Our guest on this episode is Kane Willmott, co-founder and CEO of IQ Offices and a prominent figure in the flex office industry. We dive into Kane's journey from aspiring accountant to leading the largest Canadian-owned coworking operator. The dialogue covers the intricacies of the flex office market, the impact of COVID-19, and the evolution of co…

Jarred Schenke is a flexible office/coworking reporter for Bisnow. His job is to cover industry news from a variety of vantage points. He shares his informed, but outside-the-industry insight on Yardi's acquisition of WeWork. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Follow Jarred on BisNow Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Conn…

In this comprehensive conversation, Ben Wright discusses his journey in the flex space industry, including his promotion to Global Head of Partnerships at Instant and his thoughts on the dynamic shifts in coworking spaces. The discussion touches on the challenges of acquisitions and consolidating the industry, with a special focus on the recent acq…

Michael Feinstein opened his first location in Miami’s midtown…before coworking was popular and before midtown was cool. Michael had been living in London where office space was intentionally designed. He was surprised when he moved to Miami and discovered that office space was pretty bland and uninspiring. He decided that Miami needed an upgrade a…

Join us in this episode as we sit down with Brandon Medeiros, CEO of REKalibrate, and Ryan Donahue, CTO, to discuss their innovative journey in the commercial real estate industry. They share their personal backgrounds and how they’ve transitioned from relying on anecdotal evidence to embracing data-driven decision-making. We explore the critical r…

Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

We talk to Nick about: How his experience in traditional commercial real estate as a broker shaped his vision for an easier leasing process. How his first ten hires and the startup culture of their early days shaped their culture. Nick’s penchant for experimenting/pushing the envelope with…bespoke design, adding a coffee brand to their portfolio, b…

Lawrence Gellerstedt (LG) is the Managing Director + ATL Boss @ Foundry Commercial. We talk to LG about: His transformative time at WeWork His journey as an entrepreneur starting his own boutique brokerage firm His bet on the Switchyards, a 24/7 neighborhood work club His commitment to being genuine and authentic His transparency about mental healt…

Episode Highlights: Gio and Jamie discuss customer experience levels and the challenges in the coworking industry's service sector. David Arraya talks about service and profitability in hospitality, and the delicate balance needed for success. The role of technology in hospitality is examined, along with maintaining the essential human touch. Insig…

In this episode: - Kurt shares his unique journey from a music major to leading sales strategies in the real estate industry. - We explore how landlords and operators are tackling the changes in workspace demand, leveraging data and capital to transform empty spaces into thriving environments. - Kurt’s personal stories add a touch of heart and rela…

We went deep on this episode. We talk about Premier's unique ability to grow by leveraging profit...and we get into how Willie relies on relationships and deep transparency and support among his team to continuously improve the business and navigate through challenging times. Here are some highlights: Premier's under-the-radar strategic growth Navi…

Our guest this week needs little introduction in the coworking circles...but if you don't know her, here are some highlights: She is an industry OG She is fearless when it comes to growing her business on her terms She has clarity around her brand, her culture and her business model...and that is most of the battle She is ruthless about her deal st…

Jean Yves is a true coworking industry OG. He was one of the early coworking enthusiasts behind the first-ever Coworking Europe conference in 2010. This year’s conference is in…you’ll have to listen to find out! Jean Yves has a unique macro view of the industry - he hosts an annual conference with participants from dozens of countries and one of hi…

Sam Rosen, Founder and CEO of Deskpass, shares the Deskpass story, the synergy he sees in having Deskpass and Breather on one platform, and the opportunity for Industrious to offer this platform to its membership base. We talk about: 1. The growth of the coworking industry since Sam started way back in 2007 2. The genesis of Deskpass 4. The Deskpas…

Frank Cottle is a true OG in the flexible office industry. We talk about: Frank Cottle's Business Philosophy and Success: Adapting within the industry while staying true to one's knowledge base Charitable Work and Impact: -All Good Workspace Foundation's mission and activities Business Strategies and Operations: Multi-brand and multi-operational co…

We talk with Philip about: His lens on the role hospitality plays in coworking given his deep background in the hospitality industry Recruiting from the hospitality industry What it is about Workuity that has earned the business 50 5-star Google Reviews Operating in a market with a lot of supply from big brands Hosting coworking tours for the GWA F…

We talk to John Wallace, CEO of Workbox about: Landlord partnerships Knowing who and how you serve Taking over existing coworking spaces Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: John on LinkedIn Workbox website Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast…

Philippe Houdard is the CEO of Pipeline Workspaces in Florida (best market for coworking in 2023!). In this episode, we talk about: - Navigating Business Challenges with Relational Strength: Solidarity with customers and team members can be a lifeline during financial downturns. - Growth Through Caution and Culture: Expansion is not just about scal…

What’s on the horizon for 2024? We don’t have a crystal ball, but we do get pretty deep exposure to what’s going on in the industry through the work we do with operators all year long. So, we think we have some pretty good insights into 2024! What does Gio do all year? Gio is a commercial office leasing broker focusing exclusively on coworking/flex…

Paula Mercer, VP of Coworking for Vast at United Franchise Group, announces the addition of a third brand to the Vast umbrella, Intelligent Office. Here’s what we covered: Vast is now the third largest coworking brand in the world after IWG and Regus and now ahead of Industrious. With this acquisition, Vast Coworking Group now has over 190 location…

Emily Watkins is the Chief Client Officer at The Instant Group. Introduction: Emily Watkins, Chief Client Officer at The Instant Group, joins the podcast from San Diego. Discussion about not having a white Christmas, keeping up with her two teenage boys and two chocolate labs. Background: Emily shares her educational journey and career, including e…

We recorded this interview with Ryan Simonetti, CEO of Convene, in front of a live audience in March of 2023. I give Gio props for asking the kinds of questions that the media doesn't generally ask Ryan. Gio asks him about his parents, where his creativity comes from...how they manage a household with small kids and two working parents, and how Rya…

Tobi discussed the importance of enhancing service offerings for large enterprise companies, the trend of traditional office space users seeking alternatives, and the need to maintain brand identity when acquiring city and regional brands. Tobi, Jamie, and Giovanni emphasized the significance of health and wellness in their personal and professiona…

Peri Demestihas is the Senior Director of Real Estate for Industrious, the third largest coworking brand in the country. Industrious has 160+ locations across 65 global cities. We talk about: Why landlords like to partner with Industrious. The heart/brains dynamic between the co-founders, Jamie and Justin. The fact that no two management agreements…

Aden is a young entrepreneur passionate about helping businesses hit the easy button on managing their reputation, collecting customer feedback, and taking action on feedback that will impact the customer experience….all before you get a 2-star Google review. Aden shares his entrepreneurial journey, how RealTime Feedback came to be, and how their p…

Shai Fogel is the General Manager for the US market for Mindspace, a global, luxury coworking brand. We talk with Shai about: Profitable expansion into new markets How to integrate hospitality into the sales process The differences in food and beverage preferences between the US and Europe Building a connected, yet physically distributed team Resou…

Gio and Jamie Unpack Flex Space Dynamics: WeWork's Bankruptcy, Market Tensions, and Emerging Trends. Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

Lorena Caballero has a deep history in the flex industry. She started in hospitality with InterContinental Hotel Group and then worked for IOS Offices in Mexico for over 7 years. IOS has 40+ locations in Class A buildings around the country. She has embarked on a new adventure in co-warehousing and Class A Flex Industrial with Workhub, headquartere…

Gable is a platform built to help companies support better remote work. Gio and I interview Liza Levin, the CEO and founder of Gable. She shares her story, entrepreneurial journey, and her "why" behind Gable. "The portal doesn’t just show which nearby workspaces in a company’s budget have available slots — it also indicates if colleagues are booked…

Catch the replay of Gio's live talk at a Northwest Arkansas ULI (Urban Land Institute) on the flexible office/coworking industry. It's like you got a free ticket to the event! Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: ULI Northwest Arkansaw Ledger Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the…

If you don't know Erin, Maresko, that's because she's a bit of a behind-the-scenes coworking OG. She's been in the business for about 8 years. She started her coworking career in marketing at 25N Coworking and recently transitioned to Kiln, a growing brand HQ'd in Salt Lake City. Erin shares her coworking journey and her perspective on the coworkin…

Richie Parsons joins us on the podcast to share his story of transitioning from Anytime Fitness franchise owner with his wife Charissa, to Venture X franchise owner. He also opens up about his cancer diagnosis and some lifestyle changes that have made a big difference in his health. The power of resilience and adaptability in the face of challenges…

Justin Segal, President of Boxer Properties, discussed various aspects of the flexible office market, including: 1. Boxer Properties history and overview 2. Evolution of Office Space Rental Services 3. Challenges with the Traditional Leasing Model: 4. Shifting Roles in Commercial Property Operations: 5. The Pricing Engine Model: 6. Impact of Intere…

On the last episode, we posted a GWA conference debrief among Giovanni, Megan Brown (Executive Director) and Cid Rhomberg (GWA Co-President). This week, we invited a few attendees AND non-attendees for an informal review of the event. Grab your own bag of popcorn and join us. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Global Workspace Association Connect…

On this episode, the GWA Team (Megan Brown, Cid Rhomberg, Giovanni Palavacini), shares the highlight reel of this year’s Flex Forward Conference and announces next year’s conference venue and the Immersive location for May 2023. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Global Workspace Association Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on Linke…

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Heather Harris on LinkedIn Intelligent Office website Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

Fun Fact: Chelsea was a member of the Executive Centre as an employee of a marketing agency before she joined the Executive Centre Team as Managing Director, Global Marketing & Communications. The Executive Centre has been around for 29 years, and has 180 locations in 33 cities. Their locations are mostly in Asia but they also operate in Australia …

Ryan Fogelman is a JD/MBA although he claims he could do the work he does with a high school degree. What started off as a way to solve a personal problem - needing office space for a business, turned into a passion project among a group of friends committed to supporting small businesses in small communities. Cohatch is a way to work, meet and liv…

Firmspace has the ultimate clarity on who its best customers are and what its brand positioning is. That’s clear from their location strategy, product mix, design aesthetic and relentless focus on customer service. Kenny Kane has moved up the ranks of the organization and is now the CEO. We chat about: His ideal customers How he approaches his role…

On this episode, Dror Poleg delves into the transformative shift in how we perceive and design office spaces. Gone are the days when developers had a clear roadmap for constructing workplaces. Today, with the rise of remote work and the shift of considering 'home' as the baseline, the game is changing. Poleg discusses the uncertainties leaders face…

Michael’s passion is creating workspaces that people actually want to use. Gone are the days of enduring choppy calls - Michael Przytula tells us the new gold standard is all about that crisp, Zoom connection. Big corporations might have deep pockets, but transitioning massive office spaces post-pandemic? It's not as easy as it sounds. As we dreamt…

If you attended either the GWA or GCUC conferences this year, you might have met the one and only Tasha Hydar. She’s the Vice President of Business Development at Isofy. What does Isofy do? It delivers world-class network management for your coworking members. Have you ever read the book “The Go-Giver?” Tasha exemplifies the moral of that story. Sh…

John Arenas has had a 20 year career in flexible workspace. This guy has seen it all. After business school, John worked in lending for office buildings, then worked for a developer doing office buildings…then he started a shared office franchise company that was later acquired by Regus. Today he’s the CEO of Serendipity Labs operating 30 locations…

Cat got into coworking because it made a huge impact on her as a solo freelancer looking for her people. Today, Cat hosts a podcast, monthly live Convos, and runs a marketing membership called The Lab. Today, her mission is to help shape where the coworking industry is going and make sure the community piece is intact and that we're aligned with wh…

Mike Kriel has ten coworking spaces under the Launch Workplaces brand as of this recording. They are all under creative deal structures - no leases. Mike shares: How he evaluates deals and says no to far more than he says yes to His commitment to identifying strong partners with high potential locations vs. just getting “dots on the map.” How he co…

Mike Thakur is a creator…of coworking spaces, of community, of culture, of a lot of content… 💪 He has his own podcast and YouTube channel. Mike started WorkLodge to solve a personal pain point. He shares what he got right lessons learned…one that involves umbrellas hanging from the ceiling… ☔️ how he built a team that runs his two Houston locations…

Wesley Edmonds showed up at GCUC and at the GWA Immersive event in 2023 and met Gio…and Gio thought it would be really interesting to talk with someone that doesn’t run coworking spaces….and doesn’t sell to coworking space operators. Wesley does not have a horse in the coworking race. BUT she does sell furniture to designers of office space. In ord…

Chris Davies is the CEO of Uncommon, a premium coworking brand in London. They are focused on creating the best shared workspace experience in the core central business district in London. Underlying their commitment to a superior member experience is their B Corp designation which reflects the value of their company. He's also kind of a control fr…

Gio shares his current favorite coworking space in Dallas, an important business update, and why the “why” is so important to Gio in his work. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Upcoming Management Agreement Course - Get the details here. Giovanni on LI Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast…

LiquidSpace has partnered with the leading hybrid workplace software platform, Kadence, to revolutionize flexible work. Employees can now have access to a global network of flexible workspaces and their internal offices, seamlessly, in one platform. Liquidspace is extending and enhancing the hybrid experience for Kadence customers, by giving them t…