Peter Harrison

Next Generation Leader | Workplace Culture & Org. Development Strategist | Featured in the WSJ | Speaker, Facilitator, Connector

Portland, Oregon, United States

About

As a Next Generation Leader, I help organizations connect people, place, and purpose—translating values into workplaces where healthy culture is truly embodied. My approach centers Radical Belonging™: empathy and joy as engines of engagement, innovation, and lasting impact. I blend workplace strategy, organizational development, and sustainability to create environments—physical and cultural—where people thrive. Highlights • Multidisciplinary experience across Gensler & ZGF on 15+ projects (incl. Portland International Airport) and global brands (Apple, Intel, Brooks). • Led sustainability & change initiatives, training 200+ pros and contributing to firmwide standards. • Executive nonprofit leadership (IIDA Oregon): 250+ members, 30-person board, $100K+ budget. • Recognized by GreenBiz 30 Under 30, AFO Oregon “Next” Award, American Society of Interiors "Ones to Watch" I’m energized by aligning culture, systems, and space so teams can do their best work. Let’s connect!

Experience

  • Account Manager | Client Experience at PeopleSpace - A Best In Class Haworth Partner
    Nov 2025 - Present · 8 mos

    As Account Manager the Client Experience Team at PeopleSpace, I steward long-term, trust-based partnerships with key clients—connecting people, place, and organizational purpose through thoughtful workplace strategy and contract furniture solutions. I serve as the primary point of contact for complex accounts, aligning stakeholders, clarifying needs, and ensuring that every project reinforces both business goals and employee experience. This role blends business development & project management. - Lead strategic account relationships, acting as the central hub between clients, A&D partners, contractors, and internal teams to deliver spaces where people can thrive. - Translate organizational culture, change initiatives, and workplace priorities into actionable space plans, product specifications, and service strategies. - Oversee projects and work orders from concept through installation, directing cross-functional teams and maintaining clear, proactive communication on scope, schedule, and budget. - Develop tailored solutions and proposals that balance design intent, contract pricing, and margin targets while supporting long-term portfolio and change-management needs. - Introduce clients to new products, services, and ways of working that improve employee experience, support hybrid work, and enhance the performance of their real estate. Across each engagement, I bring a lens of organizational development and Radical Belonging™—using the workplace not just as a backdrop, but as a strategic tool to connect teams, strengthen culture, and advance sustainable, people-centered design.

  • International Interior Design Association (Oregon, United States · Hybrid)
    • Oregon Chapter Past President
      Jul 2025 - Present · 1 yr

      - Executive Not-For-Profit Leadership providing senior advisory, continuity, and strategic governance support to the Oregon Chapter Board and executive committee. - Guide long-term initiatives tied to industry advocacy, organizational development, and member impact. - Serve as a steward of chapter legacy, leadership development, and institutional knowledge transfer.-

    • Oregon Chapter President
      Jul 2024 - Jun 2025 · 1 yr

      - Executive Not-For-Profit Leadership with a 30-member Board of Directors and statewide nonprofit chapter representing 250+ design professionals. - Managed organizational governance, strategic planning, and oversight of a $100K+ annual operating budget. - Established a member-centered vision focused on inclusive leadership, workforce advocacy, and community impact. - Launched the Climate Action Committee, making Oregon only the second IIDA chapter nationally to embed climate-focused industry action. - Advanced statewide legislative advocacy efforts to formally recognize and protect the practice of Commercial Interior Design. - Directed cross-functional initiatives to grow engagement, partnerships, professional development, and industry presence.

    • Oregon Chapter President-Elect
      Jul 2023 - Jun 2024 · 1 yr

      - Executive Not-For-Profit Leadership alongside the Chapter President, collaborating with a 32-person Board serving 230+ members. - Led community cultivation strategies to expand relationships across designers, partners, educators, and industry organizations. - Championed policy advocacy priorities centered on equity, accessibility, and professional standards in design practice. - Prepared for executive leadership through strategic planning, board alignment, and chapter-wide initiative development.

  • Founder, Strategy Director at Peter Harrison Coaching
    Nov 2024 - Present · 1 yr 8 mos

    Independent advisory supporting leadership and culture development engagements on a limited basis. - Built a workplace strategy and leadership development practice focused on culture enablement, employee experience, and organizational alignment. - Developed Radical Belonging™, a people-first framework supporting inclusive leadership, team cohesion, and shared ownership of outcomes. - Designed and facilitated culture, leadership, and workplace workshops that drive engagement, connection, and organizational effectiveness. - Recognized as a Next Generation Leader by The Wall Street Journal and HuffPost for advancing belonging-centered leadership.

  • AlphaSights (Remote)
    • Senior Market Research Consultant
      Jan 2025 - Present · 1 yr 6 mos

      Independent senior level advisory supporting: design trends, workplace futures, and product category evolution within the built environment ecosystem.

    • Mid-Level Market Research Consultant
      Jan 2022 - Dec 2024 · 3 yrs

      Independent mid-level advisory supporting: design trends, workplace futures, and product category evolution within the built environment ecosystem.

  • Project Manager at THE MARIE EQUI INSTITUTE
    Oct 2024 - Oct 2024 · 1 mo

    - Led design leadership and delivery oversight for the final activation of a 13,000-SF community health center serving the LGBTQIA2S+ community. - Translated organizational mission into spatial experience, supporting a built environment rooted in dignity, community, and belonging. - Partnered with cross-disciplinary teams to drive spatial design decisions, material direction, and environment planning ahead of public opening. - Guided design execution to support trauma-informed, community-centered care—balancing operational needs with a welcoming, inclusive experience.