Getting to know... Tyson Gunderson

In the latest instalment of Bdaily’s Getting to know... feature, which looks at the person behind the business profile, Tyson Gunderson, co-founder of office booth firm Bureau - whose European bases include an Amsterdam site - talks about his passion for entrepreneurship, the joy he takes from solving a workplace problem and becoming Australia's youngest pilot...

We know you as the co-founder of Bureau, but who is the person behind the title? Tell us a little about what makes you tick…

From a young age, I have constantly looked for ways to build things, whether that was a side hustle or a new idea.

Entrepreneurship has been a constant thread throughout my life. 

At my core, I’m someone who gets energised by starting and growing businesses that will positively impact people’s lives.

Did you always want to work in workspace solutions?

Not at all.

My path has been anything but linear.

I started in accounting before moving into business turnaround and insolvency work, then private equity consulting and then, somewhat unexpectedly, co-creating World War Two video games. 

Each chapter taught me something different about building and scaling, and Bureau grew out of that accumulated experience.

I spotted a genuine problem – the lack of flexible and inclusive spaces for people to focus in today’s modern open-plan offices – and built from there.

What’s the best bit about your job? And the worst?

The best bit is seeing Bureau work pods in action, watching someone duck into one for a call or a focused work session, and knowing it’s genuinely made their day easier.

There’s something deeply satisfying about building a physical product that solves a tangible problem. 

The worst is probably the complexity of managing global operations; supply chains, logistics and teams across multiple time zones mean the working day never truly ends.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Something I'm really proud of is doing the right thing by myself, my family and my values, even when financial and other incentives pointed the other way. 

This included stepping out of a very promising career in consulting when my son was born to move to Burgundy and make wine, through to making difficult hiring and firing decisions and even moving halfway around the world with my family to make sure I wasn't away travelling for half the year. 

Prioritising the things that matter allows you to show up as your best for everything else in your life.

In the long run, it builds a much more successful life – even if it looks scary in the short-term.

How do you relax outside of work?

I love what we’re building at Bureau, and the fact it’s a global business means there is always something going on or something to think about. 

This means I don’t take a lot of time to switch off, and most of my spare time is researching or thinking about parts of work I don't normally get time for.

I've always loved motorcycles and find it a great way to clear my head.

I love reading, fiction and non-fiction, and have a large pile of books next to my bed.

I also try to get to the gym a couple of times a week if I’m not travelling.

What makes Amsterdam a great place to live and work?

Amsterdam has long been a hub for progressive thinking and innovative solutions. 

Just think of some of the big brands that have come out of Amsterdam – Booking.com, Heineken, ING Group. 

Now we get to position ourselves here as part of our European expansion. 

It is the gateway to Europe with fast connections to the UK, where we have an incredible presence and showroom in Clerkenwell, to France and Germany.

Tell us something about you we didn’t know…

I was the youngest pilot in Australia, getting my licence on my 15th birthday.

I went on to fly a huge range of planes, and had the most fun racing gliders in western New South Wales with one of my best friends and his dad. 

Flying planes at an early age teaches kids great responsibility and requires learning a whole range of very technical subjects – but you get the reward of flying a plane by yourself.

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