The Flex Factor

El futuro del coworking en México: tecnología, estrategia corporativa e innovación con Isaac Carreón

En este episodio del podcast The Flex Factor, Marc Navarro conversa con Isaac Carreón (Flexoffices y AMXCO) para profundizar en el mercado de los espacios de coworking en Latinoamérica. Isaac comparte su trayectoria, desde su formación en ingeniería en telecomunicaciones en el ITAM y su paso por la innovación en Wayra (Telefónica), hasta la creación de uno de los espacios de trabajo flexible más avanzados tecnológicamente de México. * La transición de incubadora a "flex": Cómo las necesidades de las startups en Wayra impulsaron la creación de Flexoffices. * Por qué dominan las oficinas privadas: El cambio cultural en México desde los espacios de coworking de planta abierta hacia las "peceras" de cristal privadas. * Captación de clientes corporativos: La historia de cómo Coca-Cola (The Bridge) se integró con las startups en el espacio de Isaac. * La ventaja del IT: Por qué los operadores de coworking deben dejar de "dejar dinero sobre la mesa" al permitir que los clientes traigan su propio internet. * Escalando el modelo flex: Cómo crecer de 300 m² a más de 4,400 m² de inmuebles de primer nivel. * 0:00 – Bienvenida e introducción * 1:50 – De la ingeniería al coworking: la influencia de Wayra * 5:40 – Espacios abiertos frente a oficinas privadas en Latinoamérica * 8:30 – Perspectivas desde San Francisco: el modelo Galvanize * 11:45 – Atracción de gigantes: cómo Coca-Cola y Bitso utilizan el flex * 14:30 – 5 claves de IT y ciberseguridad en el coworking * 18:00 – Desarrollo de talento tecnológico dentro de tu equipo * Invitado: Isaac Carreón (Flexoffices México) LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-carreon-541979a5/] * Anfitrión: Marc Navarro Sitio web [https://marcnavarro.com/en/] * Productor: Spacebring Sitio web [https://www.spacebring.com] #CoworkingMexico #FlexOffices #PropTech #FutureOfWork #StartupEcosystem #MexicoBusiness #TheFlexFactor

The ultra-flex strategy: mastering the creative hub model with PAU

Can "ultra-flexibility" actually be a sustainable revenue driver? Host Marc Navarro sits down with Alejandro Papadopoulos, founder of PAU Barcelona, to discuss 10 years of staying ahead in the coworking industry. Alejandro reveals how PAU blends professional workspace with a "Creative Hub" model, utilizing international networks and ultra-flexible products to protect margins. Inside the episode: * Ultra-flex tactics: How to design half-day passes and shared memberships that work. * The "cafe trap": Why flex areas must remain proper workspaces to be profitable. * Beyond rent: Using the European Creative Hubs Network (ECHN) to unlock new revenue streams. * The platform strategy: Effectively integrating tools like Croissant without losing community identity. * Survival logic: Why your lease contract is your best defense against market shifts. Quick links: * Guest: Alejandro Papadopoulos [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandropapadopoulos/] (PAU Barcelona) * Space: wearepau.com [https://www.wearepau.com/] * Host: Marc Navarro [https://marcnavarro.com/] * Producer: Spacebring [https://www.spacebring.com/] — Coworking software for superior member service.

Refounding coworking: from shared desks to “pushing spaces” with Fernando Mendes (Cowork Lisboa)

The true magic of coworking is the power of working alone, together. In this episode, Marc Navarro sits down with Fernando Mendes, a pioneer of the coworking movement in Portugal and co-founder of Cowork Lisboa. Fernando shares the unfiltered story of pioneering Portugal's flexible workspace scene since 2010 and why he believes the current trend of "mainstreamization" is a threat to the movement’s original magic. Key topics & timestamps: 2:18 The origins of Cowork in Lisbon (2009–2010) 2:34 Lessons in speed: "If you want to do something, do it fast" 3:10 The role of partnership and honest design feedback 5:04 Identifying the coworking "vibe" when no one in Portugal was watching 7:17 Evolution from designer to "community gardener" 8:31 The importance of first members: The story of Antonio and Isabelle 11:47 The magic of "working alone, together" 12:15 The domestication and professionalization of coworking spaces 14:55 Why coworking thrives during times of uncertainty 16:03 The debate on niche coworking vs. diverse communities 19:12 Coworking as the "Third Place" (neither home nor office) 20:51 The end of Cowork: Rent hikes and closing right before the pandemic 25:33 Being "seduced" back: Launching a new space with Miguel and Paul 27:46 The Incubatriz concept: A "pushing space" that isn't an incubator 29:07 Lessons from failure: Why coworking spaces are not replicable Guest: Fernando E. de Pina Mendes [https://www.linkedin.com/in/now-coworklisboa/], co-founder of Cowork Lisboa Host: Marc Navarro [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcnavarro/] Produced by: Spacebring [https://www.spacebring.com/]

Tackling staff turnover & corporate demands with Maria Montis Kramer (Loom)

How has the coworking industry changed since 2017? Maria Montis Kramer, COO of Loom (Merlin Properties), joins host Marc Navarro to discuss the evolution from a "cool" niche to a serious real estate player. They dive into the biggest operational challenges facing owners today: managing high staff turnover (especially in host roles) and meeting the sophisticated demands of new corporate clients. This is a must-listen for any coworking operator focused on scaling business and maintaining service quality. Guest: Maria Montis Kramer, Chief Operations Officer at Loom * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-montis-kramer-8195b41/ * Loom: https://loom.es/ * Merlin Properties: https://www.merlinproperties.com/ Host: Marc Navarro [https://marcnavarro.com/en/] Produced by Spacebring [https://www.spacebring.com]

Stop being a supplier, start being a partner: Tamara Giménez on escaping the coworking commodity trap

In the increasingly crowded flexible workspace market, the biggest risk is becoming interchangeable—a commodity. So how do you build a business that can't be easily replaced? According to Tamara Giménez, founder of the 15,000m² Teamworks Coworking empire, the answer is simple but profound: stop being a supplier and start being a partner. In this powerful conversation with host Marc Navarro, Tamara breaks down the philosophy that has been the engine of her incredible growth. She reveals how this mindset led her to make a bold decision during the 2020 lockdown—sharing the financial burden with her members—which resulted in unprecedented loyalty and success. This isn't just a success story; it's a strategic guide to building a resilient, high-value coworking brand in any market. Tune in to discover: * The partnership philosophy: What it truly means to move from a transactional relationship to a collaborative one with your members. * The ultimate case study: How the "partner" mindset guided Teamworks through the pandemic, turning a potential catastrophe into a competitive advantage. * Beating the commodity trap: Actionable strategies to differentiate on service and flexibility when everyone else is competing on price. * Winning high-value clients: How to embody partnership to attract and retain large companies with complex needs. If you're ready to transform your member relationships and build a more sustainable business, this episode is your blueprint. Find out more: Guest: Tamara M. Giménez * Tamara M. Giménez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-m-gimenez/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-m-gimenez/] * Teamworks website: https://teamworkscoworking.com/ [https://teamworkscoworking.com/] * Forbes feature: Read about Teamworks' $2.5M journey [https://www.forbesargentina.com/negocios/ideo-coworking-experimental-cuando-nadie-sabia-lo-significaba-hoy-factura-us-25-millones-gestiona-15000-m2-oficinas-n79699] Host: Marc Navarro * Website: https://marcnavarro.com/en/ [https://marcnavarro.com/en/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcnavarro/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcnavarro/] Producer: Spacebring coworking space management software [https://www.spacebring.com/] Learn more and book a demo today!