What does it look like when a company that's been quietly leading behind the scenes for 15 years decides it's time to step into the spotlight?

We're joined this week by Caroline Hecht, Senior Director of Member Relations at Preferred Office Network, to talk about their recent rebrand and how the company has helped shape the flex industry from the very beginning.

Caroline shares how Preferred Office Network started with three independent operators who saw the need for a national network built on trust and relationships—and how that same mission still drives the company today.

We also talk about:

• The inspiration behind the new Preferred Office Network brand

• How their "one agreement" model simplifies life for enterprise clients and operators

• Why trust and community continue to set them apart from marketplaces

• Caroline's personal journey from Craigslist job search to flex industry leader

If you've ever wondered what makes Preferred Office Network different—or what it takes to build long-term trust and connection at scale—this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Preferred Office Network's website

Global Workspace Association's website

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 coworking operator decides to treat team development like a strategic investment, not an expense?

This week, I'm joined by Meagan Slavin, COO and co-owner of 25N Coworking, for a conversation that's part post-GWA recap and part masterclass in leadership and culture-building.

We talk about:

• Why bringing your team to industry events is a retention strategy, not just a perk

• How Meagan plans for conference travel and ROI in her annual budgets

• The intentional ways 25N debriefs, shares takeaways, and turns learning into daily action

• How their newest 54,000 sq. ft. Chicago-area space is redefining the meeting and event side of their business

• Why implementing EOS/Traction has been transformational for their leadership team.

If you've ever thought, "How do I keep my team inspired and growing?", you'll want to take notes on this one.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

25N Coworking's website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

Marco didn't plan to end up leading sales for one of the most high-touch coworking brands in the world. From door-to-door charity fundraising to expanding The Great Room by Industrious across Australia, his journey shows what happens when you pair hustle with hospitality.

In this episode, recorded in Sydney, Giovanni and Marco dive into what makes The Great Room stand out in a crowded market — and why enterprise clients are drawn to its five-star, service-first approach.

We cover:

• How a hotel-inspired vision became a global coworking brand.
• What "hospitality" really means in the flex space world.
• The rise of enterprise demand in Sydney's CBD.
• How Australia's flex community is learning to collaborate, not compete.

If you're curious about what the next evolution of premium coworking looks like, this episode offers a front-row view.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

The Great Room by Industrious

Industrious

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

Richie Parsons didn't start out planning to run multiple coworking spaces. From managing gyms to consulting in politics, he found himself leading locations across Virginia, Maryland, and Nashville—and building teams that thrive along the way.

In this episode, Richie shares how he scales spaces without losing culture, leverages frameworks like Working Genius, and builds leadership practices that actually stick.

We cover:

• Richie's unexpected path to becoming a multi-state coworking operator.

• How he approaches hiring, team alignment, and leadership for long-term success.

• The role of AI and tools in keeping operations smooth and team members engaged.

• Insights on creating a member-first experience without burning out staff.

If you want practical strategies for growing coworking spaces while keeping your team—and yourself—happy, Richie's story is full of actionable lessons. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Richie on LinkedIn Venture X website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

Get the inside scoop on next week's Global Workspace Association conference in Chicago! Jamie and Gio break down everything you need to know about this year's biggest coworking industry event.

Key Topics Covered: -International expansion with speakers from Australia (Cassandra from Rethink Space, Jessie from WOTSO) -Major keynotes: John Santore (CEO of WeWork) and Anna Squires Levine (President of Industrious) -Future conference announcements: Toronto immersive (June), Denver 2026, Puerto Rico 2027 -Hot panels including multi-site marketing, AI in coworking, KPIs, and culture building -Behind-the-scenes conference planning insights and what makes a great panel -Speed networking at Industrious and tours of Chicago's top workspaces -Why smaller conferences (250 people) create better connections and collaboration -The evolution from theoretical to practical, actionable content in industry events

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Global Workspace Association's website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

Cassandra Kavanagh didn't set out to open a coworking space. After a business partnership dissolved, she suddenly found herself with 1,200 square meters of space, only six people left in the building, and a choice to make: sink, or rethink.

