Flex Uncensored - A Coworking Podcast

In this episode, Giovanni sits down with Ryan Harris, the largest franchisee of Intelligent Office, to explore his journey from biotech to scaling multiple Intelligent Office locations. Ryan shares his unique story of joining the family business and how his background has shaped his approach to running a successful franchise. We dive deep into his growth strategies, working with family, and managi...

In this episode, Gio and I sat down with Eric Gutierrez, US Sales Manager at Accessia, to discuss how technology is transforming the coworking experience. From door access to advanced location services, Eric shares how his team is helping operators enhance member experience and streamline space usage. Whether you're a coworking operator or a tech enthusiast, this conversation is packed with insigh...

In this episode, Gio and I welcome Tom Bruister, Chief Revenue Officer at LiquidSpace. Tom shares his experience from his time at WeWork and beyond, offering unique insights into the evolving flex space industry. What you'll learn: Tom's journey from leading enterprise business at WeWork to his current role at LiquidSpace. How the pandemic has reshaped enterprise demand for flexible workspace solu...

Get ready to dive deep into the world of coworking marketing with Kevin Whelan, marketing advisor, educator, and consultant at Everspaces. In this episode, Gio and I dive into Kevin's journey into the coworking industry and how he helps coworking spaces make smart marketing decisions that drive success.  We talked about: Kevin Whelan's journey from website building to becoming a top marketing cons...

In this episode, we sit down with Trent Oswalt, who takes us through his unique career path from a youth pastor to a key player in the coworking and commercial real estate industry. Trent shares his experiences at Common Desk, Industrious, and now, Hines, where he's helping shape the future of hybrid leasing. This conversation is packed with insights on the evolution of coworking, the importance o...

Ian Minor leveraged his deep hospitality background and his passion for innovation to lead the team that brought the coworking concept working from _ to the Hoxton Hotels. The Hoxton Hotels  Delightful experiences. Gorgeous, buzzy lobbies. On-point F&B. Community-engaged. The hotel/coworking model is VERY compelling for those that want more than a desk and a chair inside of four sound-proofed wall...

In this episode, we cover: Understanding SBA Loans: Katelyn provides an overview of what SBA loans are, the different types available, and the benefits they offer, especially for coworking space operators. Richie's SBA Loan Journey: Richie shares his personal experience with SBA loans, detailing the challenges he faced and how Byline Bank's support made a significant difference. Key Considerations...

In this episode, Gio and I sit down with Tim Hasse, founder and CEO of General Provision, to dive deep into the world of coworking and the unique challenges of running a business remotely. Tim shares his journey from being a tech entrepreneur to creating vibrant coworking spaces in South Florida, all while living in Nashville. If you're curious about the intersection of hospitality and coworking,...

Meet Chiko Abengowe. Discover the inspiring journey of Chiko Abengowe, founder of Perfect Office, as he shares his transition from staffing industry professional to owning 20 coworking locations in the DMV area. From Tenant to Tycoon: Learn how Chiko's entrepreneurial spirit and a knack for problem-solving led him to create his first coworking space, eventually expanding to a thriving network of l...

From Suburbs to City Center: Discover how Beth DeGraffenreid, founder of Essential Offices, transitioned her coworking business from the suburbs to the bustling heart of Oklahoma City​​. Evolving with the Times: Beth shares her journey of continuously adapting Essential Offices' business model and revenue streams to meet changing market demands and economic challenges​​. Community and Hospitality:...

Meagan Slavin, COO of 25N Coworking shares her perspective on  What makes management agreements work The importance of team Making partnerships thrive Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Meagan on LinkedIn 25N Coworking website Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast  

Shlomo Silber loves building stuff. Businesses, Houses. Friendships....although he hopes that Peter Chee never calls him again so he doesn't have to say yes to another near-death experience hiking at extreme temperatures during a friendly pre-industry-conference outing. Here, in Shlomo's own words on LinkedIn, what he's up to: "Now it's time to take all of that passion and energy, paired with my e...

Philip Freeman, CEO of Murphy's Naturals and Founder of The Loading Dock, transformed his garage startup into a leading natural products company and created groundbreaking co-warehousing spaces that cater to modern entrepreneurs.  Here's what we cover in this episode: From Farm Life to Entrepreneurship: Philip's unique path from growing up on a Virginia farm to becoming a successful business leade...

In this episode, we sit down with Ramon Gonzalez, co-founder and CEO of Thrive Coworking, who grew up in the Bronx, navigating life in the projects with big dreams and a drive to succeed. Influenced by his uncle's foray into real estate, Ramon initially found success in property management—a job he describes as thankless. Driven by a desire to build a company that prioritizes culture and people, R...

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

Eyal Laskar, Co-Founder and CEO of Flexpace.ai, shares insights into his diverse career journey, starting from his first job as a hedge fund trader to building his own app 'Anyone' and moving up through significant roles at Klarna, WeWork, and ultimately founding FlexSpace. We cover his recent move from San Francisco to New York City, the formation and mission of FlexSpace, and how the company lev...

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 coworking models. Kane also shares his personal jour...

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 Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Every...

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 acquisition of WeWork by Yardi. Ben emphasizes the im...

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 and he would try to provide it. Eight locations lat...

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 role of data in understanding occupancy patterns an...

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, buying a fitness brand, setting up a meeting room i...

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 health struggles The tradeoffs he's willing to make at...

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. Insights into effective team dynamics are shared, highl...