Profile Joanna Swash The atrium at Moneypennys Wrexham headquarters, complete with treehouse teams could actually be. At But she thinks a greater Moneypenny, we had to tweak acceptance of risk is one of the Culture thrives on being able to see each and adjust and patch things outcomes of the pandemic. other face to face, and weve got to replicate up as we went along, but we Historically, our clients have that with a hybrid model had something that worked been early adopters, and thats and, crucially, that worked for changing, Swash observes. our customers. Because we all had to do It is now focusing on what a truly extraordinary home-working things differently, almost overnight, doing things differently is model would look like. Not only is hybrid working here to stay, but becoming more normal. it also works in companies interests, points out Swash. At One seismic shift is that companies are redefining their Moneypenny, this is manifested in a very obvious way: it has workplaces. In a few short weeks, the pandemic achieved what recruited 300 people since the start of the pandemic and having some had been advocating for years a more flexible working employees working from home part of the time means it doesnt approach, including more home working along with a realisation need to take on any more office space at the moment. by employers that staff are equally, if not more, productive when We mustnt, however, throw the baby out with the bathwater, she they work remotely. Its strange that the old 9-to-5 factory model warns. We are all human, and largely sociable creatures; we have has persisted so long, given most people no longer need to be friends at work and weve missed each other, Swash says. Culture together, in one place, between set times, Swash points out. thrives on being able to see each other face to face, and weve got As they manage the return to work, however, companies to replicate that with a hybrid model. So, when people are in the including Moneypenny are trying to work out how to implement a office, we need to ensure they get the most out of being there, hybrid model that works for everyone. During the crisis, most of us while at the same time making sure people at home still feel managed to spin off a home-working model in weeks. It wasnt involved, loved and engaged. perfect, but it would have taken 18 months to get a perfect one, Aspects of the authentic leadership that Swash espouses, and because youd have looked at it from all sides, says Swash. What that does so much to make staff feel involved, loved and engaged, we did showed how resilient and flexible UK business leaders and 18 Impact ISSUE 37 2022_pp16-19_Profile.indd 18 28/03/2022 14:46