Everything Coworking

In this episode, Jamie is joined by Emanuele Sisti, founder of Innovation Campus, a coworking brand with locations in Spain and Italy. Emanuele shares his inspiring transition from engineering to entrepreneurship and his journey to create vibrant coworking spaces tailored for international communities. With an emphasis on connection, design, and adaptability, Innovation Campus thrives in competitive markets while fostering a global community.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Emanuele's engineering background shaped his approach to launching Innovation Campus.

• The unique challenges and opportunities of serving expats in coworking spaces.

• Balancing growth and consolidation while maintaining community-focused values.

• The competitive coworking landscape in Spain and strategies for standing out.

• Creative partnerships and expanding into new markets on a budget.

Emanuele's story is a must-listen for anyone looking to grow their coworking space or gain inspiration for building a global community!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Emanuele's LinkedIn profile

Innovation Campus website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Are your community managers ready to help your coworking space accomplish goals with less friction in 2025? In this episode, we're diving into the four key strategies to align, empower, and strengthen your team for success.

🎯 Here's what we cover: 1️⃣ Setting Inspiring, Actionable Goals: Learn how to break big-picture objectives into meaningful, measurable steps your team can rally around. 2️⃣ Fostering Accountability Without Micromanaging: Discover the secret to building trust and encouraging ownership in your team's day-to-day work. 3️⃣ Investing in Training & Development: Why ongoing education and mentorship are critical to boosting confidence and performance. 4️⃣ Encouraging Peer Engagement: Simple ways to foster connection and collaboration within your team to boost morale and productivity.

Whether you're focused on increasing member retention, closing more tours, or creating a culture of accountability, these strategies will help your team hit their goals faster—and with less friction.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Community Manager University

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Follow Us on YouTube

Tamara Payne is a multi-passionate, human-centered entrepreneur and a master connector...it makes sense that she ended up in coworking! Tamara owns Ensemble Coworking, along with a coaching business. This episode is full of gold nuggets on how she structures a team that allows her to work on the business, not in it, and how she has created a profitable business that is still community-first (check out her Google reviews!)

In this episode, Tamara shares:

• The transition from a marketing business to launching a coworking space in Fort Worth and the challenges she faced.

• Why a strong, community-focused culture is at the heart of Ensemble Coworking's success and how it impacts member retention.

• The role of a visionary and integrator in a coworking business partnership and how to work through early-stage challenges.

• How they leveraged organic marketing and word-of-mouth to grow their business and build a loyal community.

• Insight into their diverse revenue streams, including meeting room rentals, virtual memberships, and dedicated desk options.

Tamara's journey proves that, with the right mindset and a community-first approach, a coworking space can thrive.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Q1 2025 Planning Session - Join us!

Tamara's LinkedIn profile

Ensemble Coworking website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Hope is not a strategy. One of the pitfalls of being an entrepreneur is that we tend to like to just keep moving. But actions taken at random will not get us closer to our goal as fast as focused actions taken against a plan.

In this episode, we introduce a "12 Week Year" planning framework and invite you to our Q1 2025 planning workshop.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

The Q1 2025 Planning Workshop for Coworking Space Owners

The Twelve Week Year book

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Aligning incentives is critical...unfortunately, our intuitiion sometimes leads us to bonus performance that should be intrinsically rewarded....and we end up sending a signal that table stakes behaviors are actuall going above and beyond the call of duty.

On this episode, we go through some unexpected findings on how to do bonuses right and walk through coworking-specific applications.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Harvard Business Review Article: Research: When Bonuses Backfire

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode of the Everything Coworking Podcast, I'm joined by Dorothy Rogers-Bullis and Dan Bullis, founders of Saratoga CoWorks. Known for their community-focused approach, Dorothy and Dan are experts in creating coworking spaces that blend functional design with personal touches. Together, they discuss their philosophy on coworking design, the power of local connections, and how they've used their own design backgrounds to cultivate an inviting environment at Saratoga CoWorks.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How Dorothy and Dan's background in business interiors led to their unique approach to coworking space design.

• Key design elements that set Saratoga CoWorks apart, including flexible layouts and personal touches.

• Strategies for balancing aesthetics and functionality to create a welcoming yet practical environment.

• Insights into how they build relationships with members, making coworking spaces feel like a true community.

• Practical tips on using design to cater to the evolving needs of coworking members.

Whether you're designing your own coworking space or looking for ways to enhance community-building, this episode with Dorothy and Dan offers valuable insights into building coworking environments that support both form and function.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Dorothy's LinkedIn profile

Daniel's LinkedIn profile

Elisabeth LaPierre on LinkedIn

Saratoga CoWorks website

drb Business Interiors

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, Jamie chats with Amanda Lewan, CEO and co-founder of Bamboo, about her journey from a grassroots coworking concept in Detroit to leading three thriving locations across Michigan. Amanda shares invaluable lessons on building sustainable, hyperlocal coworking communities, and how community support, private offices, and strategic expansion can drive success.

We talked about:

• How Amanda built Bamboo from a small pop-up to three high-demand locations, starting with $5,000 and a passion for community

• Insights on navigating the coworking needs of different markets and why hyperlocal adaptability matters

• The importance of small private offices for stabilizing revenue and meeting community needs

• Bamboo's approach to forming a launch committee to integrate authentically into new markets

• Leveraging community-driven initiatives and strategic property ownership to create a sustainable coworking model

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Amanda's LinkedIn profile

Bamboo website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this solo episode, Jamie breaks down the critical elements of sales funnel automation and member onboarding, drawing from personal experiences outside the coworking world. Jamie explores the power of creating a frictionless sales funnel and dives deep into how a strategic onboarding process can drive member retention.

Here's what she covers:

• The role of automation in streamlining your sales funnel to convert leads without missing a beat

• How to use text messaging and email automation effectively to engage potential members

• Why first impressions during the onboarding process are key to creating a lasting member relationship

• Simple strategies to gather feedback from new members and improve your space's experience

• Practical tips for avoiding the common pitfalls of automation, from broken links to inappropriate messaging tone

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, I'm excited to chat with Sarah Athanas, Co-Founder of Groundwork Coworking in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Sarah's story of starting and growing a coworking space in a smaller market is inspiring, full of persistence, creativity, and community building. She shares how her experience living in Argentina planted the seed for Groundwork and how she navigated the challenges of building a business from scratch in a city that needed it.

Here's what we dive into:

• How Sarah's experience at an Argentine coworking space inspired her to bring the concept to New Bedford

• The unique journey of partnering with the city and using grant funding to get Groundwork off the ground

• What it's like to grow a coworking business in a smaller market and how patience and persistence paid off

• Insights on expanding to a second location and the importance of finding the right partners

• The evolving role of nonprofits and the offshore wind industry as key members of Groundwork

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Sarah's LinkedIn profile

Groundwork website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, I chat with Evan Preslopsky, Senior Sales Manager at Venture X and Office Evolution, about his unique path from fitness to coworking sales. Evan shares how his background in fitness and construction sales has influenced his approach to building broker relationships and scaling sales across multiple coworking locations.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Evan's journey from the fitness industry into coworking and sales

• How to cultivate strong broker relationships to close larger coworking deals

• The role fitness plays in maintaining discipline and focus in the sales process

• Key strategies for managing multiple coworking locations efficiently

• Tips on automating and tracking sales processes to support coworking growth

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Evan's LinkedIn profile

Venture X - Charlotte – The Refinery website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube