GCUC Podcast - Jessica Knapp, GCUC Head of Sales & Operations

GCUC Podcast - Jessica Knapp, GCUC Head of Sales & Operations

What happens when a career in coworking comes full circle? In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, host Liz Elam sits down with Jessica Knapp, longtime coworking leader, former employee #1 at OfficeRnD, and now a member of the GCUC team, to explore her journey through some of the industry's most pivotal moments. From discovering coworking at NextSpace in Los Angeles and finding a community that changed her life, to helping build one of the industry's leading software platforms from the ground up, Jessica shares the lessons, relationships, and experiences that have shaped her unique perspective on coworking, technology, and entrepreneurship. They also dive into why community remains the most powerful force in coworking, what operators often overlook when it comes to technology and financial management, the realities of building businesses with limited resources, how sponsorships and partnerships create value across the industry, and why no operator should feel like they're figuring it all out alone. Plus, Liz and Jessica share insights from behind the scenes at GCUC, discuss the new GCUC Summer Series, and reveal the exciting location for GCUC 2027. If you're a coworking operator, entrepreneur, community builder, or anyone passionate about the future of work, this conversation is packed with industry wisdom, candid stories, practical advice, and a reminder that great communities can change lives. Listen & Connect Connect with Jessica Knapp https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicalouiseknapp/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicalouiseknapp/]   Connect with Liz Elam https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam]   GCUC Tickets https://gcuc.co/coworking-events/ [https://gcuc.co/coworking-events/]   Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos]

GCUC Podcast - Jean-Yves Huwart, Coworking Europe

A quiet shift is happening in Paris: managed offices are surging, and it’s reshaping the entire flex workspace landscape. Coworking Europe will be in Paris this fall, so let’s talk to the man bringing the coworking world to Paris this November, Jean-Yves Huwart.  Liz Elam sits down with her good friend, Jean‑Yves, the founder of Coworking Europe (the world’s longest‑running coworking conference) and Social Workplaces, to unpack why they’re still bullish on coworking after 16 years, and what’s changing fast across Europe. From the rise of managed/operated offices to the growing influence of flex-focused brokers, to profitability realities and the ways AI is reshaping how companies use space, this conversation is a tour through the next wave of coworking. Jean‑Yves also shares what to expect at Coworking Europe in Paris (Nov 5–6), including the venue, themes, and why Paris is becoming a major tipping-point market for flex and managed office demand. In this episode: Why in-person conferences are thriving and matter more than ever in the flex workspace industry. The definition of a "managed/operated office" and why this model is booming specifically in Paris. The emergence and influence of flex-focused brokers and how they are changing deal flow. The hard truth about profitability and the financial realities the flex workspace industry needs to face. How AI is impacting operational efficiency and reshaping how teams organize work (focus vs. social time). Make sure you like and follow for more GCUC content!  The Links you’re looking for:    Jean-Yves Huwart https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-yves-huwart-73b0464/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-yves-huwart-73b0464/]   Coworking Europe Tickets https://coworkingeurope.net/product/coworking-europe-2026-paris-conference/ [https://coworkingeurope.net/product/coworking-europe-2026-paris-conference/]   Liz Elam  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam/]   GCUC https://gcuc.co/ [https://gcuc.co/]   GCUC’s next Event: https://africa.gcuc.co/ [https://africa.gcuc.co/]