That pivot became Rethink Your Workspace, a thriving flex space in Newcastle, Australia, built on connection, service, and an unwavering commitment to people. Cassandra shares her story of resilience, her all-inclusive business model, and why showing kindnes, even to those outside her member base, is central to her approach.

We cover:

• How Cassandra turned a business crisis into the opportunity to launch a flex space.

• Why high-touch service and concierge-style support have become her differentiator.

• The role of connection in her community, and why it goes deeper than "coworking".

• How an all-inclusive pricing model simplifies operations and builds trust.

• Stories of how authenticity and kindness ripple through her member community.

This episode is a reminder that small, independent operators often set the standard for what true hospitality and human-centered coworking look like.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Cassandra on LinkedIn

Rethink Your Workspace website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

Tobi Skovron has lived the entrepreneurial rollercoaster, launching ventures in Los Angeles, exiting successfully, and then bringing his vision for community-driven coworking back home to Australia. Now the founder of CreativeCubes, Tobi leads with intentionality, building spaces designed to enable success for thousands of members while expanding across the country.

In this conversation, Tobi shares the story behind CreativeCubes, what fuels his mission, and how his approach to leadership, partnerships, and personal discipline have shaped his path.

We cover:

• How coworking transformed Tobi's journey as an entrepreneur and inspired him to launch CreativeCubes in Australia.

• Why intentionality is the core value behind his member experience, team culture, and even landlord relationships.

• The growth of CreativeCubes, including acquisitions, brand evolution, and how they integrate services like F&B, events, and media.

• The role of the Rise Network and other programs that support entrepreneurs beyond just space.

• How Tobi's personal routines and guiding principles fuel both his business and his life.

If you're passionate about coworking as more than just space, and curious about scaling with purpose, Tobi's story will hit home.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Tobi on LinkedIn

Creative Cubes website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

Brad Krauskopf, Founder and CEO of Hub Australia, has been shaping the flexible workspace industry since the early days of coworking. In this episode, Gio sits down with Brad in Melbourne to talk about Hub's journey, from scrappy beginnings with beanbags to high-touch hospitality and multi-layered partnerships with landlords.

Brad shares his perspective on how Hub has evolved, what hybrid work looks like in Australia, and why the future of flex depends on experiences, not just square footage.

In this episode, we cover:

• The evolution of Hub Australia from scrappy community hubs to high-touch, hospitality-driven workspaces.

• How hybrid work is reshaping demand in Australia and what that means for operators and landlords.

• Why partnerships between operators and landlords are essential for creating whole-building experiences.

• The role of hospitality as a true differentiator in flexible workspace.

• The future of flex in Australia: evolving models, member expectations, and the importance of meaningful connections.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Brad on LinkedIn

Hub Australia website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

WOTSO is Australia's largest independent flexible workspace operator — and their story is one every operator should hear. From their beginnings as a single site to building a nationwide network, WOTSO has navigated growth, shifting demand, and the evolving landlord-operator relationship while staying true to their brand and community.

In this episode, we sit down with the WOTSO team to unpack how they've built a model that works at scale and what operators everywhere can learn from their journey.

What we cover:

• WOTSO's origin story and how they grew into a national flex operator.

• The keys to scaling without losing community and brand identity.

• How they've approached landlord partnerships and real estate strategy.

• Lessons learned from adapting their model across diverse markets.

• Insights into where Australia's flex market is heading next

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Jessie on LinkedIn

Paula on LinkedIn

WOTSO

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

This week's episode is a little different. Gio takes the mic solo, delivering the keynote at the Flexible Workspace Australia Conference.

In his talk, Gio brings his signature mix of candor and big-picture perspective to what's happening in the flex industry, in Australia, in the U.S., and globally.

What Gio covers:

• Why operators everywhere are facing similar challenges around demand, landlords, and scaling.

• The critical role community plays, and why it remains flex's biggest differentiator.

• How landlord partnerships are evolving and what both sides need to make them work.

• What U.S. operators can learn from the Australian market, and vice versa.

• Why the future of flex is local and global at the same time.

If you couldn't be in the room, this episode brings the keynote to you.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Flexible Workspace Australia

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast