What our desks say about us (and why we love remote work)

10th April 2025
author Qatium

Ever wondered what your desk says about you? In celebration of Global Work From Home Day, Qatium employees took a moment to reflect on our remote work experiences.

We asked a few Qatium employees to show us their workspaces and share what makes remote work actually work for them. From tidy setups and co-working hubs to Lego collections and loyal pets, each space tells its own story.

Here’s what they shared:​

David Monteiro, Director of Customer Success

David’s desk is a controlled storm of activity. With books on everything from water to computer science, a trusty pen-and-paper setup, and gear like an Oculus headset (even if it’s gathering dust), his space is a reflection of a curious, always-learning mind.

His organizational style? He calls it ā€œbutterflyā€ā€”everything important is within reach, even if it looks chaotic to others.

What David loves most about remote work is the freedom to be anywhere: ā€œI don’t have to work from Madrid or Valencia. I can choose to be wherever I want—Barcelona or with family when needed.ā€ For someone far from home, that flexibility is invaluable.​

Tatiana Butts, Brand Designer 

Tatiana’s desk is a perfect mix of organized chaos, creativity, and curiosity. It reflects her love for learning—thanks in part to Qatium’s learning budget, which she used to build up a mini library of strategic branding and design books. Her space is also full of little personal touches: stacks of notebooks, postcards from her travels etc. She keeps her creative brain fed and organized with multiple monitors, high-quality gear for her design work, and of course, the unofficial Qatium beverage standard—three drinks at any given time

For Tatiana, remote work is about freedom and flexibility—both in how she works and where. She travels often and loves that she can see family or explore new cities without needing to take time off. Her workspace may shift, but her setup stays high quality and personal—something she misses when working from less-equipped coworking spaces.

Leslie Andrade, Lifecycle Engagement Manager

Unlike most of the team, Leslie doesn’t work from home—she walks a few minutes from her place to a co-working space in her neighborhood. While her desk isn’t full of personal items (she packs up daily), what she gains is something else entirely: connection.

ā€œI’ve been able to get to know people in my area and have a bit of a community here,ā€ she explains. Remote work, for Leslie, is about autonomy and choosing how her day flows—including where and when she works. ā€œThere’s just a lot more flexibility. I have more time to do things I enjoy.ā€

Melisa Altaparro, Events Manager

Melisa’s desk is a beacon of tidiness—everything in its place, and not a pen out of line. She describes herself as ā€œalmost OCD,ā€ but there’s personality too—her love of writing is clear from her collection of unique pens and notebooks. Tucked between her work essentials, you’ll spot Star Wars Lego pieces—a nod to her family’s shared fandom

Remote work has been a game changer for Melisa. As an expat mom in Barcelona with no extended family nearby, the flexibility of working from home means she can be present for her kids—dropping them off, having lunch together, or caring for them when they’re sick—all without missing a beat at work. ā€œThis gives me a lot of freedom and flexibility,ā€ she says. ā€œIt’s essential.ā€

AndrƩs Herrer, Demand Generation Specialist

AndrĆ©s keeps things minimal—dual screens, sleek tech, and zero clutter. ā€œThe more things you have, the easier it is to make a mess,ā€ he says. ā€œSo I only keep what I really need.ā€ While his workspace is focused and efficient, it also reflects his personal side, with a few audio tools for music production tucked in.

Remote work has brought huge benefits for AndrĆ©s, especially for his dog. Before, long office days left his pup alone for hours. Now, they’re constant companions. It’s also improved his routine, diet, and mental health—and saved him countless hours of commuting. That said, he’s honest about the downsides too. ā€œIt can get a little lonely sometimes, especially when you don’t work in a co-working space.ā€ But for him, the freedom and trust remote work brings far outweighs the occasional quiet day.

Open Water 2.0:
Open platforms, Marketplaces & Community

Open Water 2.0 builds on the foundation of our first Open Water whitepaper, which explored the value of open data, open-source software, and open collaboration in the water sector. In this paper, we introduce three new critical drivers to the Open Water approach: Open platforms, Digital marketplaces and Communities in motion.

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