GCUC Blog

GCUC Podcast Recap: Kane Willmott

By Stormy McBride On August 19, 2025 In Future of Work•GCUC North America•GCUC Podcast•GCUC Canada

Building Strength and Scaling Success with Kane Willmott of IQ Offices

On this episode of the GCUC Podcast, Liz Elam sits down with Kane Willmott, co-founder and CEO of IQ Offices, for an honest and inspiring conversation about leadership, growth, and personal transformation. Kane has spent years building one of Canada’s most respected coworking brands, leading with resilience and constantly adapting to a changing market. This discussion goes beyond typical business talk, diving into what it takes mentally, physically, and operationally to build and sustain a high-performing coworking company.

From Startup to Leading Flexible Workspace Brand

Kane has been in the coworking and flexible workspace industry long enough to see its evolution firsthand. With IQ Offices growing steadily and new locations opening, Kane shares insights on what it takes to successfully launch and scale in a competitive market. From navigating market shifts to recruiting strong leadership teams, he emphasizes that staying ahead requires strategic thinking, operational excellence, and a willingness to innovate continuously.

Liz and Kane discuss his collaboration with Bottle Rocket Search to recruit top talent. Kane highlights how important leadership and people strategy are to sustaining long-term success. For him, building a coworking brand is as much about the team you put in place as it is about design or amenities.

How Triathlons Transformed Leadership

One of the most compelling parts of the conversation is Kane’s journey into triathlons. Surprisingly, he only started endurance training at 49 years old, initially committing to just one event. What started as a personal challenge quickly became a transformative lifestyle.

Kane explains that the discipline required to train for Ironmans and marathons has had a direct impact on his leadership. Endurance training taught him the importance of consistency, mental toughness, and incremental progress. These qualities are essential for leading a growing company. Just as you do not see physical gains overnight, building a brand and leading a team requires daily commitment and patience.

This passion for triathlons has also shaped his mindset as a CEO. He approaches challenges with more resilience, makes decisions with a long-term perspective, and views setbacks as part of the growth process. It is a powerful example of how personal development can feed directly into professional success.

Balancing Health and High-Growth Leadership

Health and mindfulness are recurring themes in this conversation. Kane and Liz discuss how demanding leadership roles can be and why it is critical to prioritize wellness. They share their experiences with meditation, fitness routines, and tools like the Oura Ring and Muse headset that track sleep and brain activity.

Kane admits meditation has not been easy for him but emphasizes that physical activity, particularly morning workouts, is his form of mindfulness. Liz shares her journey of managing high blood pressure through meditation and strength training, proving that self-care is not optional when running high-growth businesses.

Together, they highlight how staying fit and mentally balanced is not just about personal well-being. It is a leadership strategy. A healthy leader is more effective, focused, and able to guide their team through the challenges of scaling a company.

The Future of Coworking and Leadership

As the coworking industry continues to evolve, Kane sees new opportunities emerging. From premium, design-focused spaces to tailored services for specific markets, IQ Offices is positioning itself for the next phase of growth. Kane is clear that scaling successfully is not just about opening more locations. It is about maintaining culture, delivering consistent hospitality, and continuing to innovate.

Leadership in coworking, much like endurance sports, is about pacing yourself, staying focused on long-term goals, and making deliberate decisions that align with your mission. Kane’s story is a reminder that resilience, adaptability, and personal strength are just as important as strategy and execution.

To listen to the full interview, tune in wherever you stream your media.