In this episode of Flex Uncensored, we dive deep into the flex workspace world with Michael Kloppenburg of Avison Young. A seasoned expert in the field, Michael brings unparalleled insights from his journey as an operator, broker, and trusted industry advisor. Gio and Michael unpack the challenges, growth, and untapped opportunities in the flex and coworking sector.

We talked about:

• Michael's transition from coworking member to industry leader and what he learned along the way.

• How to navigate challenging landlord-operator dynamics and craft winning hybrid agreements.

• Why relationships and trust are the currency of success in the real estate world.

• The evolving role of flex spaces in the post-pandemic landscape and how operators can stay ahead.

• Michael's candid thoughts on teamwork, mentorship, and creating a career rooted in integrity.

Tune in for a thoughtful, honest conversation about where the industry is headed and how to position your flex workspace for long-term success.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Michael's LinkedIn profile

Avison Young'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 some of the brightest minds in coworking gather to share insights, tour inspiring spaces, and discuss the future of the industry? You get a jam-packed episode brimming with takeaways from the GWA Immersive event in New York City!

In this episode, we're diving into highlights from a unique gathering that brought together operators, service providers, and industry newcomers. It's a celebration of collaboration, creativity, and hospitality — all the elements that make coworking a dynamic and ever-evolving space.

Here's what we covered:

• How immersive events foster deeper connections and collaboration within the coworking industry.

• Insights into the intersection of hospitality, design, and functionality in coworking spaces.

• How AI and dynamic pricing are shaping the future of space management and enhancing customer experiences.

• The role of technology and data in driving innovation and smarter business strategies for operators.

• Why small, intimate conferences create the perfect environment for learning, sharing, and building lasting relationships.

Get ready to feel inspired and take away actionable ideas for your coworking space!

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

Cid Rhomberg is co-founder and Chief Experience Officer for Brick House Blue, in Dublin, OH. Brickhouse is setting the industry standard for how to run a post-COVID meeting and events business along with coworking.

Cid started Brick House Blue to solve a personal challenge - she wanted a professional, inspiring, hospitality-focused, local spot to host her team offsites for Fortune 500 companies like Cardinal Health and Black & Decker, and eventually her consulting clients. She was sure that Dublin, OH needed one of these…and she was right pre-COVID…and then she was really, really right as the world went hybrid post-COVID.

We talk about:

• Her hospitality mindset
• Her bet on meetings and events and how that's turning out
• How she and her business partner recently grew their team to focus on growth
• Her coaching business
• Her role on the GWA board

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Cid Rhomberg on LinkedIn

Brick House Blue website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

In this episode of Flex Uncensored, we're joined by Stacey Messier, General Manager at CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center) New England. Stacey shares her unique career path—from metal band vocalist to leading one of the most innovative coworking ecosystems in the world—and offers insights into how CIC supports groundbreaking ideas across industries.

Stacey explains CIC's approach to fostering innovation, her philosophy on team development, and what drives the company's global expansion into cities like Tokyo, Berlin, and Providence.

What we covered:

• How CIC uses economic partnerships to drive growth and impact innovation ecosystems.

• Stacey's career pivoted from tech to coworking and what she learned along the way.

• CIC's unique approach to creating community-driven workspaces across 1M+ square feet.

• Building and nurturing teams: Stacey's "Build Your Bench" strategy for professional development.

• What being in a band taught Stacey about leadership, creativity, and project management.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Stacey on LinkedIn

CIC 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 vision, faith, and business savvy collide? Patrick Hemus, Business Development Manager at the Maggie O'Neill Center in Liverpool, shares his fascinating journey of transforming a church hall into a dynamic coworking and community hub. From family inspiration to navigating challenges in one of the UK's most underserved areas, Patrick reveals how the Maggie O'Neill Center combines business and purpose to uplift its local community.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The unique story of how a derelict church hall became a vibrant coworking and event space.

• How Patrick's family history and his father's vision set the foundation for the Maggie O'Neill Center's mission.

• The challenges and rewards of running a coworking space in a disadvantaged area.

• Patrick's philosophy on building community and serving others through innovative workspace models.

• How free coworking sparked interest and led to new opportunities for growth.

Join us as Patrick shares his passion for creating impact and why he believes community-focused coworking spaces can thrive in any neighborhood.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Patrick on LinkedIn

The Maggie O'Neill Business and Training Centre website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

Get ready for an inspiring conversation with Lee Ann and Jamie Willard, co-owners of W Executive Suites, a family-led flexible workspace brand. From overcoming imposter syndrome to balancing family and business dynamics, the Willard sisters share their journey of scaling a successful executive suite business while staying true to their values.

