What happens when a coworking space decides the business isn’t the most important thing?

Danielle Casey is the Founder and Creative Director of 1909, a nonprofit entrepreneurial hub in West Palm Beach built “for creators, by creators.” Since launching in 2018, 1909 has helped more than 200 businesses get off the ground while providing workspace, education, mentorship, and community at below-market rates.

In this episode, Danielle and Liz talk about why she chose the nonprofit path, what it means to focus on the founder rather than just the business, and how 1909 is helping entrepreneurs navigate everything from AI to rising commercial real estate costs.

They also get into something even bigger: mental health. Inspired by Liz’s challenge at GCUC, Danielle has made free one-on-one mental health services available to 1909 members through a licensed mental health counselor based in the space.

Plus, Danielle shares why she thinks the coworking industry can get too focused on occupancy, revenue, growth, and opening more locations, and why intentional programming, meaningful connection, transparency, and member success may be the real drivers of long-term value.

This is a conversation about building coworking differently, supporting the people behind the businesses, and what becomes possible when a space puts people first.

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Check out our Juicy Podcast Sponsor, Workspace Geek

Workspace Geek helps coworking operators simplify billing, automate operations, and spend less time managing software so they can focus on building thriving communities.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the GCUC Podcast, leave a review, and share it with another coworking operator. Follow GCUC for more conversations with the people shaping the future of flexible work.

What if coworking had its own MBA?

In this special episode of the GCUC Podcast, Liz Elam sits down with her new business partner, Jonathan O’Byrne, to officially introduce the Coworking Institute, a new education platform built to help the industry move from learning by instinct to learning by design.

Jonathan and Liz talk about what sparked the idea, why coworking needs deeper and more structured education, and what happens when you bring together some of the most experienced operators, founders, and experts from around the world to share what they’ve learned.

From Coworking Foundations for people just getting started, to the flagship Coworking MBA, executive education, AI training, mentorship, and professional accreditation, the Institute is designed to meet operators and teams at different stages of their careers.

They also dig into the thinking behind the curriculum, why every program is assessed rather than simply attendance-based, how AI helped them build the platform, and why a truly global perspective matters in an industry that looks very different from market to market.

Plus, they get into what's next: emerging coworking business models, wellness and longevity, the role of mental health, and how the industry can continue evolving as coworking becomes an increasingly important part of the future of work and real estate.

This is a conversation about raising the bar for coworking education and building it together.

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Learn more about The Coworking Institute

Connect with Liz Elam

Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube

Check out our Juicy Podcast Sponsor, Workspace Geek

Workspace Geek helps coworking operators simplify billing, automate operations, and spend less time managing software so they can focus on building thriving communities.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the GCUC Podcast, leave a review, and share it with another coworking operator. Follow GCUC for more conversations with the people shaping the future of flexible work.

In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, host Liz Elam connects with Nyambura Gichohi, CEO & Co-Founder of Ikigai in Nairobi, to talk about the evolution of the company as it approaches its 10th anniversary. They explore Ikigai’s new 2030 strategy, the science behind biophilic design, and why nature-based wellness has become central to the brand’s future.

Nyambura also shares why Ikigai attracts so many mission-driven organizations, how flexible workspace can solve unique challenges for NGOs, and what makes the African coworking market different from other parts of the world. They dive into the importance of building a stronger operator community across the continent, the lessons of growing to five locations, and what Ikigai needs to get right before its next phase of expansion.

A conversation about intentional growth, healthier workplaces, the power of nature, and why Africa deserves a bigger seat at the global coworking table.

Join Nyambura, Liz, and the GCUC community at GCUC Africa in Cape Town this September for more conversations about the future of coworking across the continent.

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Learn more about Ikigai

Connect with Liz Elam

Get your GCUC Africa Tickets

Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube

Workspace Geek helps coworking operators simplify billing, automate operations, and spend less time managing software so they can focus on building thriving communities.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the GCUC Podcast, leave a review, and share it with another coworking operator. Follow GCUC for more conversations with the people shaping the future of flexible work.

What happens when you run a meeting and events business like a hospitality company? For Elliott Sparsis, it means creating spaces where every detail. From the food and air quality to the technology and, most importantly, the people, they are designed around the experience.

In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, host Liz Elam sits down with Elliott Sparsis, Co-Founder of Together, to talk about his journey from Blackstone and Convene to launching Together in London. They explore why physical experiences are becoming more valuable in an increasingly digital world, how COVID changed the corporate meeting landscape, and why companies are moving away from traditional hotel meeting spaces.

Elliott also shares what it takes to build a hospitality-first team, the thinking behind Together's technology and food offerings, the realities of raising £10 million to launch the business, and why giving back through their partnership with James's Place is an important part of their mission.

Come experience Together for yourself and join the GCUC community in London for conversations, connections, and fresh ideas about the future of coworking and flexible work. Get your tickets today at uk.gcuc.co/tickets.

Listen & Connect

Connect with Elliott Sparsis

Learn more about Together

Connect with Liz Elam

GCUC Events

Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube

Check out our Juicy Podcast Sponsor, Workspace Geek

Workspace Geek helps coworking operators simplify billing, automate operations, and spend less time managing software so they can focus on building thriving communities.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the GCUC Podcast, leave a review, and share it with another coworking operator. Follow GCUC for more conversations with the people shaping the future of flexible work.

Building Coworking Communities Across Africa with Paul Keursten of Workshop 17

In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, Liz Elam sits down with Paul Keursten, co-founder of Workshop17, to explore his journey from launching coworking spaces in the Netherlands in 2008 to building a 16+ location operation across Africa.

Paul shares lessons from scaling a coworking business while staying true to community, hospitality, and culture. They discuss:

A conversation about resilience, innovation, and creating workplaces where people feel connected and inspired.

Connect with Paul Keursten: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-keursten-b6b1625/

Connect with Liz Elam:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam

Learn more about GCUC & get your tickets for GCUC Africa:

The conversations shaping the future of coworking don't stop with the podcast. Join operators, founders, and industry leaders from across the continent this October at GCUC Africa.

https://africa.gcuc.co/

GCUC Events

Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube

Learn more about Workshop 17: 

workshop17.co.za

Check out our Juicy Podcast Sponsor, Workspace Geek

Workspace Geek helps coworking operators simplify billing, automate operations, and spend less time managing software so they can focus on building thriving communities.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the GCUC Podcast, leave a review, and share it with another coworking operator. Follow GCUC for more conversations with the people shaping the future of flexible work.

What does it really take to build a sustainable flex office business in today’s evolving market?

In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, recorded live at GCUC 50 in New York City in partnership with Brave Ideas, host Caleb Parker sits down with Chiko Abengowe to unpack how disciplined leasing, operational clarity, and cash-flow-first thinking can still outperform increasingly complex industry models.

While much of the flex office sector has shifted toward management agreements, hybrid leases, and profit-sharing structures, Chiko has taken a different path by sticking with a lease-based model, prioritizing private offices, and focusing on simplicity as a core competitive advantage. The result is a scaled portfolio built on fundamentals rather than financial engineering.

Together, they explore how operators can grow sustainably without overcomplicating the business and why understanding both landlords and customers is essential to long-term success.

They cover:

Whether you're a coworking operator, landlord, investor, or workplace strategist, this episode offers a grounded look at how real operators build resilient businesses by focusing on fundamentals instead of industry hype.

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What are enterprise occupiers really looking for from flexible workspace?

In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, recorded live at GCUC 50 in New York City in partnership with Brave Ideas, host Caleb Parker sits down with Shay Bolton and Kirill Azovtsev of Savills to explore how enterprise occupiers are evaluating flexible workspace and what operators and landlords need to understand to win more deals.

As flexible workspace becomes a permanent part of corporate real estate strategies, occupiers are looking beyond desks and short-term leases. They're evaluating hospitality, amenities, operational partnerships, and the overall experience a building can provide.

Together, Caleb, Shay, and Kirill discuss how enterprise demand is evolving, why landlord-operator partnerships are becoming more important, and what separates successful flex deals from the ones that fall apart.

They cover:

Whether you're a coworking operator, landlord, broker, or workplace strategist, this episode offers an inside look at how occupiers are making workplace decisions and what it takes to build successful partnerships in today's commercial real estate market.

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What if the biggest problem with today's office isn't where we work but how we've designed work itself?

In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, recorded live at GCUC 50 in New York City in partnership with Brave Ideas, host Caleb Parker sits down with Phil Kirschner, workplace strategist, founder of PK Consulting, and author of the Work/Life newsletter, to explore why the future of work demands a completely new way of thinking about the office.

As organizations become more agile and teams gain greater autonomy, traditional office models are struggling to keep up. Phil argues that tomorrow's workplaces won't be defined by fixed desks or long-term leases.  They'll be built around flexibility, shared infrastructure, and experiences that help people do their best work.

Together, Caleb and Phil unpack what this shift means for landlords, occupiers, coworking operators, and anyone shaping the future of the built environment.

They cover:

Whether you're a coworking operator, landlord, workplace strategist, or corporate real estate leader, this episode offers a thought-provoking look at how flexibility, hospitality, and human-centered design will shape the next generation of work.

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What makes someone choose your workspace—and more importantly, stay?

In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, recorded live at GCUC 50 in New York City in partnership with Brave Ideas, host Caleb Parker sits down with Flip Howard, CEO of Lucid Private Offices, to explore why brand, experience, and intentional design have become some of the biggest differentiators in flexible workspace.

After spending years operating traditional executive suites, Flip transformed his company into a premium private office brand by focusing on one question: What kind of workspace do people actually want to spend their time in?

Together, Caleb and Flip discuss how Lucid found its niche between traditional executive suites and modern coworking, why premium doesn't have to mean expensive, and how thoughtful design, hospitality, and operational discipline create lasting value for both members and operators.

They cover:

Whether you're building a coworking space, operating private offices, or scaling a flexible workspace brand, this episode offers practical insights into creating spaces people remember and businesses that stand the test of time.

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How do coworking operators actually win deals with today's landlords?

In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, recorded live at GCUC 50 in New York City in partnership with Brave Ideas, host Caleb Parker sits down with Justin Halpern and Christine Wyckoff of Cushman & Wakefield to unpack how enterprise demand is reshaping the flexible workspace industry and what operators need to do to stay competitive.

As enterprise occupiers increasingly integrate flex into their real estate portfolios, the conversation has shifted beyond finding space. Today, operators must demonstrate value, understand landlord priorities, and position themselves as long-term partners rather than tenants.

Justin and Christine share what they're seeing firsthand in the market, from the rise of hybrid lease structures and management agreements to the growing importance of speed, hospitality, and data-driven decision-making.

They cover:

Whether you're growing a coworking brand, negotiating with landlords, or trying to better understand where enterprise flex is headed, this episode offers practical insights from two professionals at the center of today's commercial real estate transactions.

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