Episode 08: Work In Progress - Emilie Lashmar Artwork

Favourite Positions

Favourite Positions is a platform and podcast designed to help you find your dream role.

Founded by Alex Young in 2022, the platform was born from her own frustration with outdated career advice and rigid workplace expectations. Early in her career, Alex was often told she was “too young” to lead or made to feel uncomfortable in environments rife with sexism and performative policies. Like many, she was left disillusioned – not by hard work itself, but by systems that held people back.

Instead of conforming, she looked to those building better businesses – the founders, leaders and creatives shaping inclusive, purpose-led workplaces that prioritise well-being, impact and autonomy. Their stories lit the path forward.

Favourite Positions began as a way to share those stories – and has since grown into a trusted space for candid conversations about work, identity and ambition in a changing world.

Today, Favourite Positions is home to a growing community of over 10,000 people.

Alex’s work has been featured by the BBC, Channel 4, Cosmopolitan, Metro and Start Up Magazine. She is the recipient of the Excellence Scholarship at Imperial College London, where she’s continuing to grow the platform alongside her MBA.

Tune in for honest episodes that showcase the people reimagining work for a new generation.

Whether you’re early in your career, switching paths or leading a team, Favourite Positions is here to help you carve your own path and find work that truly fits.

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Episode 08: Work In Progress - Emilie Lashmar

August 25, 2025 • Alex

💬 Summary

In this episode of Work in Progress, we speak to Emilie Lashmar – brand partner, community builder, and Director of GCUC UK – about the evolving world of work, the role of purpose in retention, and how space design shapes culture.

With over 15 years’ experience in brand, marketing, and events, and nearly a decade shaping coworking and creative spaces, Emilie shares her take on the future of flexibility, the difference between performative and authentic values, and what younger generations are really looking for in a workplace. We explore how employers can create environments that work for the whole person, why embedding values into daily decisions matters more than a glossy culture deck, and the small but powerful ways workplaces can foster connection.

💡 Takeaways

The future of work is about flexibility – in space, culture, and contracts
Purpose isn’t a “nice to have” – it’s a driver for retention and trust
Younger generations are courageous in asking for more – and employers should listen
Embedding values into daily operations matters more than publishing them on a wall
Pay transparency attracts the right talent and builds trust
Space design directly impacts culture, wellbeing, and inclusion
Unlimited holiday is often overhyped – it can create uncertainty or guilt
Accessibility (physical, digital, and neurodivergent) needs more attention
Creating a “whole person” workplace means thinking beyond work to life needs
Networking works best when it’s generous, authentic, and community-led

🕒 Chapters

00:00 – Who is Emilie Lashmar and what does she do?

02:14 – From illustration to coworking and community building

06:16 – Why the future of work excites Emilie

07:20 – Four-day week, pay transparency, and purpose-led business

12:39 – The dangers of resisting change

15:42 – How to spot authentic values vs good marketing

18:24 – Purpose as a retention tool in coworking and creative industries

20:26 – A tangible starting point for becoming values-led

21:44 – Shifting expectations around where and how we work

25:27 – What younger generations really want from work

29:55 – Generational shifts in how we think about work-life balance