What does it really take to build a thriving neighbourhood coworking space as an introverted founder especially when you’re juggling cashflow, confidence, and community in equal measure?

In this episode of Powering Productivity, Suzanne sits down with Melissa Richards, founder of Buick Mackane, a vibrant creative coworking, meeting and event space in the heart of Newbury.

The conversation is honest, warm, and deeply relatable for anyone running a small hub or micro business especially those balancing people-first values with real-life energy and capacity.

✨ Quote from the episode:

“I never really felt I belonged anywhere until I created the space I needed myself — and then I realised others needed it too.”

Together, we explore the quiet strength behind independent operators, the courage it takes to show up consistently, and the beauty that unfolds when community forms in the smallest everyday moments.

Some of the highlights:

• Creating a coworking space as an introverted founder

• Balancing confidence, cashflow and community connection

• Navigating COVID, reopening and keeping the doors open

• Why design, atmosphere and energy shape your member mix

• Freelancing as a bridge to financial stability

• How private offices change the sustainability model

• The emotional load of holding space for others

• Why “belonging” is built through small, consistent acts

• Managing energy, boundaries and burnout as a solo operator

• The value of members who become your extended team

• Baby-step confidence, comparison traps, and showing up in your own way

Timestamps:

00:00 — Welcome to Powering Productivity

00:48 — Meet Melissa: From freelance insights to founding Buick Mackane

02:45 — The search for a workspace that felt right

03:50 — Building community from scratch

04:58 — Launching during COVID & navigating the second lockdown

06:42 — Freelancing as a financial safety net

07:30 — How design shaped Buick’s community

09:25 — The power of quirky, creative, non-corporate space

10:00 — Cashflow realities & the turning point towards private offices

12:20 — Why private offices bring sustainability + freedom

14:10 — Events, energy and the “ideal” building setup

15:57 — Balancing freelancers, local SMEs & remote corporate teams

17:10 — Encouraging shy members to connect

18:30 — The hidden emotional labour of community building

20:00 — Collaboration, events and members sparking new ideas

21:50 — Introverted founders: leadership, energy & boundaries

23:40 — Recharging after hosting: managing energy well

25:00 — Letting members support you too

26:58 — Who holds the space for the operator?

27:57 — Delegation, extended teams & knowing when to accept help

29:10 — Comparison traps & showing up despite self-doubt

30:53 — Baby steps, consistency and what really builds confidence

32:45 — Listening deeply to what your members actually need

34:38 — Reading between the lines & navigating quiet feedback

35:10 — Unexpected, magical moments of community

36:30 — Where to find Melissa and Buick Mackane online

Links & Resources:

Buick Mackane Coworking (Newbury, UK)

The Quiet Reset – Free Guide:

7 Signs You’re Quietly Carrying Too Much

If you’re a micro business owner or neighbourhood coworking operator who often feels like you’re carrying too much I hope this episode reminds you that you’re not alone.

There is quiet strength in the work you do, and community grows from the small, consistent actions that never make the headlines but change lives every day.

What if the future of work isn’t in glass towers or city coworking chains but in small, rooted hubs where people feel they belong?

In this episode of Powering Productivity, Suzanne is joined by Maria do Céu Bastos, founder of NOWHERE Desk - a rural coworking hub in Portugal that’s become a lifeline for freelancers, founders, and her local community.

 Together, they explore how rural coworking is redefining connection and belonging not just for those who work there, but for the people who nurture these spacesevery day.

✨ In this conversation:

• Turning isolation into opportunity

• Building community far from the city noise

• Why reconnection with nature, with people, and with purpose is the real future of work

• The emotional and economic value of local hubs

🌿 Discover more about Maria’s work and the rural coworking movement:

• NOWHERE Desk

• Creative Hubs Network

• European Coworking Assembly: Rural Coworking

💛 Listen now , this is a story about heart, place, and the quiet revolution happening in rural coworking.

Time stamped Shownotes:

00:00 Introduction to the Powering Productivity Podcast

00:48 Meet Maria do Ceu Bastos: A Journey from Translationto Coworking

02:21 Challenges and Realities of Rural Coworking

07:29 Building Community and Overcoming Isolation

13:18 Navigating Bureaucracy and Renovation Hurdles

16:08 Funding and Financial Challenges

18:18 The Vision for Education and Reskilling

23:34 Navigating Emotional Challenges with AI

24:38 Finding Balance in Nature

25:19 Building Resilience Through Hobbies

26:13 The Importance of Community Support

26:54 Managing the Invisible Load

29:40 The Power of Networks and Collaboration

33:37 Sustainable Living and Upcycling

38:08 Rural Regeneration and Education

46:04 Conclusion and Resources

What happens when you take a bold idea - a women-only coworking space and turn it into a thriving hub of creativity, community, and support?

In this episode of Powering Productivity, Suzanne sits down with Stacey Sheppard, founder of Tribe Coworking in Devon. Stacey’s not just running a space she’s redefining what support looks like for freelancers, founders, and change makers.

They talk about:

✅ The realities of running a niche, women-only coworking hub as a solo operator

✅ How balancing business with life (yes, including school holidays) can spark new models of support

✅Why traditional business programmes often miss what’s really needed: emotional scaffolding

✅ And the big question: as AI reshapes traditional jobs, are coworking spaces already carrying the future of entrepreneurship on their shoulders?

