What happens when a single-location operator who knows her numbers inside and out decides to fill a gap in her city's small business ecosystem?

This week, Jamie and Gio sit down with Kim Lee, founder and CEO of Forge in Birmingham, Alabama, for a conversation about strategic growth, mental health in our industry, and why she's launching a small business accelerator in January.

Kim shares how she went from a master's in counseling to running one of Birmingham's most hospitality-driven coworking spaces—and why she's still passionate about coaching and creating community. She also breaks down what made the GWA Atlanta Immersive so different from other conferences she's attended and why every single panel offered immediately actionable takeaways.

We talk about:

• Why Kim converted her event space into offices (and how the math made sense)
• The gap in Birmingham's ecosystem that led to launching a Traction-based accelerator
• How her counseling background shapes the way Forge serves members
• Why the Atlanta Immersive felt more operator-focused than any conference she's been to
• The Alliance panel's surprising honesty—and how three competitors who'd never met became instant fans of each other
• Kim's favorite interview advice: keep it short so you don't like them too much
• The importance of mental health, self-care, and why family dinner counts as a win
• Murray's daily coffee delivery and why he's a keeper

If you're a single-location operator trying to differentiate in a crowded market—or wondering how to build something that truly serves your community—this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Kim Lee on LinkedIn
Forge 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 two first-time GWA Immersive attendees walk into a room of 77 people and realize there's nowhere to hide?

This week, Jamie and Gio are joined by Nicole Antolino from FireWorks Coworking in Marietta, Georgia, and Brittany Alavinejad from Essential Offices in Oklahoma City for a fresh take on what made the Atlanta immersive so different from the big conferences.

With 44 out of 77 attendees experiencing their first GWA event, the room was packed with new energy, honest questions, and real conversations about what's actually working in coworking right now. Nicole and Brittany share what stood out most—from AI and marketing panels to culture conversations and the surprisingly candid Alliance panel where a near-lawsuit turned into newfound respect.

We talk about:

• Why the intimate format made it impossible to be a wallflower—and why that mattered
• Courtney Schwartz's AI panel debut and the power of AEO/GEO over traditional SEO
• How video testimonials and member stories beat flashy marketing every time
• The Alliance panel's real talk on managed service agreements and market saturation
• Why specialization is working for attorneys, creatives, and niche industries
• Brittany hitting 100% occupancy in Edmond and pre-leasing offices for next year
• Nicole's journey from two major member losses to nearly sold out by year-end

If you've been wondering what the smaller GWA events feel like—or how operators are actually implementing what they learn the day they get back—this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Nicole Antolino on LinkedIn

Brittany Alavinejad on LinkedIn

FireWorks Coworking website

Essential Offices 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 you bring together operators and industry insiders who've just experienced the most eye-opening coworking conference in years?

This week, Jamie and Gio are joined by Kane Willmott and Eyal Lasker for a deep dive into Coworking Europe— and the conversation is full of surprises, market insights, and real talk about where the flex industry is heading globally.

Over 500 people gathered in Berlin for what many are calling the best coworking conference they've attended. Kane and Eyal share what made it so different from North American events, why the European market is years ahead, and what operators everywhere can learn from how the rest of the world does flex.

We talk about:

Why multi-location operators dominate Europe while single-location indies thrive in North America
How European operators commonly own their buildings—and why 25-year UK leases drive 10% flex market penetration
Kane's take on profitable consolidation versus distressed asset roll-ups
How Flexspace is building an AI assistant trained only on your occupancy data

If you've been curious about what the global flex industry looks like beyond North America—or why Europe is so far ahead—this episode will shift your perspective on what's possible.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Kane on LinkedIn
Eyal on LinkedIn

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast