What if the real KPI for your coworking space isn't occupancy… but connection?

I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Brandon Houston, and this conversation stuck with me long after we hit stop.

Brandon is quietly building something really special in a small town in Ontario. His space, The Foundry, is 7,000 square feet in a community of just 26,000 people… and it's thriving. Not because of private offices or fancy amenities, but because of something most operators still undervalue: community.

He's built a system that tracks how members interact, who they're building relationships with, and how connected they are to the community. Every member even has a "pulse score" based on their engagement.

Brandon also shares:

• Why small, rural coworking spaces can absolutely thrive
• How automation and AI can support operators without replacing the human touch
• The surprising demand for social events over traditional programming
• Why open space and "collisions" matter more than maximizing office count

And maybe my favorite part… hearing how deeply personal this work is for him. From friendships to business partnerships to even meeting his partner, so much of his life has come from the community he's built.

This is one of those conversations that reminds you why coworking matters.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Brandon Houston Huwart on LinkedIn
Collingwood Foundry website

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Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

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The coworking industry didn't become global overnight.


People like Jean-Yves Huwart helped make it that way.


Jean-Yves is the founder of Coworking Europe and one of the few people who has had a front-row seat to how flex workspace has evolved across dozens of countries over the last 15+ years.


In this episode of Flex Uncensored, Liz Elam and I sit down with Jean-Yves to talk about what's happening across the European coworking market right now… and why the industry is hitting a new level of maturity.


We get into:


• Why office buildings are starting to see flex workspace as a necessity, not a "nice to have"
• How asset owners across Europe are building their own coworking brands
• The growing role of brokers and intermediaries in helping companies find the right workspace
• Which European markets are booming right now (Netherlands, France, Spain) and which ones are moving more slowly
• Why the evolution of flex workspace is tied so closely to how cities themselves are changing

  
  

If you're curious about where the flex workspace industry is headed globally, this conversation is a great one to listen to.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Jean-Yves Huwart on LinkedIn

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

Most commercial real estate brokers don't start their careers playing 200 shows a year in dive bars.

But that's exactly how Ward Richmond's career began.

Before becoming Vice Chairman at Colliers and building a high-performing industrial brokerage team, Ward was a touring musician. When that chapter ended, he stepped into commercial real estate… and eventually built a business very intentionally around people, culture, and personal growth.

We get into:

• How a financial scare and a baby on the way forced Ward to rethink how he was working
• The moment he realized the difference between being a business operator and a true business owner
• Why he invested heavily in coaching and personal development (including Tony Robbins and Grant Cardone)
• The core values he uses to build and manage his team
• And why gratitude, humility, and discipline matter just as much as market expertise
  
  

If you're thinking about leadership, team building, or what it actually looks like to build a career that aligns with your values, you'll enjoy this one.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Ward Richmond on LinkedIn

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

What if the real flex opportunity isn't about chasing every deal… but knowing exactly which ones to walk away from?

I always love having Mark Burge, CEO and co-founder of Flex Workspace Solutions, back on the podcast. He's thoughtful, candid, and one of the few operators who will openly say, "Actually… this project doesn't make sense." And he means it.

In this episode, Mark shares how 2025 was one of their slowest years for new client acquisition… and also their best year ever. Why? Because they got crystal clear on who they are, who they serve, and who they don't.

We talk about:

• The real shift happening in landlord mindset around management agreements
• Why some owners are finally seeing flex as a building amenity, not just a revenue play
• The discipline it takes to say no to the wrong project

• How trust built through honesty leads to better long-term partnerships
• The sweet spot in square footage and why bigger isn't always better
• And yes… whether AI should be booking your tours

If you're working with landlords, considering a management model, or trying to figure out where AI fits in a hospitality-driven industry, this conversation will make you think.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Mark Burge on LinkedIn

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

What happens when the Queen of Coworking returns to share her vision for the industry's future—and announces a mission that could save lives? This week, Jamie and Gio sit down with Liz Elam, founder of GCUC and Link Coworking, for a conversation that spans everything from neurodiversity and AI to hospitality standards and why coworking should be the first industry to offer free mental health services.

Liz just returned from Australia where she toured The Commons' 19 locations and experienced hospitality so exceptional it left her stunned. She shares what made every unannounced walk-in feel like visiting a new friend, why Cliff Ho's spaces are profitable when so many aren't, and the one thing American operators can learn from how The Commons hires and trains their teams.

We talk about:

• What makes The Commons' hospitality so extraordinary (and why 90% of coworking spaces fail the walk-in test)
• Why GCUC's 50th event in New York will feature coworking-adjacent content, not just operators talking to operators
• Liz's mission to make free mental health services standard in every coworking space
• The mega trends shaping 2026: AI as invisible concierge, wellness integration, neurodiversity, and the Great Reconnection
• Why younger generations take calls on speakerphone (and why we need better acoustics)
• How The Commons uses different local designers for each location and why it works
• Why design innovation in coworking has stalled—and what needs to change
• The rise of insiders buying existing coworking brands (Second Home, Kahoots, Bond, The Yard)
• Why bringing your team to conferences makes them more likely to stay
• How Judah Space became GCUC's New York venue and why the conference business is actually working for coworking operators

If you care about the future of coworking, mental health advocacy, or just want to hear from someone who's been shaping this industry for 14 years—this episode is essential listening.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Liza on LinkedIn

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

What happens when a passionate connector who's generated $2 million in new revenue decides to leave corporate life, launch his own consulting business, and move his family to Italy? This week, we sit down with Luke Wills for a conversation that spans AI-powered outbound sales, the importance of human connection, and a calling that's taking him across the Atlantic.

Luke shares how he went from selling basketball tickets to becoming Lucid's outbound sales powerhouse—and why he's now teaching single and multi-location operators how to build grassroots, multi-channel outbound strategies that actually work. He breaks down his LinkedIn messaging sequences, explains why 25-40% of people accept his connection requests, and reveals how AI can handle the tedious prospecting work while keeping the human touch intact.

We talk about:

• Why outbound sales is the next frontier for coworking operators ready to scale
• How to use LinkedIn automation without sounding like a robot (and why offering a free day office works better than free coworking Fridays)
• The AI tools Luke uses to get 30% reply rates on personalized outreach
• Why fixing your inbound process has to come before launching outbound campaigns
• How the coworking industry's collaborative culture makes it different from other sectors
• Luke's advice on implementing AI: start with your pain points, not the solution
• Why vulnerability and human connection will become even more valuable as AI rises

If you're curious about building an outbound sales engine, want to understand how AI fits into real sales workflows, or just need a reminder that it's okay to be human in business—this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Luke Wills on LinkedIn

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

This week, Jamie Russo and Giovanni Palavicini sit down with Derek and Broyny Vitatoe, co-founders of Work at Wheel in Rock Hill, South Carolina, just days before their official opening.

Derek and Broyny left Harlem, New York with no idea where they'd open their coworking space. They just knew they wanted to blend corporate wellness, HR leadership, and their passion for movement into a space where people could work, move, and thrive.

This conversation is pure joy. Derek's the visionary who wanted bikes in every office. Broyny's the integrator who reins him in (lovingly). Together, they've built something special—and their journey to get here is a masterclass in perseverance, partnership, and trusting the process.

We talk about:

• How Shark Tank during the pandemic led to the Work at Wheel concept
• The moment they realized 5,000 square feet wouldn't cut it—and how they got to 16,000
• How Gio drove them around Houston looking at spaces (and why they walked away)
• The Rock Hill deal—and the negotiation that almost fell apart over occupancy limits
• Why community buy-in matters more in Rock Hill than hustle ever did in New York
• Derek's background as a spin instructor, HR executive, film director, and author (yes, really)
• How Broyny went from introvert to confidently leading tours and closing deals
• Their creative process for TikTok and Instagram content (and why they're both so good at it)
• The three things Broyny loves most about Derek (spoiler: generosity and energy top the list)
• How Derek proposed in Jamaica (and why Broyny says the ring was cubic zirconia)

This conversation is proof that coworking isn't just about desks and offices—it's about people, passion, and building something that reflects who you are.

If you're thinking about opening a space, wondering how long it really takes, or just need a dose of inspiration from two people who are all in, this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Work at Wheel website
Derek and Broyny on TikTok
Derek on LinkedIn
Broyny on LinkedIn

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast