Many organizations are under-resourced and have been hesitant to replace, back-fill, or take on additional headcount and cost in the current environment and these times of uncertainty. This is the perfect time to consider Fractional Leadership On-Demand. At 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions, we have a wealth of talent available to support your business on a short-term, project by project, or on a longer-term advisory and support basis, including: Chief Growth Officer, Sales & Retention From bid strategy to major pursuits, from overall growth strategy to building your growth playbook, and from identifying Ideal Client Client Characterization and Profile, we have decades of experience helping organizations grow. Chief Strategy Officer You may be looking at how your brand is perceived among users and non-users. Looking at potential new markets, acquisitions. Thinking about your post-pandemic/pre-recession business strategy - we're here to help and take the lead whilst you're busy running the business. Chief Sustainability Officer, and Supply Chain More important than ever before, but how is your organization resourcing and addressing sustainability in your business? From building strategy to supporting sales and retention pursuits, to creating fully connected ESG and procurement strategies. Chief Experience Officer Human Experience is now more than just a buzzword - it's a business imperative, but how are you tackling HX in your business? Customer Experience (EX) and Employee Experience (EX) strategies help drive top-line performance and bottom-line performance too. Amenity Operations Leadership Client-side operations have changed forever - how are you addressing the return to office strategy of your organization? How are you intending to magnetize your physical space to build a compelling proposition to return to the office? At 4xi, we have decades of experience and can help your organization navigate this future of uncertainty. Chief Innovation Officer Our Explorers Innovation Directory is a highly curated source of best-in-class innovation designed to create an impact in the Away from Home market: people at work, in education, at rest, and at leisure - Let us take the lead and feed you with a continuous pipeline of innovation. These are just some of examples of how we can help. Email us at hello@4xiconsulting.com to learn more about how we can support your business on a fractional, on-demand basis. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

There have been phenomena and new terms that have come out over the past three years. Who would have thought that the world of work could have changed so much so quickly? As I have repeatedly mentioned, the global pandemic was an accelerator of existing issues, but how do we translate today into what we should do for tomorrow? First off, here are some definitions for you to digest: QUIET QUITTING: is a term and trend that emerged in mid-2022 from a viral TikTok video. The philosophy of quiet quitting is not abruptly leaving a job but doing exactly what the job requires, no more no less. The main objective of this mindset is avoiding occupational burnout and paying more attention to one's mental health and personal well-being. But this is a problem for employers - how do you suddenly deal with a workforce that does the bare minimum and doesn't go that discretionary extra mile, an extra hour, or the additional weekend that you thank them with praises and gratitude? THE GREAT RESIGNATION: also known as the Big Quit and the Great Reshuffle, is an ongoing economic trend in which employees have voluntarily resigned from their jobs en masse, beginning in early 2021. Possible causes include wage stagnation amid the rising cost of living, long-lasting job dissatisfaction, safety concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the desire to work for companies with better remote-working policies. Some economists have described the Great Resignation as akin to a general strike. The term "Great Resignation" was coined by Anthony Klotz, a professor of management at University College London's School of Management, in May 2021, when he predicted a sustained mass exodus. RE-TOOLING: for many, the global pandemic represented an opportunity, and in some cases, as people were paid to stay at home, the more intuitive went out to better themselves, take courses, study, and qualifications so that post-COVID they could step out and step up. Re-tooling has left a big gap in some industries as servers have qualified to be accountants, manual workers to be UBER drivers, and the previously disillusioned looking for better careers and pay. IN THE TRENCHES: then,as organizations slimmed down, there was a group of people keeping the boat afloat fulfilling essential roles in keeping the organization alive. This group of people were asked to do more for the same (sometimes less) and are likely suffering some form of PTSD right now. Employers need to take care, focus, and support all of these groups, but the "In The Trenches" are the ones that are most likely critical to your business and deserve the most support. THE REMAINERS: this is a group of people that managed to evade under the radar, keep their jobs, their head below the parapet, not rock the boat, nor do anything outstanding to do so, but then again, they likely never have. This last group is part and parcel, part of the furniture, has been around forever, and likely has deep threads and connections within your organization, and although not decision-makers, leaders, or pioneers, they can get in the way and obstruct change. "Just this week, one global leader stated that if you don't have a desk, then you don't have a job in their ongoing attempt to clamp down and get their employees back to the physical place." Whatever your strategy: back to work, hybrid, or work remotely forever, we don't truly understand yet what all that means, especially as the workforce has gotten used to working how they have done for the past three years, and that the commute still stands as the major barrier between remote and in-person workplaces. "Making Culture, Your Winning Strategy covers these issues and many more. How do leaders today navigate through the aftermath of COVID-19 and establish a NORTH STAR?" There are so many questions to ask: Who are your people? How do you connect? Who are the drivers? The Innovators, early adopters? Who are the blockers? And most importantly, once you have gone through this deep self-reflection and discovery, the next step, is: What do you do about it? Flick through our magazine version below, or email hello@4xiconsulting.com, and we'll send you your own PDF version. Simon Elliot is Managing Partner and co-founder of 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions and is focused on a people-first approach to enable optimum Human Experiences for people away from home: at work, in education, at rest, or at leisure. Simon believes that Experience Matters! applies in many different ways and is the fundamental foundation of a successful business, no matter the business. Simon is a global citizen, having lived, worked, and traveled to over 45 countries and six continents, and believes in the power of human potential. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, a Member of the Institute of Leadership & Management, and North America Chair of the WORKTECH Academy. Simon lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

WORKTECH22 Seattle is the conference for all those involved in the future of work and the workplace, as well as real estate, technology, and innovation. Come join the conversation! People | Place | Culture | Design | Innovation | Technology 4xi's Melanie Corey-Ferrini will be speaking live on stage, moderating an expert panel discussing High-Performing Hybrid Workplaces. Join 100+ senior professionals from real estate, facilities, HR, technology, executive management, architecture, design, and professional advisors to listen to global thought leaders, further their knowledge, and share best practices and expertise. We have many exciting sessions planned for our inaugural WORKTECH22 in Seattle, including: The High-Performing Hybrid Workplace Creating an Inclusive Workplace in a Post-Pandemic World Future of Commercial Real Estate in Seattle The Intelligent & Experiential Workplace What To Expect: Network with senior corporate decision-makers Learn about the latest workplace trends Hear from global thought leaders Be inspired by best practices and innovation Book your super early bird rate at $399: offer ends September 2nd: Learn more about the event here: WORKTECH holds over 25 events globally each year focused on the future of work, workplace professionals, sharing thought leadership, best practices, and creating connections and collaboration. Come join the conversation: People | Place | Culture | Design | Innovation | Technology 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Experience Matters! is an important tagline because it really does matter! 4xi's Evolving Experiences© practice focuses on the Human Experience and how we can impact the lives of our employees, clients, and customers through the products and services we provide. In this episode of the Customer Service Academy, Tony Johnson and Simon Elliot discuss the future of experience, and the intersection with the physical place, and with real estate. The best solutions solve problems customers haven't even thought about yet. Customers are more comfortable making purchases at arm's length. Magnetizing the bricks and mortar spaces will be key. Think about your work experience like you would a product. How can you turn spaces into places where people choose to be? At 4xi, we believe that experience matters! in every turn of the phrase, including that Experience MATTERS! Whether you’re in manufacturing, running a call center operation, retail, or producing software, ultimately, we’re all in the people business, and our focus on the Human Experience (HX) will set us apart no matter what products or services we create. Evolving Experiences© examines how our experiences are driven by emotional connections, the Experience Economy, and the impact on business. We look at what consumers and customers really want, in addition to the emotional experience of ownership, using examples such as Mini and Nike and how personalization and customization have transformed our world, our offerings, and the customer experience. Finally, we look at what it takes to create a great hospitality culture. At 4xi, we continue to grow and evolve, remaining focused on how we can add value to our clients and the away-from-home markets we serve: people at work, in education, at rest, and at leisure. Whether you’re a client organization, a service provider, an innovator, or an accelerator, 4xi is here to be a strategic resource, on-demand, and together, inspiring a brighter future. Flick through our magazine version below, or email hello@4xiconsulting.com, and we'll send you your own PDF version. Tony Johnson is 4xi’s Chief Experience Officer and leader of the Evolving Experiences© practice. Before joining 4xi, he was the Customer Service Officer for Aramark, a global food and facilities organization. Tony is a Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP), award-winning speaker, and globally recognized employee and customer experience expert. He is the author of 3 books on leadership and customer experience and hosts an industry-leading weekly podcast. directions. Simon Elliot is the Managing Partner and co-founder of 4xi and is focused on a people-first approach to enable optimum Human Experiences for people away from home: at work, in education, at rest, or at leisure. Simon is a global citizen, having lived, worked, and traveled to over 45 countries and six continents, and believes in the power of human potential. To learn more about 4xi or Evolving Experiences©, click the link below. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Designing, engineering, and architecting space often demand regulatory rules of engagement, which, if not followed, can be expensive and cause delays to construction and opening dates. Often these delays are caused by changing ideals, visions, and notions not having been considered at the beginning of the project. With the project underway, these elements now seen as important or even vital to the result cannot be included as progress across the construction timeline potentially prohibits the change from being considered. "What a shame! How could that have been avoided? How can we truly encompass ‘Vision’ in all its glory with all the charming details plus functional elements laid out intentionally and purposefully so that each is part of the result?" Easy! Start your project before you start your project! Creating your vision as a model in a workshop setting before the architects and engineers are brought on board means finding time for ideation. Begin with the end in mind and work backward to ensure nothing is lost before the project starts, and even the seemingly inconsequential components are given a moment of reflection to be included – or not! It is here that a facilitator can draw out what you would really like the space to be; introduce you to concepts and ideas that flow with your vision; allows you the creators focused thinking time; engages all stakeholders and the lens they look through; creates a ‘Blue-sky’ opportunity to truly take ‘visioning’ to the next level. IMAGINE a “discovery” workshop led by a moderator who has walked in your shoes, lead many projects, and can advise your team on the best pathways for your ideal project. Conducting a discovery workshop means taking the team away from their day-to-day activities and distractions. It means creating a safe place with a moderator/facilitator who guides, nurtures, supports, and leads the discussions to a comprehensive result - a ‘Vision’ for the space. Workshops are inclusive by nature, allowing all stakeholders a voice. Taking the time to discover, consider, review, and reflect upon the complete vision allows parts or elements to be added or removed as the final version comes to light. The ‘how’ is the Workshop Moderator's world, taking a measured and thoughtful approach! Create an agenda specific to your goals and needs. Set the stage to visually capture the discussion Use a variety of technology and tools. Question: Site location & leasing strategies. What type of space is ideal for the concept and vision? Programming for flexibility, changes in uses, and efficient building systems. How to plan and generate revenue. Sustainable planning in all areas. Leverage the expertise of each attendee. Engage a moderator who is a specialist in their field. Review costs, timelines, compliance, regulations, site, location, and menu planning. Understand your ideas compared to other similar ideas in your site’s region. Ensure commitment by all stakeholders and, more importantly, unanimity. Capture the results so you have your first milestone achieved. Set up clear expectations and next steps. When you start your project with a workshop approach, every aspect of your project can be assessed, considered, and, more importantly, ‘pulled together' to be clearly articulated. It is here that the whole framework for the vision can be explored; the type of building you may need, the ideal location, locale, or even where you might source the right operators or type of potential guests or patrons could prove invaluable. Vision is in the eye of the beholder so capturing each stakeholder’s version of the vision allows everyone to ‘see’ it. When you have clarity, you have buy-in; when you have buy-in, you have a path to the goal. When Discovery Meets Workshop, the vision truly comes to life and becomes the foundation for project feasibility, what team is needed to make it happen, how to budget capital and operational costs, when to execute and expect to open, how to engage employees and customers, promote and enjoy the fruits of your workshop! If you have a project, a renovation, or a new build and want to kick off the process correctly, then reach out to us, and we can discuss the power of workshops for your next project. Melanie Corey-Ferrini, NCARB, FCSI Architect, Design, Strategy & Innovation Melanie Corey-Ferrini leads 4xi’s Design4Life© practice focused on physical, environment, and experiential design centered around people, place, purpose, and the possibilities for the future of the human experience. Melanie and the entire team at 4xi are here to help you drive positive change and impact. To learn more about Melanie, download her BIO, or you can contact her directly at melanie@4xiconsulting.com 4xi: Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, creating an impact on the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Dallas | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Published six times each