Everything Coworking

Jamie Russo

The Everything Coworking podcast shares trends and how-tos for coworking operators and anyone following this exploding trend. Jamie owned coworking spaces in Chicago and Palo Alto under the brand Enerspace Coworking. She was the Executive Director of the Global Workspace Association for 5 years. Since 2018, she's been helping coworking spaces start and run profitable coworking spaces.

  1. 7 hr ago

    433. Events, Sponsorships, And a Full Café: How Leslie Bailey Diversified Her Coworking Revenue (Best Of)

    What if the real money in your coworking space isn't the desks at all? That's exactly what Leslie Bailey discovered running Maven Space, a 15,000-square-foot coworking space, event venue, and social club she built in downtown Indianapolis with no private offices at all. Leslie's background wasn't real estate or hospitality. Coworking operators come from all kinds of backgrounds, and hers was journalism, 15-plus years of it before she launched Indy Maven, a media company and community for women, and eventually built Maven Space around it. In this episode, we explore how Leslie diversified her coworking revenue well beyond workspace: a full event venue, an in-house commercial kitchen, and a sponsorship program she ran like an old-school magazine ad department. We talk about: Why her 15,000-square-foot space never had a single private office How a catering liquor license turned her event venue into a bigger draw Running a full commercial kitchen that served the whole building, not just members Selling sponsorships the way a magazine sells ad space, yes, even on the bathroom stalls Why her membership community is still going, even though the physical space isn't One insight that really stood out: sponsorship inventory exists in almost every coworking space, the newsletter, the walls, the events, even the stalls. Pricing it turns it into real revenue. If you're only thinking about your coworking space in terms of desks and offices, Leslie's story is a reminder of how much revenue potential sits in the rest of the building. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Leslie's LinkedIn profile Indy Maven website Leslie Bailey's personal website Leslie's 10 Lessons Learned article Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

  2. 6 days ago

    432. How One Coworking Operator Turned Event Space Into a Second Revenue Engine

    What happens when a coworking operator refuses to think small? Gina Schreck has built far more than a coworking space. Over the years, she's transformed The Village from a 10,000-square-foot workspace into a 50,000-square-foot destination that combines coworking, wellness, events, and community under one roof. In this conversation, Gina shares the story behind that growth, the risks that came with it, and the mindset that's helped her create one of the most unique coworking spaces in the industry. In this episode, we cover: How Gina expanded from 10,000 to 50,000 square feet—and why she nearly walked away from the opportunity The unexpected role her daughter played in managing the expansion Why event space has become an important part of her business model How her podcast studio supports her community What it takes to build a space that's more than just a place to work How she thinks about hospitality, community, and creating an experience members want to come back to Why understanding your ideal member shapes every decision she makes Whether you're thinking about expanding your space, adding new revenue streams, or strengthening your community, Gina offers an honest look at what's worked, what hasn't, and the lessons she's learned along the way. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Gina on LinkedIn The Village Workspace website Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

  3. 22 Jul

    431. How to Maximize Meeting Room Revenue in Your Coworking Space

    What if your coworking website could become one of your biggest revenue drivers? That's exactly what Eyal Lasker, Founder and CEO of Flexspace AI, is helping operators do. While many operators focus almost entirely on filling offices, Eyal believes one of the biggest opportunities for growth is optimizing everything else: meeting rooms, day passes, event space, virtual mail, and other on-demand products. In this episode, we explore why treating your website like an e-commerce platform—not just an online brochure—can dramatically increase both revenue and profitability. We talk about: Why meeting rooms are one of the most underutilized assets in coworking How online booking removes friction and creates new revenue opportunities Why great photography has a direct impact on conversion rates The surprising booking patterns operators are missing, including how many reservations happen the same day How dynamic pricing can increase revenue by balancing price and booking volume Why repeat on-demand customers become some of the highest-value users over time The role AI is playing in revenue optimization and pricing decisions Why operators should think about their websites as e-commerce engines instead of digital brochures One insight that really stood out: "Simplicity is hard to build, but it's what drives conversion." The easier you make it for someone to discover, book, and pay online, the more opportunities you create to monetize the space you already have. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Eyal Lasker on LinkedIn Flexpace AI website Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

