The Psychology of Workspaces: How Amit Ramani Built India’s Leading Co-Working Ecosystem

Design is not just about aesthetics, it’s a problem-solving tool.

What if your office wasn’t just a place to work, but a catalyst for creativity, collaboration, and efficiency? In a world where workspaces are rapidly evolving, few have cracked the code like Amit Ramani, Chairman & MD of Awfis Space Solutions Limited.

In an exclusive Series C session, he shared his extraordinary journey - from an architect to an entrepreneur - shedding light on how he built one of India’s largest co-working space providers by blending design thinking with business acumen.

From Architect to Business Leader: A Journey in Design and Strategy

His journey from architecture to business leadership was shaped by his deep understanding of workplace strategy and design. Amit’s story is one of transformation - of spaces and of mindsets. Starting his career as an architect, he soon realised that design is not just about aesthetics; it’s a problem-solving tool. His experience in workplace strategy consulting led him to work with global clients like Microsoft and Accenture, helping them design offices that maximise productivity.

Decoding Workplace Psychology: The Birth of Awfis

Understanding the psyche of the user has been Amit’s biggest strength. Before designing any office, he first analysed employee behavior - meeting with leaders, conducting focus groups, running surveys, and mapping observations. This people-first approach laid the foundation for Awfis, launched in 2015 with the vision of redefining workspaces for a new generation of professionals.

But creating workspaces wasn’t enough - Amit saw a gap in the market and adopted a manage-aggregation model, partnering with landlords to transform under utilised spaces into thriving co-working hubs.

Awfis: The Future of Workspaces

Awfis has created an ecosystem by catering to Small, Medium, Individual, and Local Entrepreneurs. Awfis provides more than just a desk; it offers a dynamic environment where businesses can collaborate, innovate, and grow. Partnerships with hotels, banks, and commercial space owners have created a robust network of high-quality meeting rooms, accessible via a simple web or mobile app.

Beyond workspaces, Awfis fosters community engagement through networking events, seminars, and strategic partnerships, offering members preferential access to services like web hosting, legal support, and insurance.

Lessons from Amit Ramani: Building a Vision, Creating Impact

Amit’s journey offers valuable takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs:

1.     Start with Strategy – His journey from architecture to entrepreneurship was rooted in strategic problem-solving. Understand your market deeply before diving in.

2.     Evolve with Customer Behavior – Co-working isn’t static. As customer needs change, so must business models. Agility is key.

3.     Create Impact in Every Role – At just 29, Amit became the youngest COO in his family’s business. By 34, he bought the company from its promoters. His success mantra? Bring value to your role, deliver results, and set high expectations.

4.     Understand Stakeholders – Whether it’s employees, clients, or landlords, understanding their needs and motivations is crucial for success.

The Future of Co-Working Spaces

Amit left our students with one key piece of advice - constantly evolve. The co-working industry is shifting, and those who anticipate and adapt to changing customer behaviors will thrive. His session was a masterclass on design thinking, business acumen, and adaptability, and how it can shape the future of workspaces in India and beyond.