Most commercial real estate brokers don't start their careers playing 200 shows a year in dive bars.

But that's exactly how Ward Richmond's career began.

Before becoming Vice Chairman at Colliers and building a high-performing industrial brokerage team, Ward was a touring musician. When that chapter ended, he stepped into commercial real estate… and eventually built a business very intentionally around people, culture, and personal growth.

We get into:

• How a financial scare and a baby on the way forced Ward to rethink how he was working
• The moment he realized the difference between being a business operator and a true business owner
• Why he invested heavily in coaching and personal development (including Tony Robbins and Grant Cardone)
• The core values he uses to build and manage his team
• And why gratitude, humility, and discipline matter just as much as market expertise
  
  

If you're thinking about leadership, team building, or what it actually looks like to build a career that aligns with your values, you'll enjoy this one.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Ward Richmond on LinkedIn

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Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

What if the real flex opportunity isn't about chasing every deal… but knowing exactly which ones to walk away from?

I always love having Mark Burge, CEO and co-founder of Flex Workspace Solutions, back on the podcast. He's thoughtful, candid, and one of the few operators who will openly say, "Actually… this project doesn't make sense." And he means it.

In this episode, Mark shares how 2025 was one of their slowest years for new client acquisition… and also their best year ever. Why? Because they got crystal clear on who they are, who they serve, and who they don't.

We talk about:

• The real shift happening in landlord mindset around management agreements
• Why some owners are finally seeing flex as a building amenity, not just a revenue play
• The discipline it takes to say no to the wrong project

• How trust built through honesty leads to better long-term partnerships
• The sweet spot in square footage and why bigger isn't always better
• And yes… whether AI should be booking your tours

If you're working with landlords, considering a management model, or trying to figure out where AI fits in a hospitality-driven industry, this conversation will make you think.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Mark Burge on LinkedIn

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Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

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Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

What happens when the Queen of Coworking returns to share her vision for the industry's future—and announces a mission that could save lives? This week, Jamie and Gio sit down with Liz Elam, founder of GCUC and Link Coworking, for a conversation that spans everything from neurodiversity and AI to hospitality standards and why coworking should be the first industry to offer free mental health services.

Liz just returned from Australia where she toured The Commons' 19 locations and experienced hospitality so exceptional it left her stunned. She shares what made every unannounced walk-in feel like visiting a new friend, why Cliff Ho's spaces are profitable when so many aren't, and the one thing American operators can learn from how The Commons hires and trains their teams.

We talk about:

• What makes The Commons' hospitality so extraordinary (and why 90% of coworking spaces fail the walk-in test)
• Why GCUC's 50th event in New York will feature coworking-adjacent content, not just operators talking to operators
• Liz's mission to make free mental health services standard in every coworking space
• The mega trends shaping 2026: AI as invisible concierge, wellness integration, neurodiversity, and the Great Reconnection
• Why younger generations take calls on speakerphone (and why we need better acoustics)
• How The Commons uses different local designers for each location and why it works
• Why design innovation in coworking has stalled—and what needs to change
• The rise of insiders buying existing coworking brands (Second Home, Kahoots, Bond, The Yard)
• Why bringing your team to conferences makes them more likely to stay
• How Judah Space became GCUC's New York venue and why the conference business is actually working for coworking operators

If you care about the future of coworking, mental health advocacy, or just want to hear from someone who's been shaping this industry for 14 years—this episode is essential listening.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Liza on LinkedIn

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Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

What happens when a passionate connector who's generated $2 million in new revenue decides to leave corporate life, launch his own consulting business, and move his family to Italy? This week, we sit down with Luke Wills for a conversation that spans AI-powered outbound sales, the importance of human connection, and a calling that's taking him across the Atlantic.

Luke shares how he went from selling basketball tickets to becoming Lucid's outbound sales powerhouse—and why he's now teaching single and multi-location operators how to build grassroots, multi-channel outbound strategies that actually work. He breaks down his LinkedIn messaging sequences, explains why 25-40% of people accept his connection requests, and reveals how AI can handle the tedious prospecting work while keeping the human touch intact.

We talk about:

• Why outbound sales is the next frontier for coworking operators ready to scale
• How to use LinkedIn automation without sounding like a robot (and why offering a free day office works better than free coworking Fridays)
• The AI tools Luke uses to get 30% reply rates on personalized outreach
• Why fixing your inbound process has to come before launching outbound campaigns
• How the coworking industry's collaborative culture makes it different from other sectors
• Luke's advice on implementing AI: start with your pain points, not the solution
• Why vulnerability and human connection will become even more valuable as AI rises

If you're curious about building an outbound sales engine, want to understand how AI fits into real sales workflows, or just need a reminder that it's okay to be human in business—this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Luke Wills on LinkedIn

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

This week, Jamie Russo and Giovanni Palavicini sit down with Derek and Broyny Vitatoe, co-founders of Work at Wheel in Rock Hill, South Carolina, just days before their official opening.

Derek and Broyny left Harlem, New York with no idea where they'd open their coworking space. They just knew they wanted to blend corporate wellness, HR leadership, and their passion for movement into a space where people could work, move, and thrive.

This conversation is pure joy. Derek's the visionary who wanted bikes in every office. Broyny's the integrator who reins him in (lovingly). Together, they've built something special—and their journey to get here is a masterclass in perseverance, partnership, and trusting the process.

We talk about:

• How Shark Tank during the pandemic led to the Work at Wheel concept
• The moment they realized 5,000 square feet wouldn't cut it—and how they got to 16,000
• How Gio drove them around Houston looking at spaces (and why they walked away)
• The Rock Hill deal—and the negotiation that almost fell apart over occupancy limits
• Why community buy-in matters more in Rock Hill than hustle ever did in New York
• Derek's background as a spin instructor, HR executive, film director, and author (yes, really)
• How Broyny went from introvert to confidently leading tours and closing deals
• Their creative process for TikTok and Instagram content (and why they're both so good at it)
• The three things Broyny loves most about Derek (spoiler: generosity and energy top the list)
• How Derek proposed in Jamaica (and why Broyny says the ring was cubic zirconia)

This conversation is proof that coworking isn't just about desks and offices—it's about people, passion, and building something that reflects who you are.

If you're thinking about opening a space, wondering how long it really takes, or just need a dose of inspiration from two people who are all in, this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Work at Wheel website
Derek and Broyny on TikTok
Derek on LinkedIn
Broyny on LinkedIn

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

IWG doesn't give away free beer. And that's exactly why they're profitable.

This week, Giovanni Palavicini and Kurt Patrick sit down with David Steyn, Senior Commercial Director at Anytime Mailbox and Anytime Postage, for a conversation about virtual offices, international coworking markets, and why adding revenue streams matters more than free perks.

David spent years at IWG running their global virtual office business before joining Anytime Mailbox. And he's got perspective on what actually drives profit in coworking—from London's dense, prestige-address market to rural Scotland where a coworking space might also be the village bank, post office, and doctor's surgery.

We talk about:

• Why IWG passed on free beer while WeWork gave everything away—and what that teaches operators about profit
• How virtual offices underwrite coworking businesses (especially in markets like London where privacy + prestige = demand)
• The three pricing tiers for virtual mail services—from $9.99 privacy addresses to $69+ premium bundles
• Why coworking works differently in the UK vs North America (density, leasehold history, GDPR compliance)
• How rural Scotland is deploying flexible hubs that serve as banks, post offices, and coworking spaces
• The postage kiosk play—1,500 deployed at IWG locations to turn mail into self-service revenue
• Why operators should focus on product mix and revenue streams, not just competing on space

This conversation is proof that the best operators don't just lease space—they think strategically about every revenue stream, every compliance risk, and every service their members actually need.

If you're wondering how to add revenue without adding staff, or how virtual offices fit into your business model, this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

David Steyn on LinkedIn
Kurt Patrick on LinkedIn
Anytime Mailbox's website
Anytime Postage'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 COO, a Director of Brand and Culture, and a Director of Sales sit down together—and you realize they're not just colleagues, but people who genuinely love working together?

This week, Giovanni Palavicini sits down with three members of the 25N leadership team—Meagan Slavin (COO), Sari Lash (Director of Brand and Culture), and Mecca Shannon (Director of Sales and Launch)—for one of the most heartfelt conversations about culture, leadership, and building a team that actually sticks around.

They're in Dallas announcing 25N's third Texas location, and between the excitement of expansion, they open up about what makes their culture work: trust, grace, radical ownership, and the willingness to let people mess up without hiding it.
We talk about:

• Why culture isn't HR fluff—it's a strategic advantage that impacts your bottom line
• The "people first" value and why it means hiring overachievers, then giving them grace
• How trust shows up when someone calls to say "I really screwed up—help me fix this"
• Why 25N has never described themselves as a "family" (and why boundaries matter)
• How Meagan's dad taught her she could conquer the world—and how she's passing that on
• Why pouring equally into every employee creates long-term wins
• The power of supportive partners who show up and hold down the fort

This conversation is proof that great culture isn't about perks or buzzwords—it's about seeing people as humans, creating clear boundaries, and giving your team freedom to bring their best.
If you're building a team or wondering how to scale culture as you grow, this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Meagan Slavin on LinkedIn
Sari Lash on LinkedIn
Mecca Shannon on LinkedIn
25N 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 someone who lived through the internet boom of the '90s starts seeing the same patterns with AI—and decides to map out exactly what it means for your coworking business?

This week, we chat with Ben Wright, who's spent eight years in flexible workspace—first at Square Foot, then leading office space.com at Instant Group, and now helping operators understand how AI will actually impact their P&L.

Ben just launched a seven-part series breaking down AI's real applications in coworking. His bottom line: this is more about growing revenue than cutting costs. When 50% of your expenses are real estate, a chatbot isn't saving you money on rent.

We talk about:

• Why AI feels eerily similar to the internet boom (and why that matters)
• The "wrong goes wrong, right goes right" principle—and why clean data wins
• How Unity AI is helping operators turn 70% of their leads into revenue
• Why 75% of AI agents built for Yardi do one thing: data cleaning
• Why human hospitality will never be replaced by a bot
  
  

This conversation is proof that AI isn't about replacing humans—it's about freeing operators to do what they do best while automation handles the repetitive work.

If you're wondering whether AI is hype or reality, this episode gives you a clear roadmap for what to implement now.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Ben Wright on LinkedIn

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast