Leading Edge has experienced many changes over the past four years, one of the most significant being our transition to a fully remote organization. In March 2020, our team of seven full-time employees left our WeWork office space in Manhattan, not realizing it would be the last time we would share a physical space together daily. Although we have technically been remote since then, our original physical address remained as an anchor. Now, with 21 full-time employees spread across the United States, we are finally letting go of that last tether and fully embracing our remote organization. (Our new mailing address, which is not a place we’ll ever go, can be found on our contact page.)

A Reflection on Our Office Days

As we close this chapter, we reflect on the memories and milestones that shaped our time in a physical office. Our workspace was more than just a place to work—it was a hub of creativity, collaboration, and community. Over the years, it witnessed the beginnings of our growth, our challenges, and our triumphs. Now, as a completely remote team, we want to look back on some of the special memories that made our time in the office so meaningful.

Here are a few fond memories shared by our team:

Remote Work: The New Normal

The transition to remote work has sparked much discussion, and with any change, there are both pros and cons. According to our 2022 report, “Are Jewish Organizations Great Places to Work?” fully remote workers tend to report more favorable well-being experiences, even though they’re more likely to want to leave. While remote workers report higher well-being, their intention to explore new opportunities may reflect the abundance of attractive options available to skilled knowledge workers. This suggests that their well-being empowers them to seek growth and advancement, rather than simply focusing on staying with one organization.

Personally, as an introvert, I’ve thrived in a remote work environment. However, many people feel a sense of loss without the social connection of a physical office, making it more important than ever to regularly check in with employees to ensure they feel supported and connected.

Lessons Learned from Remote Work

As you transition to a remote workspace, here are a few key lessons we’ve learned:

Embrace Change with Reflection: Transitioning to remote work is not just a logistical shift; it’s an emotional journey for the entire team. One way to navigate this change is by intentionally creating moments to reflect on the past. For example, you could create a digital scrapbook of office memories or encourage team members to share their favorite moments from the office during a team meeting. It can also be helpful to acknowledge that transitioning to remote work doesn’t mean losing the camaraderie or creativity that thrived in your physical space—it’s about finding new ways to maintain that spirit in a virtual environment.

Culture Transcends Space: A strong organizational culture isn’t confined to the walls of an office—it’s defined by the people, values, and shared experiences that shape the team. At Leading Edge, we recognized early on that maintaining our collaborative culture remotely would require intention and effort. To do this, we’ve committed to coming together as a full group twice a year, not just for work but for team-building activities that allow us to connect on a deeper, more personal level. These gatherings help reinforce our culture and maintain the bonds that make us a strong team, even when we’re apart.

In addition to periodic in-person meetups, we’ve incorporated regular virtual touchpoints, like weekly Monday check-ins, a Friday roundup document that says what each department has been working on during the week, and virtual coffee breaks. We also make a point to celebrate team wins and individual milestones online, ensuring that our culture of celebration and support continues to thrive remotely. These intentional efforts have shown us that culture can flourish even without a physical office—it just takes a little creativity and commitment.

Adaptation Brings New Opportunities: While saying goodbye to a familiar workspace can feel like a loss, it’s also an invitation to explore new possibilities. Remote work offers greater flexibility in how, where, and when people work, which can lead to increased productivity and innovation. For instance, at Leading Edge, we’ve found that our remote setup allows us to tap into talent across the United States, expanding our reach far beyond what was possible when we were based in a single location. This geographical flexibility has made our team more diverse and brought fresh perspectives to our work.

Additionally, remote work has required us to rethink how we collaborate. We’ve introduced new digital tools and systems that streamline communication and project management. We’ve also noticed that remote work gives employees greater autonomy, enabling them to balance their personal and professional lives more effectively.

The shift to remote work is a chance to experiment with new approaches, whether it’s reimagining your workflows, offering more flexible work hours, or creating virtual spaces for brainstorming and collaboration. As we’ve seen, these adaptations can unlock growth and new opportunities in ways that wouldn’t have been possible in a traditional office setting.