Walking Talking, a portfolio company of EIT Urban Mobility, is a platform designed not only to relieve structural pressures within workplaces but to drive change. They help individuals implement practices that have a positive effect on both their professional and private lives, as well as society at large.
“Behavioural change is very much about habits — by making collaboration, communication and movement a daily way of working we are solving multiple issues simultaneously,” says Anna-Lina Kvarsmyr, Co-founder and CEO of Walking Talking.
The platform, which includes programmes, tools and support, is designed to help leaders and teams to develop habits that create psychological safety, a sense of coherence and a culture of trust, while still focusing on business goals. Through Walking Talking’s demo feature, you can gain personalised insights into how to tackle these issues while fostering a more open and collaborative team culture.
“Today’s workplace initiatives need to be fully business integrated to create real sustainable impact. That is what Walking Talking is designed to do”, Anna-Lina Kvarnsmy explains.
Modern workplaces have undergone significant changes in the past couple of years. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the rise of remote work, and for many, this shifted to a hybrid model that is now widely practised. These changes have often benefited work-life balance, but several issues in the modern workplace still remain unresolved. Left unaddressed, these challenges cause problems within departments and teams across all industries.
Acknowledging the positive impact Walking Talking creates within organisations, Peter Vest, Head of Investment & Portfolio Manager at EIT Urban Mobility, highlights the benefits of walking as a form of transport for the wider society: “In implementing walking in our daily professional and personal lives we can create positive impacts regarding our teams but also environmental impacts for wider society. In fact, switching to active transport, either walking or cycling, just one day a week could save up to 25% of personal CO2 emissions from transportation. It’s these kinds of impacts that drive EIT Urban Mobility’s investment thesis.”
Mental and physical health: burnout in modern teams
Facilitated by long periods of sitting, especially for remote workers, sedentary lifestyles lead to physical and mental health risks, as well as relationship-building challenges. Sedentarism — prolonged inactivity — is increasingly prevalent and has a range of negative consequences.
Physically, sedentarism is associated with preventable health issues such as heart disease and elevated blood pressure levels. Over time, musculoskeletal issues, such as back pain and stiffness, can become noticeable and are prevalent as a result of poor posture and non-ergonomic home office setups.
“As a mid-manager or team-lead you are already under pressure”, Anna-Lina Kvarnsmyr continues. “When issues occur, like health problems and inefficiencies in the team, it is neither fair nor sufficient to expect the leader to solve this alone. Instead, we need to help teams build sustainable work habits and realise the potential in their ability to collaborate and communicate effectively”.
Sedentarism is also correlated with higher rates of depression and anxiety, as physical inactivity disrupts mood-regulating chemicals in the brain. It can impair cognitive function, concentration, and increase the long-term risk of memory loss.
Socially, sedentary office lifestyles limit interactions with colleagues, encouraging passive communication modes like email and messaging, which can foster feelings of isolation. This isolation contributes to burnout, undermining emotional well-being and productivity. When employees feel disconnected from their colleagues, they may lack the support and sense of belonging essential for motivation and job satisfaction. This disconnection can lead to stress and loneliness, increasing the risk of burnout, characterised by exhaustion and reduced performance.
Anna-Lina Kvarnsmyr concludes: “When people connect and talk to each other while walking together, things happen to both our social and cognitive abilities. It is very powerful. That is why walking is at our core”.
By prioritising practices that promote open communication and increasing movement, organisations can mitigate these costly issues.
The most significant effect on an organisation will come from working broadly with the Walking Talking platform across one or several teams. Not only do teams and leaders get step-by-step support to implement sustainable, collaborative practices, but the organisation also benefits from the social learning that occurs through cross-functional networking.
Community at the heart of what we do
EIT Urban Mobility’s Startups Growth Lab is a platform that embraces the concept of shared learning and networking. It enables dialogue between startups, where you can join for free, connect with other founders — including Anna-Lina — both within and outside your field, be notified of funding opportunities, and participate in webinars and info sessions.
