GCUC Podcast - Jonathan O'Byrne, Founder of Collective Works

What comes after coworking? A smarter, fairer, more human way to build our cities—and Jonathan O’Byrne is here to tell us how.

Get ready for a deep dive on this week’s GCUC Podcast, Liz Elam, GCUC Founder sits down with coworking pioneer and author Jonathan O’Byrne to unpack the big ideas behind his new book After Coworking. From the early days of Collective Works to leading 1,000 staff across Asia for IWG, Jonathan has seen the industry from all sides—and he’s not afraid to call out what’s broken.

Together, they dive into:

• Why traditional commercial real estate is outdated, inefficient, and ready for reinvention
• How small operators are the true innovation engines in the coworking industry
• The irreplaceable power of hospitality, and why your front desk matters more than your marketing
• The role of AI, sustainability, and creative design in future-proofing the workplace
• What “next-space” means—and why we should all be thinking beyond coworking

Jonathan also shares his reflections on leadership, burnout, and the importance of documenting what we’ve learned so future generations can build better. You’ll laugh, you’ll rethink your lease strategy, and you’ll probably want to read his book immediately.

👉 Tune in now and get ready for a refreshing, unapologetic take on the future of work.

#GCUC #GCUCPodcast #CommunityDriven #HumanCentricWork #WorkplaceInnovation #SpaceAsAService

 

Show notes: 

Jonathan O’Byrne’s LinkedIn Profile 

Jonathan O’Byrne’s website 

Link to “After Coworking”