What happens when a VP of Operations becomes the translator between a founder's 3 a.m. ideas and the team that has to make them reality? Five years later, she's running the show. This week, we sit down with Carly Bedini, VP of Operations at iQ Offices, and her boss Kane Willmott for one of the most honest, hilarious, and heartfelt conversations we've had on this podcast. Carly came from nonprofits and events. She had no idea what coworking was. But she knew how to lead teams, manage chaos, and translate a founder's vision into operational reality. And that's exactly what she's been doing for Kane and his co-founder Alex ever since. In this episode, we talk about:

• How Carly went from running We Day events in Canada to becoming Kane's operational translator
• Why Kane now trusts Carly to speak at industry events more than he speaks himself
• The GWA Atlanta Immersive—and why smaller conferences force everyone to show up and be present
• How iQ is focusing on enterprise clients and broker relationships heading into 2026
• Carly's 2026 goal: embrace AI and stop resisting Kane's ideas quite so hard

This conversation is proof that the best hires aren't always the ones with industry experience—they're the ones who show up authentically, lead with humor, and aren't afraid to challenge their CEO while making magic happen behind the scenes. If you're a founder wondering how to let go and trust your team, or if you're an operator building a culture where people actually love coming to work, this episode is for you.

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Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

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Carly Bedini on LinkedIn Kane Willmott on LinkedIn iQ Offices website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

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What happens when a single-location operator who knows her numbers inside and out decides to fill a gap in her city's small business ecosystem?

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This week, Jamie and Gio sit down with Kim Lee, founder and CEO of Forge in Birmingham, Alabama, for a conversation about strategic growth, mental health in our industry, and why she's launching a small business accelerator in January.

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Kim shares how she went from a master's in counseling to running one of Birmingham's most hospitality-driven coworking spaces—and why she's still passionate about coaching and creating community. She also breaks down what made the GWA Atlanta Immersive so different from other conferences she's attended and why every single panel offered immediately actionable takeaways.

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We talk about:

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• Why Kim converted her event space into offices (and how the math made sense)
• The gap in Birmingham's ecosystem that led to launching a Traction-based accelerator
• How her counseling background shapes the way Forge serves members
• Why the Atlanta Immersive felt more operator-focused than any conference she's been to
• The Alliance panel's surprising honesty—and how three competitors who'd never met became instant fans of each other
• Kim's favorite interview advice: keep it short so you don't like them too much
• The importance of mental health, self-care, and why family dinner counts as a win

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If you're a single-location operator trying to differentiate in a crowded market—or wondering how to build something that truly serves your community—this episode is for you.

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Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

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Kim Lee on LinkedIn Forge Coworking 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 two first-time GWA Immersive attendees walk into a room of 77 people and realize there's nowhere to hide? This week, Jamie and Gio are joined by Nicole Antolino from FireWorks Coworking in Marietta, Georgia, and Brittany Alavinejad from Essential Offices in Oklahoma City for a fresh take on what made the Atlanta immersive so different from the big conferences. With 44 out of 77 attendees experiencing their first GWA event, the room was packed with new energy, honest questions, and real conversations about what's actually working in coworking right now. Nicole and Brittany share what stood out most—from AI and marketing panels to culture conversations and the surprisingly candid Alliance panel where a near-lawsuit turned into newfound respect. We talk about:

• Why the intimate format made it impossible to be a wallflower—and why that mattered
• Courtney Schwartz's AI panel debut and the power of AEO/GEO over traditional SEO
• How video testimonials and member stories beat flashy marketing every time
• The Alliance panel's real talk on managed service agreements and market saturation
• Why specialization is working for attorneys, creatives, and niche industries
• Brittany hitting 100% occupancy in Edmond and pre-leasing offices for next year
• Nicole's journey from two major member losses to nearly sold out by year-end

If you've been wondering what the smaller GWA events feel like—or how operators are actually implementing what they learn the day they get back—this episode is for you. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Nicole Antolino on LinkedIn Brittany Alavinejad on LinkedIn FireWorks Coworking website Essential Offices website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

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What happens when you bring together operators and industry insiders who've just experienced the most eye-opening coworking conference in years?

This week, Jamie and Gio are joined by Kane Willmott and Eyal Lasker for a deep dive into Coworking Europe— and the conversation is full of surprises, market insights, and real talk about where the flex industry is heading globally.

Over 500 people gathered in Berlin for what many are calling the best coworking conference they've attended. Kane and Eyal share what made it so different from North American events, why the European market is years ahead, and what operators everywhere can learn from how the rest of the world does flex.

We talk about:

Why multi-location operators dominate Europe while single-location indies thrive in North America How European operators commonly own their buildings—and why 25-year UK leases drive 10% flex market penetration Kane's take on profitable consolidation versus distressed asset roll-ups How Flexspace is building an AI assistant trained only on your occupancy data

If you've been curious about what the global flex industry looks like beyond North America—or why Europe is so far ahead—this episode will shift your perspective on what's possible.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Kane on LinkedIn Eyal 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 three people who spend their work lives inside the flex industry finally sit down and say the quiet parts out loud?

This week I'm joined by Stormy McBride and Taylor Mason for a candid conversation about community, hybrid coworking models, wellness trends, creative studios, marketing hot takes and why so many operators underestimate the complexity of blended businesses.

Stormy, who many of you know, jumps in as guest co-host. Taylor, who somehow hasn't been on the podcast until now, shares the story of how a random 6 a.m. dog-park encounter with Kevin Whelan pulled him into the coworking world eight years ago.

We also get into:

• Why humans still crave a "village" even though our daily lives look nothing like one • The reality behind gym + coworking, dog + coworking and other lifestyle mashups • Why creative studios inside coworking spaces rarely perform the way owners expect • How residential real estate marketing offers lessons for growing a coworking brand • Taylor's hot take on AI in content marketing and why it makes him nervous • Stormy's behind-the-scenes updates and why 2026 feels like a year of big shifts

If you want a smart, honest conversation about where coworking is heading and how operators can adapt, this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Taylor on LinkedIn Stormy on LinkedIn

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

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