BIOGRAPHY
Kursty Groves helps leaders shape environments that unlock creativity, connection, and human potential.
With over 25 years of experience spanning innovation, design, and workplace strategy, she is known for guiding organisations through pivotal transitions, aligning vision and values with strategy and space. Her creative, insight-led approach underpins programmes like the signature Workplace Experience Sprint, used by leading organisations around the world.
Kursty is the author of three acclaimed books exploring the relationship between place and performance, including Spaces for Innovation and the practical guide Workspace Made Easy. Her first book, I Wish I Worked There!, became a surprise cult hit and is now being reimagined for screen.
She also hosts the upcoming podcast Spatial Attraction, and her latest work explores the concept of spatial resonance: the subtle but powerful ways environments shape how we think, feel, and perform.
For more information about Kursty Groves’ speaking topics, fees and availability contact leo@vbqspeakers.com.
KURSTY GROVES: SPEAKER
Kursty brings clarity, depth, and intelligent energy to every engagement. Her keynotes and sessions are consistently described as catalytic; helping teams move from abstract ambition to shared understanding and aligned action. Some of Kursty’s most popular sessions include:
DESIGNING FOR RESONANCE
Format: Keynote
Topic: How environments shape human potential
An inspiring and insight-rich talk introducing Kursty’s latest thinking on spatial resonance. Drawing from research, design and storytelling, it explores the physical, social and cognitive conditions that support creativity, connection and performance.
THE EXCELLENT BRAIN
Format: Talk or Workshop
Topic: Designing for focus, flow and cognitive performance
A science-informed session exploring how environments and rhythms affect energy, clarity and attention. Ideal for organisations rethinking working patterns, hybrid setups or team wellbeing.
THE SPACE BETWEEN US
Format: Talk or Leadership Keynote
Topic: Why being together still matters, and how to design for it
A thought-provoking talk on the power of shared space in a post-hybrid world. Kursty explores how proximity, presence and environment influence connection, belonging and engagement.
CULTURE IS A PLACE
Format: Talk or Visual Keynote
Topic: Lessons from the world’s most inspiring workplaces
This visually-led session shares insights from organisations like LEGO, Pixar and Booking.com. Kursty explores how values, leadership and culture show up in physical space – and what we can learn from the world’s most compelling environments.
I WISH I WORKED THERE! BEHIND THE SCENES
Format: Keynote or Fireside Talk
Topic: Culture, creativity and leadership in extraordinary workplaces
A storytelling-led session based on the bestselling book and forthcoming TV series. Kursty shares personal insights, behind-the-scenes stories and what the process revealed about great workplaces, and the people who shape them.
FROM VISION TO VIBE
Format: Talk or Leadership Workshop
Topic: Crafting strategy that resonates
This session helps leaders articulate not just where they’re going, but how it should feel to get there. Focused on clarity, alignment and culture-through-experience, it offers a practical approach to shaping emotionally resonant strategies.
EXECUTION EXCELLENCE
Format: Leadership Workshop
Topic: The mindset and mechanisms of high-performing leadership
A structured session based on Kursty’s proprietary canvas. Designed for senior teams who want to align vision, purpose and behaviour, and embed performance at every level.
WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE SPRINT
Format: Strategic Sprint
Topic: Aligning space, culture and performance
A high-impact, high-visibility engagement designed to tackle complex workplace challenges, such as hybrid friction, misalignment, or transformation fatigue.
The Sprint combines strategic facilitation, organisational insight and real-time co-creation. It brings together employees, project teams and senior leaders to identify what’s working, surface friction points and develop practical, implementable solutions.
Structured, time-boxed and outcome-focused, the Sprint builds alignment, accelerates decisions and creates momentum.
→ Based on Kursty’s work with Netflix, LEGO, UK government departments and scale-ups navigating change.
SELECT TESTIMONIALS
“Kursty is an outstanding professional who consistently delivers beyond expectations. Her extensive experience, paired with a deep curiosity about the future of work, firmly places her among Europe’s leading experts on Workplace and Workplace Experience.” — Momo Pavlovic, Workplace Support Leader, Ingka Group (IKEA)
“We invited Kursty to contribute to a series of forays into creating a future vision for Google buildings. As part of a diverse group of designers, futurists, workplace thinkers and amazing Googlers, the experience, creativity and energy Kursty brought is helping us to create a future where Googlers thrive for decades to come.” — Michelle Kaufmann, Project Lead, R+D Lab for the Built Environment, Google
“Kursty at Shape brought a completely fresh dynamic to the conversation around working environment at McLaren Automotive. Her support enabled us to move from what would’ve been a £2m/year structural burden to a phased £1.2m solution — while unlocking new ideas and innovation in the process.” — Alan Foster, Executive Director of Infrastructure & Facility Management, McLaren Automotive