103 episodes
Flex Uncensored - A Coworking Podcast Jamie Russo and Giovanni Palavacini
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- Business
Giovanni Palavacini and Jamie Russo have partnered to ask industry leaders the questions that are on your mind.
Giovanni Palavacini is a Real Estate Strategist focused on helping operators, landlords, and investors to make wise coworking/flexible office decisions using a combination of science and art.
Jamie Russo was a coworking space owner/operator for 8 years, Executive Director of the GWA, the industry association, for 5 years, and has spent the last few years helping operators start and run profitable coworking businesses.
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102. Michael Feinstein on Real Estate Structures, Creative Landlords and Leading a Really Good but Lean Team
Michael Feinstein opened his first location in Miami’s midtown…before coworking was popular and before midtown was cool. Michael had been living in London where office space was intentionally designed. He was surprised when he moved to Miami and discovered that office space was pretty bland and uninspiring. He decided that Miami needed an upgrade and he would try to provide it. Eight locations later, Buro has built a brand known for…great office space. Thoughtful design, great lighting, compelling locations…and touches of hospitality Michael brings from his pre-coworking background.
Michael shares how his international travel influenced the design of his locations, his real estate structure for each his eight locations, why he keeps his team lean, and more.
Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:
Michael on LinkedIn
Büro website
Connect with your Hosts:
Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn
Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn
Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast
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101. Brandon Medeiros and Ryan Donohue from REKalibrate on Truth Seeking, Suburban Real Estate, Office Occupancy, and Sneaker Fashion
Join us in this episode as we sit down with Brandon Medeiros, CEO of REKalibrate, and Ryan Donahue, CTO, to discuss their innovative journey in the commercial real estate industry. They share their personal backgrounds and how they’ve transitioned from relying on anecdotal evidence to embracing data-driven decision-making. We explore the critical role of data in understanding occupancy patterns and tenant needs, which has become even more essential since the COVID-19 pandemic. Our conversation covers a range of topics including the future demand for workspaces, the impact of amenities, and how technology is reshaping real estate strategies for a data-informed future.
Connect with your Hosts:
Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn
Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn
Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast
Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:
Brandon on LinkedIn
Ryan Dononhue on LinkedIn
REKalibrate website
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100. Jamie & Gio Dish on the State of the Union AND Celebrate 100 Episodes!
Connect with your Hosts:
Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn
Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn
Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast
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99. Nick Clark Uncensored: Before, During, and After CommonDesk
We talk to Nick about:
How his experience in traditional commercial real estate as a broker shaped his vision for an easier leasing process.
How his first ten hires and the startup culture of their early days shaped their culture.
Nick’s penchant for experimenting/pushing the envelope with…bespoke design, adding a coffee brand to their portfolio, buying a fitness brand, setting up a meeting room in an AirStream…and pursuing an asset-light business model through landlord partnerships.
How he thinks that there will be a segment of people that will pay a premium for really great service/hospitality and design.
His admission that he built Commondesk to live forever and had no plan to sell it until the pandemic created obstacles they just couldn’t overcome on their own.
Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:
Nick on LinkedIn
Connect with your Hosts:
Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn
Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn
Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast -
98. LG Gets Uncensored About Family, Business, SwitchYards, WeWork and Commercial Real Estate Disruption
Lawrence Gellerstedt (LG) is the Managing Director + ATL Boss @ Foundry Commercial.
We talk to LG about:
His transformative time at WeWork
His journey as an entrepreneur starting his own boutique brokerage firm
His bet on the Switchyards, a 24/7 neighborhood work club
His commitment to being genuine and authentic
His transparency about mental health struggles
The tradeoffs he’s willing to make at work to keep his family a top priority
Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:
Lawrence on LinkedIn
Foundry Commercial website
Connect with your Hosts:
Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn
Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn
Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast
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97. The Hospitality Paradigm: Service Excellence and Human Connection with David Arraya
Episode Highlights:
Gio and Jamie discuss customer experience levels and the challenges in the coworking industry's service sector. David Arraya talks about service and profitability in hospitality, and the delicate balance needed for success. The role of technology in hospitality is examined, along with maintaining the essential human touch. Insights into effective team dynamics are shared, highlighting the importance of leveraging individual strengths. A deep dive into the necessity of human connection in an era increasingly driven by technology. The importance of living mindfully and the impactful potential of businesses grounded in purpose.
Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:
David on LinkedIn
DeLozier Group website
Connect with your Hosts:
Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn
Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn
Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast