Our Team

Liz Elam

Internationally recognized as a pioneering force in the coworking movement, Liz Elam stands out as a dynamic leader who seamlessly combines collaboration, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. A natural entrepreneur, Liz founded Link Coworking in Austin, Texas, in 2010, successfully expanding it to three locations and positioning it as the fourth-largest coworking brand in Austin before its notable sale in 2019—an unprecedented achievement that established her as the first woman globally to exit a coworking brand.

In 2011, Liz further solidified her impact on the industry by founding the Global Coworking Unconference Community (GCUC), now the largest coworking conference globally. Under her visionary leadership, GCUC has evolved into a cross-cultural epicenter for the workspace industry, spanning the U.S., South America, China, Canada, the UK, Australia, and beyond.

Embracing the role of a futurist, Liz recently earned a graduate certificate in foresight from the University of Houston. This journey to understand the methodologies behind forecasting the future fuels her passion for inspiring better societal choices.

A highly sought-after consultant and speaker on the future of work and workplace. In 2023 Liz joined forces with Derek Lutz to launch Bottle Rocket Search. Bottle Rocket is the only headhunter that is solely focused on the coworking and flex industry. You can learn more about Liz and coworking as she shares her insights on the GCUC Podcast, released bi-weekly.

Liz Elam fearlessly propels the coworking movement to adopt sound business practices and envision greater possibilities for the impact of individual operators and workspace brands. Her commitment to dismantling the loneliness epidemic through coworking and community-building resonates with both space operators and members alike, establishing her as a driving force in shaping the future of the hospitality workspace.

Emilie Lashmar

As a founding member of the PLATF9RM team, Emilie led the brand, marketing & creative development since its inception in 2016. She has vast knowledge and understanding of generating and establishing communities and how to nurture them. She has spent the last 7 years immersed in coworking, the future of work and purpose-led business.

As the new Event Producer of GCUC UK, Emilie’s mission is to bring together diverse leaders and decision-makers that are pushing boundaries in the flexible workspace sector. She hopes to continue the evolution of the industry by delivering inspiring content and a space to learn. She loves nothing more than creating opportunities for businesses and individuals to thrive and building collaborative communities.

Jessica Knapp

Jessica is a globally experienced entrepreneur and growth strategist who has spent over a decade shaping the future of coworking, community, and technology. Having led teams across multiple markets, from New Zealand to the United States, she brings a unique international perspective to the evolving world of work. Jessica has worked on both the operator and software sides of the Coworking industry and has held multiple CEO roles across SaaS and Consumer ventures. Passionate about helping founders and operators build thriving, connected ecosystems, she brings strategic clarity, commercial acumen, and community-driven leadership to her work with GCUC.