GCUC Podcast - Dr. Felicia Fai, Associate Professor, University of Bath

What does research actually say about coworking spaces — and why should policymakers care? In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, host Liz Elam sits down with Dr. Felicia Fai, Associate Professor in Innovation and Regional Resilience at the University of Bath School of Management, and one of the few academics dedicated to studying what coworking spaces truly do for entrepreneurs, communities, and regional economies. Felicia's work shines a light on independent operators outside major cities — the spaces quietly having an enormous impact while rarely making headlines. Together, Liz and Felicia dig into why coworking spaces are so much more than just real estate, how the UK compares with Ireland in terms of policy support for flex spaces, and what the industry desperately needs if it wants policymakers to take notice. They cover: * How Felicia's research journey led her from corporate resilience to coworking * Why the lack of hard data is the industry's biggest vulnerability * The case for coworking spaces as "activist organizations" and place-shapers * What's missing in UK policy — and what Ireland is doing right * The one thing the industry could do today to help researchers (and itself) * Industry life cycles, the coming "shakeout," and what operators need to survive it Whether you're running a space, building community, or making the case to a local council, this episode gives you the research-backed language to tell a bigger story.   Connect with Dr. Felicia Fai:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicia-fai-991602/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicia-fai-991602/] Connect with Liz Elam:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam] Learn more about GCUC & get your tickets for GCUC UK:  https://uk.gcuc.co/ [https://uk.gcuc.co/]   GCUC Events https://gcuc.co/coworking-events/ [https://gcuc.co/coworking-events/]   Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos]

GCUC Podcast - Ben Newton, Patch Operations Director

What really makes a coworking space unforgettable? According to Ben Newton, it’s not just the design, the coffee, or the amenities; it’s the people, the systems, and the intentional operations happening behind the scenes every single day. In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, host Liz Elam sits down with Ben Newton, Operations Director at Patch, to unpack what truly drives exceptional coworking experiences. From building hospitality first workspaces and protecting team mental health to creating stronger local communities and rethinking the future of regional flex space, Ben shares a refreshingly honest look at the realities of modern operations. They also dive into why coworking is really a hospitality business in disguise, the hidden burnout risks for community teams, how hybrid work is reshaping regional coworking, the loneliness epidemic and why coworking can help solve it, Ben’s collaborative OpenOps Project for coworking benchmarking, and leadership lessons on patience, listening, and scaling culture without losing the human touch. If you care about the future of work, community, hospitality, or building spaces people genuinely want to be in, this conversation is packed with insight, heart, and practical wisdom. Listen & Connect Connect with Ben Newton https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-newton-24520092/ Learn more about Patch: https://www.patch.work/ Learn more about the OpenOps Project: https://theopenopsproject.netlify.app/   Connect with Liz Elam https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam GCUC Events https://gcuc.co/coworking-events/ Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos

GCUC Podcast - Sam Rosen of Yardi & Kane Willmot from IQ Offices

What really happens inside the room at GCUC?    If you've been, you know the magic isn't just on the stage, it's in the hallway conversations, the shared struggles, and the collective drive to build something bigger than any one operator.   In this episode, we're pulling back the curtain on our massive 50th event in New York City, and we're doing it with two leaders who experienced it from completely different angles.   First up, we have Sam Rosen, Industry Principal at Yardi. Yardi has become an absolute force in the flex and coworking space, and Sam is at the center of it — helping this industry understand itself like never before through real-time data, the groundbreaking new Coworking Index (launched at GCUC), and tools that are genuinely moving the needle for operators everywhere. If you're not paying attention to what Yardi is building, you need to be.   Alongside Sam is Kane Willmott, co-CEO of IQ Offices. Kane brings that sharp, boots-on-the-ground operator's lens to tell us what's actually working — and what's absolutely not — across markets, teams, and customers right now.   Together, we unpack the real conversations happening beneath the surface at GCUC 50. We're talking AI, investment, shifting customer expectations, and the undeniable rise of landlord-led flex space.   We’re digging into what's changed, what's next, and why this community is stronger than ever. From post-COVID resilience to the future of coworking growth, this episode is a candid, energizing look at exactly where the industry stands today and where we are headed next. Grab a coffee and tune in!   Like and follow for more juicy chats and join us in Manchester in June!!  Listen & Connect Connect with Sam Rosen https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammyrosen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammyrosen/] Coworking Index  [https://www.coworkingcafe.com/index/] Connect with Kane Willmot https://www.linkedin.com/in/kane-willmott/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kane-willmott/]  Connect with Liz Elam https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizelam] GCUC Events https://gcuc.co/coworking-events/ [https://gcuc.co/coworking-events/] Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@GCUCPodcast/videos]