year, the 4xi Business in Action Magazine is full of interesting insights and articles about innovation, technology, people, and growth, as well as some of the latest thought leadership around business. In this Edition 2.0, we hear about how gamification could help your business to win. 9 ways to drive results from webinars. How when intelligence quotient and emotional quotient combined, you can hire the right people and maximize results. The cover story, "How to Be a Black Belt Leader," talks to John Terry, a two-time Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee and five-time black belt recipient. John shares how to be a success in business life by adopting what he has learned from his life in martial arts. Each edition, introduced by our Managing Partners and Co-founders, Simon Elliot and Barbara Boden, also features our favorite charity, Raphael House of San Francisco, and ways that you can support the great work of this shelter for homeless families who have suffered as a result of economic hardship. In this edition, we have also featured our Evolving Experiences© practice focused on strategy and execution of Employee (EX) and Customer Experience (CX) to help you to grow. And our Design4Life© practice around how we can help you transform your physical experience through the lenses of People, Place, and Purpose. We hope you enjoy the read and look forward to your feedback. If you'd like to be added to our mailing list, please complete your details, and we'd be delighted to send you a regular copy of Business in Action. Until next time. ONWARDS. Always a little further. 4xi: Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, creating an impact on the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Dallas | Santiago | London | Tokyo

The two brush strokes for the word 'crisis in Chinese are often translated as "dangerous opportunity," whereas it really translates into "Be aware of the danger -but recognize the opportunity.” Post pandemic business has seen the loss of revenue, supply chain, staff, and leadership changes, which have left a void of expertise and skill in many areas. The aftermath of a crisis, however, brings with it a “new normal.” We handle this new reality by taking a step back, considering new approaches, adopting new thinking, and even hiring/retaining new leadership. Want to be agile and nimble? Need to develop laser focus and create a growth strategy? Consider fractional help. Simply put, fractional leadership is hiring leadership experts part-time or for a specific project or engagement. Fractional leaders are expert consultants – in sales, marketing, finance, sustainability, supply chain, or strategic growth. Fractional leaders often engage with clients for several months to a year. The objective here is to help reset the company; help restore order, profitability, direction, or focus but rarely is it intended to be permanent. "From Fragile to Agile is the journey of a fractional leader. A consultant who can step in, step up and yet be ready to gently walk away, leaving direction, order, and focus is the gift of the fractional leader." After analyzing the status quo and assessing an often-dire situation, a fractional leader will make critical decisions and recommendations to company executives. The fractional leader may recommend cost-cutting measures in one organization or changes in the process for another. Introducing a fractional leader allows for a fresh set of eyes to help move a company forward and set it up for sustainable success. Taking advantage of the fractional leaders’ deep and multi-faceted experience across multiple industries allows an organization to gain wisdom, insight, essential objectivity, and a big-picture perspective that cannot be marshaled in-house. The difference between a simply hired consultant and a true fractional leader is the level of vested commitment they bring to your organization. When you hire a fractional leader, they bring their commitment and intelligence to you not just for a specific project but as an over-arching supportive guide who is prepared to come back again and again as the needs arise. These are not traditional hired guns but professionals with integrity, honor, and skill. "A fractional leader can not only provide tactical wisdom, but experienced strategic-level development, honed by years of corporate experience. Here again, a fractional leadership view can be critical to having the perspective necessary to drive impactful change." Fractional leadership creates a win-win for the client and their staff. The Fractional leader can help an organization make tough decisions and implement new strategic initiatives to pivot from immediate struggles to a “new normal” of success. To learn more about 4xi or our HQ: Fractional Leadership On-demand, email us at hello@4xiconsulting.com or click the link below. 4xi: Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, creating an impact on the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy; whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Dallas | Santiago | London | Tokyo

We all know that the saying, “it takes a village”, mostly refers to raising kids, and is often viewed as the softer side of the practicalities of parenthood. In many countries, that ‘village’ is real, and the sum of the parts is greater than the whole - the same can be true for managing an office building - it's no longer just a toss-up between soft and hard service, infrastructure vs. experience - the entire village is more important than ever before. The questions are endless, the options varied and the choices extensive. Understanding the heart of the building, and its employee's or tenants' needs becomes critical to decision making. What services need to be offered? How to motivate the workforce to choose to return to your building? How do the post-pandemic, often lighter staffing ratios cope with less? While the return to work is slowly moving forward, the support structure receiving them is being reduced with corporate service management headcounts dwindling. The dreaded ‘non-core’ spending is being cut and reduced to dangerous levels. Experts who manage vital building soft service areas such as food, conference, reception, and janitorial are leaving in droves; from elective retirement to forced downsizing, the pool of business intelligence is draining at an unprecedented rate. As the flow of the returning workforce adds stresses and strains to the corporate leaders who know only too well that they must make their environments attractive or face more resignations and reluctance to full-time return, building owners and managers are, in turn, under pressure to perform as never before in history. The employee workplace experience is critically important. Knowing how to drive workplace experience is more important now than ever before - attracting and retaining employees impacts your bottom line in so many ways. New to managing soft services? What next? Real estate, facility management, workplace resources, and in some cases human resource managers now find themselves at the helm of soft service departments with minimal experience. "So, how do you turn your building into a mecca for the returning workforce? You have just been handed the keys to the building – now what?" Remember one cornerstone that will guide you on this journey; content can be learned but your attitude of leadership, curiosity, enthusiasm, and determination will be the drivers of success. Motivating your teams, and operating partners, and spending time getting to know each operator will be a great first step in understanding the business. Your experience in your previous roles is enough to meet the challenge as you address the experience across each aspect of your building, and most importantly, the human experience with confidence. Ask questions plenty of questions - don't try and solve anything until you gain a deeper and full understanding of each area and department's purpose. Maintain the status quo, at least initially as you absorb the elements that comprise the building, the employees, and tenants, and the services themselves, AND how they all combine to impact the overall building and human experience. Understanding the finances and the key performance indicators (KPIs) that drive success are clearly important, but understanding Purpose, Vision, Mission, and the Why is incredibly important too. What is the occupier experience you aspire to? What is the level of investment to achieve these goals? Are your operating partners aligned? Where are you now compared with your aspirations? How do you measure success? In order to do this, you must do your homework first. Take a deep dive into the detail to, first of all, understand the current state, this will help you work out how to transition to the future state. The following checklist will help: CHECKLIST: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: - Learn each department’s SoW's, operating procedures, and budget. - Understand not just the KPI’s, but the Value Performance Indicators too. - Get to know the operators who bring the experience to life. - Understand the purpose of each category and how it can impact. - Focus on what's important. - Align the objectives with what matters. - Redefine the expectations, scope of work, KPI's and VPI's. - Create a plan, meet, pivot, and measure. For example, if your company deems sustainability as one of the success criteria then the goal is to find the best ways to drive sustainability practices in as many areas as possible and perhaps to strive to meet the UN Global Compact standards. Perhaps the focus is health and wellness leaving you to find the best ways to provide healthier food choices, fitness centers, collaborative teams, or partners who can work together to drive these types of goals. Or, it's a case of magnetizing the physical space to a place where people choose to be. How do you tempt them to return to the office, and want to come back? "Ultimately the responsibility to advance the best workplace experience lies in the types of offerings you bring into your buildings, and for the people you want in them." To drive the best workplace experience, think about the entire journey each employee undergoes daily at your location. From their commute, parking experience, entrance to your space, coffee, lunch, meeting rooms, rest room, and more. Ask yourself if every touch point is a positive experience? Has the team thought through how you might improve each of those touchpoints? What changes could be made to make it an exceptional experience? Choosing between an entrance experience; a type of food or restaurant; enhancing technology-driven tools; health & wellness; sustainability, and more will help your employees feel good at work. Navigating through this labyrinth is a journey in and of itself. Embrace it and secure the help of a trusted advisor. A consultant or fractional leader who can coach, advise, and facilitate this new and fascinating journey into soft services management - will reduce the steep learning curve, ease the path, and help you achieve more in a shorter period. Your building awaits! Are you ready? Ann McNally is 4xi's Operations Coaching & Growth lead and specializes in focusing on growth, strategic partnerships, and supporting clients with her passion for coaching. Ann and the entire team at 4xi are here to help you drive positive change and impact. To learn more about Ann download her BIO, or you can contact her directly at annmcnally@4xiconsulting.com 4xi: Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact on the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Dallas | Santiago | London | Tokyo

4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is on a quest to identify best-in-class innovation that impacts the away-from-home market: people at work, in education, at rest, and at leisure. We call this our Explorers Innovation Lab & Directory. How are organizations today tackling the issue of staffing shortages? Maybe technology has an important part to play. As workplaces begin to open their doors again, and organizations try to woo reluctant employees back into the office, amenities like food service have become more important and more complicated than ever. Returning employees want more than just their old cubicle back, they need a reason to return to work, a magnetic draw to help them overcome the often lengthy commute, leaving their home offices, and immerse them back into the work community. Food plays an important part in creating that magnet effect. Meanwhile, amenities providers need to provide that experience while working around a workforce with unpredictable schedules, while at the same time navigating a massive labor shortage. According to Catering Foodservice & Events, "Foodservice businesses have taken drastic measures to survive (and, in some cases, thrive) under pandemic conditions. As events were canceled and demand dropped for catering services, businesses needed to consider changes to staffing levels and business models. Those hard choices led to a 32 percent decrease in staffing levels for catering and mobile foodservice businesses and caused over 20 percent of such businesses to shut down permanently." To balance unpredictable throughput needs and limited staffing, it’s pivotal that businesses need to amplify the labor they have by improving their processes and stepping up their technology game. Here are some of the opportunities: Flow and layout From a process perspective, the literal layouts of operations and flow are easily overlooked. Where you put stations and cashiers matters a lot in terms of how people move through a space and how quickly they can find what they want and get served. Given there’s limited time or appetite to reconstruct cafe spaces, this should be the first thing you plan (along with taking some of our technology suggestions into account). Menu optimization Beyond the flow of a cafe, menu choices greatly impact how many people you can serve with a limited staff. Many cafes put a hefty premium on having tons of menu choices and customization within those options. While this is often something that staff flag as desired in surveys, it can actually negatively impact the overall cafe experience. The more options and customization, the slower people tend to be when ordering. This is due to having an overwhelming number of options and multiple decisions throughout an order - slowing down the process. A greater variety of menu items and customization options also makes it harder for cafe staff to really master the dishes that they create due to the sheer variety they may be in charge of, lowering the quality of the end product and the speed they can prepare. Instead, fewer total menu items and options allow your team to deliver the best possible quality of product and experience within the resources you have. Technology Beyond process improvements, there are a few technologies that were already gaining ground before the pandemic that can provide a lot of efficiency to operations. With the pandemic acting as a “reset” of expectations, all of these technologies have seen huge increases in usage and guest preference - making now the perfect time to integrate them into your operations. Customer-Facing Tablets Rather than making ordering dependent on staff taking each order, many companies install banks of ordering tablets. These can go either at the front of each station where people would usually order or as a large bank in a single part of a cafe where guests can order from multiple stations. This frees up your team to focus on food prep as orders come through. Mobile and Online Ordering Similar to ordering from a tablet, having a mobile app or responsive website for customers to order from increases convenience and reduces the need for staff to use time taking orders directly from each customer. An extra advantage of online ordering is that you can set up your cafe to deliver directly to customers - improving their experience and helping to drive sales during off-hours, thanks to the extra convenience. AI-Powered Self-Checkout One of the most exciting developments we’ve seen in cafe technology is using cameras and artificial intelligence to make self-checkout a seamless experience. The most popular system for this that we see in the field is Mashgin, whose Touchless Checkout System finishes transactions up to 400% faster than a typical cashier. Essentially, a customer just grabs the items they want from different stations, puts them down on Mashgin’s tray, and the order instantly rings up! (See it in action here). This is an enormous amplifier since you can have minimal staff helping customers checkout, instead, focus your team on making food, cleaning up, and helping customers who need it. The huge increase in checkout speed also reduces lines dramatically, increasing revenues by as much as 300% in long-line environments like sports