  4. 8 Jul

    429. The Most Underused Coworking Product That Can Double Office Revenue

    What if one of the easiest ways to increase your coworking revenue… is already sitting empty in your space? Many coworking operators have offices that are difficult to fill. Maybe they're a little too large, an interior office, or they've been sitting vacant for months. The default solution is often to list them as day offices and hope for a few bookings. But there's a much more predictable way to generate revenue from those spaces. In this episode, we break down why part-time private offices are one of the most underutilized products in coworking today, and how operators are turning a single office into recurring revenue instead of relying on one-off day office bookings. In this episode, you'll learn: Why day offices leave revenue on the table How part-time private offices create predictable recurring revenue Who this product is designed for (and why demand is growing) How operators are earning significantly more from the same office The marketing, pricing, and operational considerations for launching this offer Why this can be the perfect upgrade path for coworking members who need more privacy but aren't ready for a full-time office If you have vacant offices—or members who are constantly living in your phone booths—this episode is full of practical ideas you can implement. Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

  5. 2 Jul

    428. How the Most Profitable Coworking Spaces Generate 30 to 40% of Revenue Outside of Workspace

    Most coworking operators think they have a sales problem. What they actually have is a revenue mix problem. If almost all of your revenue comes from private offices and coworking memberships, you're making it much harder to build a highly profitable business. The most profitable operators I work with don't stop at workspace revenue. They build multiple revenue streams that continue to grow alongside their memberships. In this episode, I break down: Why the most profitable coworking spaces generate 30–40% of their revenue from non-workspace products The revenue opportunities many operators are overlooking, including meeting rooms, virtual mail, and event space A side-by-side comparison showing how two nearly identical coworking spaces can end up with dramatically different profit margins Why optimizing your offices is only part of the equation if you want a high-margin business The biggest mistakes operators make when selling ancillary products online Practical ways to improve your e-commerce experience, SEO, Google Business Profile, and marketing so these revenue streams actually grow The biggest takeaway? You don't need more square footage to increase profitability. You need to maximize the revenue potential of the space you already have. Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

  6. 24 Jun

    427. The Coworking Operator Blind Spot: Small Details That Impact Revenue, Retention, and Conversions

    I was traveling in Europe last week and found myself doing what I always end up doing on trips like this… quietly auditing hospitality systems everywhere I go. Not in a formal way. Just noticing what works, what breaks, and what quietly shapes the experience. And a lot of it translates directly into coworking. This episode is a little different — it's a solo reflection from the road — but I wanted to share a few observations that came up along the way. In this episode, I talk about: Why small hospitality gaps (like not actually offering a welcome drink that's sitting right there) change the entire first impression What "good on paper" partnerships look like vs. what actually gets experienced on the ground (gyms, tours, amenities) How easily premium spaces lose quality when no one is actively "seeing" the details anymore (dirty tables, unused areas, neglected touchpoints) The difference between teams that are executing tasks vs. teams that are anticipating guest experience A tour experience that felt completely transactional — and what was missing to turn it into real connection A hotel that got the details right in a way you only notice when you slow down enough to pay attention The overarching theme was simple: anticipation is what separates good hospitality from forgettable execution. And in coworking spaces, it shows up in the exact same way. If you're running a space, this is worth a quiet audit of your own systems this week. Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

  7. 3 Jun

    426. The Coworking Pre-Launch Strategy That Filled 30% of a Space Before Opening

    What does it really take to build a coworking space that becomes a community asset, not just another office? That was one of my favorite conversations with Rob Archer, CEO of Codebase Coworking in Charlottesville, Virginia. Rob has built something special. Codebase sits inside a larger entrepreneurial ecosystem designed to attract talent, support founders, and strengthen the local community. What struck me most was how intentional every decision has been. We talked about the reality of balancing financial responsibility with a bigger mission. Rob doesn't shy away from the numbers. In fact, he broke down coworking economics better than most MBA professors. But he also understands that some of the most valuable parts of a coworking space can't be measured on a spreadsheet. From giving more than 70 hard hat tours before opening, to building deep relationships throughout Charlottesville, to creating a member mix that reflects the broader business community, Rob has shown what's possible when you lead with both strategy and service. We also dug into: How to think about coworking profitability when your vision is bigger than revenue alone Why understanding your market matters more than copying someone else's model The lessons Rob learned launching a 20,000 sq. ft. coworking space Building occupancy before opening day Developing community managers and investing in your team Creating a coworking experience that attracts and retains local talent If you're building a coworking space, this episode is packed with practical insights on growth, positioning, community engagement, and long-term sustainability. And if you've ever wondered whether coworking can be both profitable and deeply connected to its community, Rob's story is a masterclass. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Rob Archer on LinkedIn Codebase Coworking website Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

About

The Everything Coworking podcast shares trends and how-tos for coworking operators and anyone following this exploding trend. Jamie owned coworking spaces in Chicago and Palo Alto under the brand Enerspace Coworking. She was the Executive Director of the Global Workspace Association for 5 years. Since 2018, she's been helping coworking spaces start and run profitable coworking spaces.

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