We talked about:

• How Lee Ann and Jamie transitioned from traditional commercial real estate to flexible workspaces.

• The challenges and rewards of running a family business.

• Insights into managing a lean team while maintaining exceptional hospitality.

• Their approach to growth, from design innovation to tackling financial constraints.

• Why personal touches, like owner-led follow-ups, can transform customer retention.

Tune in to hear how these sisters are making waves in the coworking industry while staying deeply connected to their roots!

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

• Lee Ann on LinkedIn

• Jamie on LinkedIn

• W Executive Suites website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

In this episode, we're joined by Jonny Rosenblatt, co-founder of Spacemade, a UK-based operator revolutionizing coworking spaces with landlord partnerships and sector-specific projects. Jonny shares Spacemade's unique approach to creating bespoke spaces and fostering meaningful connections, all while partnering with landlords to drive long-term success.

If you're curious about the intersection of community, technology, and tailored coworking spaces, this episode is a must-listen.

Key takeaways include:

• How Spacemade is reshaping the coworking landscape with sector-specific projects like their health-tech hub in London.

• Spacemade's commitment to transparency and landlord-friendly management agreements.

• Why building strong partnerships and community connections is vital for long-term success.

• Jonny's insights into the evolving coworking trends in the UK and Europe.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Jonny on LinkedIn

Spacemade website

Kane Willmott on LinkedIn

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

In this episode, we're thrilled to have Anant Yardi, the Founder & CEO of Yardi Systems, join us for a candid conversation on leadership, vision, and the next big moves in the coworking and flex space industry. Anant shares his unique journey from a team of four programmers to a global software enterprise with over 9,500 employees, offering insights into how Yardi Systems views the future of coworking and the transformative role of flex space.

Discussed topics:

• Anant's inspiring journey from humble beginnings to creating Yardi Systems, and the principles that guided him along the way.

• Yardi's strategy behind acquiring WeWork and the company's vision for the future of coworking and commercial real estate.

• Insights on the growth potential of flex space and its expected impact on corporate real estate.

• The importance of institutional capital for coworking and flex space expansion and what it means for operators.

• How Yardi Systems balances its focus as a tech provider while supporting the coworking ecosystem at large.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

About Anant Yardi

Yardi System website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

Jessica Cooper, Chief Product Officer at the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), and Sam Pickering, Head of Sustainability at the Instant Group, join Gio and Jamie to discuss the Well Coworking Rating and its impact on the flex workspace industry. With their wealth of experience and dedication to sustainable practices, they break down the essentials of creating healthier, more sustainable coworking spaces and share their vision for scaling wellness standards across the industry.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• How the new Well Coworking Rating empowers coworking operators to elevate wellness standards and attract wellness-conscious members.

• The collaborative process that helped shape the rating, with input from coworking leaders and experts globally.

• Why the rating is designed to be achievable, scalable, and impactful across varied types of coworking spaces.

• The significance of wellness ratings in meeting growing demand from enterprises and individual members.

• Real-world applications of wellness principles, from air quality improvements to ergonomic enhancements, that make coworking spaces more attractive and productive for everyone.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

• Jessica on LinkedIn

• Sam on LinkedIn

• WELL Certification

• WELL Coworking Rating

• WELL at Scale

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

In this episode, Jamie and Gio chat with Kane Willmott, CEO and Co-founder of IQ Offices. Kane takes us on a detailed journey through London's coworking and flex office landscape. Kane shares his experiences touring some of the most innovative and high-end coworking spaces in the UK, uncovering what North American operators can learn from the London market's approach to design, operations, and community engagement. From ESG initiatives to flexible month-to-month models, he dives into what's setting the London scene apart and what North American operators can anticipate as the flex space industry continues to evolve.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The high design and elevated F&B offerings found in London's coworking spaces.

• How UK operators integrate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) requirements into their spaces to meet rising tenant expectations.

• London's flexible, month-to-month membership model and its surprising advantages for both operators and members.

• The importance of community-driven design and hospitality as a core component of a thriving coworking space.

• His takeaways on management agreements, UK broker relations, and what this means for North American coworking growth.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Kane on LinkedIn

iQ Offices website

Chris Davies on LinkedIn

Uncommon's website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast