space with the company’s colors, branded art pieces and artwork. And for all other knick-knacks, head over to Home Goods, Goodwill, Target or even Flea Markets if you have time. But remember, don’t overdo it. And make sure the items you buy still make sense.

3. Plants. Plants. Plants.

4. Try to match the amenities that you provide from the main HQ to the temporary overflow space as much as possible. The little things matter - like a specific brand of soap in the restrooms, or the kind of snacks, coffee, and candy in the break room. And don’t forget the technology that employees use to be productive - WIFI, conference room AV, etc. The overflow space shouldn’t feel like an afterthought.

5. EXPERIENCE. Most importantly, make sure that employee experience is still top of mind. Not just the overflow space, but also with remote employees working from home or co-working spaces. Create a feeling of inclusivity and belonging.

Have you ever built an overflow or temporary space that challenged you? Share your experiences in the comments!

04/17/2024

I am excited to celebrate 10K followers with my amazing network on LinkedIn! For those of you who are new to my feed, welcome! I’d love to do a and tell you a little bit about myself.

As a Workplace Experience and Design professional, I am passionate about all things related to employee happiness. With over 15 years of experience in this field, I have learned and adapted to changes in Workplace Culture and Employee Engagement. My goal is to ensure that the physical workplace environment creates engagement, productivity, and avenues for creativity.

On the personal side, I am a true Virgo, which means I am very detail-oriented and a perfectionist. I am married with two kids, a Shih Tzu named Jeffrey, and a Sulcata Tortoise named Roger. I am also the proud owner of over 300 plants, as featured on Dwell.

I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with all of you, share insights, and explore potential collaborations. Your expertise and experiences inspire me every day.

02/29/2024

It’s here! It’s out! Thank you for an amazing spread!