Community of Cultivators: Edition 59

Here at GCUC we are immensely fortunate to cross paths and work with so many amazing people. Through our work, we’ve cultivated a global community of people we think you should know about.

Community of Cultivators is a blog series we created to introduce you to coworking game changers and connectors. Each month, we’ll release new interviews that we hope inform and inspire you.

This weeks interview is with none other than power house Debra Larsen. Debra is a 30 year real estate industry veteran in the New York commercial real estate market. She began her career in 1989 at Peter R. Friedman, Ltd., a boutique brokerage firm. In 1997, Debra was the first to target the Internet’s new generation of office space users by founding TechSpace, Inc. Through her innovative vision for TechSpace she pioneered a unique solution to meet the needs of companies desiring creative interiors and state-of the-art technology. After expanding TechSpace to Boston, Austin, Miami, Toronto and San Francisco, Debra sold the Company to California-based entity which still operates the company today.

She went on to co found Space 530, another first of its kind. Space 530 is the premier collective showroom that provides space and services to fashion brands such as Zappos, Max Mara, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and Alexis Bittar.

In 2012, Debra founded WorkHouse NYC, a natural evolution of the creative shared office space movement. WorkHouse provides larger, “serviced pre-built suites” for companies from 6-30 people. WorkHouse currently operates a 75,000 square foot facility in midtown Manhattan and has purchased 2 Depot Plaza in Westchester New York. WorkHouse is home to such tenants as Toyota, Accenture, Slam Media, and QVC.

Talk about an industry OG! That’s not even all of her acrediations. To get to know Debra better, keep reading.

What in your life are you most proud of cultivating or creating? Why?

My children, obviously. My Son is a hockey player at Boston College and my Daughter in the Engineering School at Columbia University. Someone said to me recently, you really got lucky with your kids, they’re amazing. I responded, Luck!? Luck had nothing to do with it – it was unrelenting time and attention! Something that I’m proud to say that I did despite having a hectic career.

Where do you personally feel the most sense of community?

In my town, Bedford, NY. I love that it is less than an hour out of NYC and yet everyone knows everyone and any place I go, deli, hardware store, post office etc, I’m greeted by name and chit chat.

What podcast would you recommend to others and why?

Joe Rogan, love his diverse topics and he really gets right to the point and doesn’t back down with his questioning of guests.
Dr. Joe Dispenza, Becoming Supernatural, this is mind opening stuff regarding our ability to heal ourselves and change our reality through meditation and manifestation.

If you had $500 to spend- what would you buy?

An NFT, no idea what the heck they are but have FOMO of the next big thing.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming an entrepreneur?

Go for it!

What is the best habit you ever started? What habit do you want to start but haven’t yet?

Working out. I didn’t get into the habit until my 40’s but better late than never! I’d like to give up sugar and dairy but like ice cream too much.

If you had to put a quote on your gravestone what would it be?

Went For It!

What is the most expensive mistake you have ever made?

Selling all my cryptocurrencies in the Spring of 2020 thinking that the market had topped!

That’s all for this week. Check back next week for another industry interview!