concessions. While cafes have been out of commission for a while, Mashgin has seen phenomenal growth in the last year as sports returned in force and convenience stores faced a similar labor challenge to what the hospitality industry is going through now. The company reported that it grew sales by 300% in 2021, reaching over 1,000 locations and recently raising a funding round valuing Mashgin at $1.5 Billion. Integrating It All Together Any one of these technologies and tactics can help you get more out of the limited teams we’ll all be working with in the near future, but thoughtfully bringing them together can make a really compelling impact. Finding vendors who are willing to (or already have) integrated their technologies with the others featured above can create a much better experience for your guests. They will also do best when paired with critical existing payments and perk structures like CBORD if you offer guests an ID-based stored value solution. One of the reasons you’ll see us bring up Mashgin from time to time is that they already offer a complete ecosystem for all the technologies above. While they started in the AI-checkout space, they’ve built those other amplifying technologies over the years to save managers the headache of building menus and managing sales across multiple checkout formats. If you happen to be at National Restaurant Association Show this coming few days, we'd recommend checking them out - they’ll be at booth 5649. Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact on the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Dallas | Santiago | London | Tokyo

In life and in business, it's always important to understand what's important, but the question is do you ask what's in it for me, or what's in it for you? Clearly, both questions are important as in any successful relationship, or partnership, the happier all parties are with the outcomes, then the more likely you are to last the course. Think about your buying experience of a home, a car, or a vacation. What about at work when you're working with a client on the sales side, trying to help them solve a particular challenge and provide them with solutions. What about in any relationship, at home, in business, or at leisure. "What makes you feel most comfortable? When you're talking about what's in it for you, or when they're talking about what's in it for them?" Or, even better, how do you feel when the conversation is about: "What's in it for us, and how do we succeed together?" Misguidedly, many people and organizations believe that the sales process (whatever you're selling) is an adversarial, transactional encounter - they have something they have to sell, and you have the money to buy (sometimes regardless of whether you need it or not!) For me, there is a phrase that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end - "I can sell sand in a desert," or "Ice in Antarctica"! Anyone who thinks that way probably shouldn't be in a sales role unless maybe they're selling "hook a duck" at the annual summer fair! Empathy and understanding are essential in any relationship, and you can't establish those two things without first listening and learning. These are the foundations of understanding, and then being able to apply empathy, that in turn allows you to build solutions, and solve challenges. To what extent do you have trust when you meet someone and all they do is talk about themselves? When a "sales rep" tells you that if you close the deal by the end of their sales month they'll give you a great deal. "Well, why can't you give me a great deal anyway?" is my question. When a business partner harps on about how they need to earn more money out of your relationship without even asking, "how are things going for you in our relationship." I remember a story from an old mentor of mine. The story is the antithesis of a strategic growth leader: Dorothy, an old lady in her 80s with $250,000 in cash in a bag walks onto a car sales lot. She explains to Tom, the salesperson that she needs a small car to drive her to the local shops twice a week, a mile from her home, and that she doesn't particularly like driving, or driving fast, fuel economy is important to her, but she does like the color red. An hour later after they'd signed all the paperwork, transaction completed, Dorothy $249,999 lighter, she sat in her new bright red Ferrari on her way to the shops then home - she couldnt find the handbrake, she couldnt get the thing into gear, and even when she thought she had, the Ferrari jolted foward and stalled. Tom was still at the lot, his next sale, a farmer with $200,000 in a bag. He just focused on his next victim and let the old lady figure it out on her own. Tom made a big commission that month but that was shortlived. His reputation spread quickly, and he certainly didnt get any repeat custom. I also recall a client who was moderately satisfied with the performance of one of his key vendors. Quarterly Business Review after review, the vendor just kept coming back asking for more money for the mediocre services they were experiencing. The multiple reports and the decks presented were all about them and had nothing to do with aligning the service outcomes with the client's needs. Needless to say, the client eventually lost patience and changed contractor to one that paid them more attention to their needs. So, in summary, if in life or in business, buying or selling, you're focused on "what's in it for me" as opposed to exploring "what's in it for you" maybe you're doing yourself a disservice - try the following 6-questions as a starting off point, and then creating win-win solutions that are focused on mutually beneficial outcomes: - What do you like? (about your job, life, relationship) - What are you the most proud of? - What would you like to do more of? Less of? - Where would you like to be in 12 months? 2 years? 5 years? - How do you see yourself getting there? and who with? - What does success look like for you? Clearly, there are many more questions you can ask and probably will need to ask - the better understanding you have, then the more likely you are to come up with a winning solution. Just like any relationship, the foundations of trust are built from empathy and understanding, and without listening and learning, then you'll be just guessing in the dark. TRUE NORTH© is 4xi's proprietary Strategic Partnerships Learning Academy built from years of experience in business. Refreshingly, TRUE NORTH© is focused on changing and embedding behaviors, not administrative processes, helping organizations win better, and retain better business. Simon Elliot is Managing Partner and Co-founder at the boutique advisory firm, 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions. 4xi is built on the foundations of a people-first approach to transforming the Human Experience (HX) as the cornerstone to success, no matter what business. Long-term strategic partnerships are built on trust, reliability, and credibility, and underpinned by shared purpose, vision, mission, and values. For more information about 4xi, visit our website at www.4xiconsulting.com or contact Simon directly at simonelliot@4xiconsulting.com. 4xi: Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact on the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Dallas | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Better Together: at 4xi Global Consulting and Solutions, we are inspired by the power of the collective and the innovation that brings to our partners. We're very pleased to welcome Tony Johnson to our Advisory Council as a senior leader in our organization as he continues to guide the EVOLVING EXPERIENCES© Practice, focusing on customer and employee experiences. We are also partnering with Tony to formally unite 4xi with his company Ignite Your Service Training and Strategy. What does this mean? It is all about creating relationships that drive results for our clients. Tony has served as our Chief Experience Officer since very early in our journey, and his background in Customer Experience, Employee Development, Speaking, and Training is well known. Ignite Your Service was founded by Tony in 2014, and we are delighted to bring these award-winning CX, EX, and motivational strategies to our organization. Just as we have partnered with the best technology brands around the world, we also look to add innovative thought leadership to our collective resources. Ignite Your Service’s core fundamentals will serve as the foundation of our customer experience strategy, with nearly a decade of proprietary development and successful implementation. Our perspective is that people make the difference – customers, teams, and the communities where businesses live. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this landmark moment as we are excited about both of these moves. The true winners will be our customers and clients, as we seek to simplify our value proposition and bring the best solutions to the marketplace. Our Strength is in the Power of Our Collective 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact on the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Dallas | Santiago | Lisbon | London | Tokyo

Human Experience (HX) is the new currency of business. 4xi launches Evolving Experiences© - we believe in the power of human potential. In today's business environment, the Human Experience of Employees (EX) and Customers (CX) has never been so important. Performance can no longer be judged alone by quarterly bottom-line results that incentivize business leaders to cut rather than invest. The most important investment to make in business today is in people, and that's why we have launched our Evolving Experiences© practice led by our Chief Customer Experience Officer, Tony Johnson. Tony has served as our Chief Experience Officer since very early in our journey, and his background in Customer Experience, Employee Development, Speaking, and Training is well known. Ignite Your Service was founded by Tony in 2014, and we are delighted to bring these award-winning CX, EX, and motivational strategies to our organization. We believe in the power of human potential, and a people-first approach to business, and results. Creating environments where people can thrive, be engaged, and excite their customers, and in turn where customers can be excited and above all satisfied too. "Customer Experience (CX) and Employee Experience (EX) have found their moment to shine and come to the forefront of business thinking. Taking care of customers and your team has always been the right thing to do, but now all levels of most organizations see the compelling business case behind these efforts." - Tony Johnson. This is what Evolving Experiences© is all about - strategy, planning, execution, communication, and training - all designed to transform your culture into a people, and customer-centric environment where everybody wins, including your top and bottom line. Learn more about how we help create Growth Cultures and elevate your Human Experience. e: hello@4xiconsulting.com Our Strength is in the Power of Our Collective 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact on the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Dallas | Santiago | Lisbon | London | Tokyo