One line that really stayed with Suzanne:

👉 “Coworking spaces are the pathway to entrepreneurship. The infrastructure already exists it’s just so underused.” Stacey Sheppard

This conversation is honest, heart-led, and full of fresh perspective. If you’re a micro business leader, a coworking operator, or simply curious about how values-led spaces shape the future of work this one’s for you.

Here's some link and assets mentioned in the podcast: 

1. 🔗 ⁠Learn more about Tribe Coworking Hub here
2. Link to Stacey's Athen magazine subscription
3. Because so many of us are quietly carrying a lot right now, I’ve created a free guide 👉 The Quiet Reset – 7 Signs You’re Quietly Carrying Too Much.

S4E8 AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

In this episode discover how Ireland’s national coworking network is transforming local business, innovation and community through people-led workspaces and what it means for your coworking space or micro business.

Suzanne together with Stephen Carolan and Leah Fairman of Connected Hubs explore the real-world impact of coworking on local economies, SME growth, and community resilience, especially in regional and rural areas.

Whether you run a neighbourhood coworking space or lead a micro business, this episode is packed with insights on:

• How the Connected Hubs network evolved from a rural broadband project to a national initiative with nearly 400 hubs
• The vision for Ireland’s coworking and hub strategy, and what it means for your workspace or business
• Why hub managers are community builders, not just operators and how to support them
• The power of human connection in helping a diverse member makeup thrive from solopreneurs to corporate remote teams
• How coworking spaces are helping tackle real challenges like isolation, uncertainty and burnout
• The importance of being a step ahead of your members anticipating their needs before they even ask
• Real examples of how hubs are fostering innovation, collaboration, and local regeneration

We also talk about the vital role of relationships, shared identity and community champions and why belonging is a competitive advantage in today’s uncertain world.

If you’re building a space or business that’s rooted in people and purpose, this conversation will leave you feeling inspired, informed, and connected.

🎧 Listen now and discover how Ireland’s coworking movement is shaping the future of local enterprise and thriving communities.

Suzanne chats with Benjamin Carew, Co-founder & Director of Othership, who’s redefining flexible work by integrating workspaces and software to empower freelancers, SMEs, and enterprises to work anywhere, better.

💡 They talked about:

✅ How workspace software is changing the game forcoworking & hybrid businesses

✅What is floworking?

✅ The evolution of flexible work—beyond just remotevs. office

✅ Making workspace solutions more accessiblefor smaller operators

✅Identifying the right software solution for yourbusiness

✅ The impact of AI,dynamic pricing & collaboration tools on the future of work

Find out more about Othership at https://othership.com/

Suzanne talks to Roland Stanley, owner and operator of Dragon Coworking, an independent coworking space in Rochester, England. They chat around the highs and challenges of running a neighbourhood coworking space & why its relationships and not just desks that are at the heart of coworking.

They talk about:

✅ How he went from hotelier to coworking operator (by accident!)

✅ The power of community over just desks & coffee

✅ Opportunities for smaller coworking operators—from partnerships to new spaces

✅ Challenges like market uncertainty & making hotdesking work

✅ Creative revenue streams & what you need to be aware of (hello, virtual offices!)

✅ Why sustainability & mental health support matter in coworking

✅ Making friends with the competition

✅ How small operators can leverage partnerships with councils and landlords

Roland shares some great insights on growing a coworking space the right way—without losing its heart.

Hit play & let’s dive in! 🎧✨

Find out more about Dragon Coworking at https://dragoncoworking.co.uk/

Suzanne talks to Claire Carpenter, a pioneer in coworking and social impact. From creating one of Europe’s first coworking hubs, The Melting Pot, Edinburgh to mapping rural opportunities & engaging in social fabric projects far & wide, Claire’s journey is full of lessons for community leaders and SME owners.

They talk coaching, navigating transitions, and rethinking

Here are some of the highlights:

Find out more about Claire at https://www.clairecarpentercoaching.com/

Suzanne is joined by Jessica Morgan, Founder of Carnsight Communications.

In this episode Suzanne and Jessica delve into the ever-changing world of public relations, the challenges of evolving workspaces, and the opportunities for small businesses in a shifting media landscape.

Jess offers insights into PR strategies, coworking trends, and the role of culture in flexible workplace environments.

Whether you’re a small business owner, a PR professional, or someone curious about the intersection of work, media, and community, this episode has something for you.

Here's some of the highlights:

Find out more about Jessica at https://www.carnsight.com/

and buy her Ebook, Practically Powerful PR at https://www.carnsight.com/our-ebook/

In this episode, Suzanne is joined by Jane Sartin, Executive Director of the Flexible Space Association known to many as Flexsa.

Suzanne and Jane explored the growth, challenges, and opportunities within the flexible workspace industry, highlighting trends like hybrid work, the rise of town-centre workspaces, and the evolving role of AI. They also discussed support for small businesses and the importance of collaboration to navigate industry changes.

Here are some of the highlights -

Find out more about Flexsa here - https://www.flexsa.co.uk/

It is produced by Emily Crosby Media

In this episode, Suzanne is joined by Pauline Roussel who, together with her partner Dimitar Inchev are co-founders of Coworkies.

They chat around the challenges and opportunities in the coworking space industry. Pauline shares her journey from banking to becoming a Chief Happiness Officer in Berlin, highlighting her diverse experiences and the unique cultures she's encountered in over 550 coworking spaces across 65 cities.

They chat around -

Find out more about Coworkies at https://blog.coworkies.com/

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