Flex Uncensored - A Coworking Podcast

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 relatability – from family life to his imposter syndro...

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 Navigating the financial market as a debt-free compan...

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 structures and that pays off She's a role model in t...

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 his favorite pastimes is traveling to visit coworkin...

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 Deskpass merger with Breather 5. The importance of commun...

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 company model benefits Valuation and Exit Opportunit...

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 Flex Forward conference in 2024! Resources Mentione...

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 scale; it's about maximizing spaces in tune with the b...

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 deals for operators and landlords. He has the lar...

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 locations, 40,000 members, and occupies 2.4 million squar...

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 experiences at Gap, JLL, and her exposure to the...

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 Ryan survived a traumatic ride in a run-away Uber. C...

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 professional lives, with Tobi highlighting the partnership be...

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 ever look the same and that typically Industrious...

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 platform supports customer-facing businesses.   Re...

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   Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Shai on LinkedIn...

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, headquartered in Houston. If you're interested in coworking-ad...

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 in to work there, too. Someone can then book to...

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 Everything Coworking Podcast

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 coworking industry.   Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:...

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: Richie's journey from fitness franchises to cowo...

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 Interest Rates: 7. Systems for Real Estate Operations:...

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 with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on Linke...