COWORKING PODCAST 167
Paul Keursten, Co-founder of Workshop17
In this episode of the GCUC Podcast, Liz Elam sits down with Paul Keursten, co-founder of Workshop17, to explore his journey from launching coworking spaces in the Netherlands in 2008 to building a 16+ location operation across Africa.
Paul shares lessons from scaling a coworking business while staying true to community, hospitality, and culture. They discuss:
- Why coworking has always been about people, not just space
- How Workshop 17 navigated the WeWork acquisition talks and COVID uncertainty
- Why you can’t scale community and why you have to nurture culture
- Building a coworking ecosystem across Africa through partnerships
- The future of flexible work beyond traditional office spaces
A conversation about resilience, innovation, and creating workplaces where people feel connected and inspired.
- Connect with Paul Keursten
- Connect with Liz Elam
- Learn more about GCUC & get your tickets for GCUC Africa
The conversations shaping the future of coworking don’t stop with the podcast. Join operators, founders, and industry leaders from across the continent this October at GCUC Africa. - GCUC Events
- Watch the GCUC Podcast on YouTube
- Learn more about Workshop 17: