GCUC Blog

Sam Rosen of Yardi & Kane Willmot from IQ Offices on the GCUC Podcast breaking down our NYC event

By Liz Elam On April 29, 2026 In Uncategorized

Here’s the thing: if you think the magic of GCUC happens on stage, you’re only seeing half the story.

At GCUC’s 50th gathering in New York City, the real value wasn’t just in the sessions; it was in the conversations underneath them. The hallway debates. The late-night dinners. The moments where operators, partners, and innovators compared notes on what’s actually happening in the coworking and flex space industry right now.

This episode of the GCUC Podcast pulls back that curtain.

Sam Rosen of Yardi, an operator-turned data powerhouse, is helping to reshape how the industry understands itself through real-time insights and a newly launched coworking index. His perspective is grounded in something the industry has long needed: credible, accessible data that helps operators, landlords, and investors make smarter decisions.

Alongside him, Kane Willmott, co CEO of IQ Offices, brings the operator’s reality into focus. What are customers actually asking for? How do expectations differ across markets? And how do you build a product that serves not just one user, but multiple stakeholders, from enterprise decision makers to the people showing up every day to work?

Together, they unpack the biggest themes emerging from GCUC 50.

There’s no surprise that AI continues to dominate the conversation, but what stood out wasn’t the hype; it was the application. Operators are no longer asking if they should use AI, they’re asking how it integrates into operations, experience, and scale.

There’s also a noticeable shift in mindset across the industry. Not long ago, the dominant conversations were about survival and exit strategies. Now, the tone has changed. Operators are thinking about optimization, growth, and long-term positioning. The energy is different, and it’s tangible.

Another major theme, the role of landlords is evolving fast. With major players entering the flex space arena in more intentional ways, the line between operator and owner continues to blur. This isn’t a future trend, it’s already happening, and it’s reshaping the competitive landscape in real time.

And then there’s the data problem. For years, coworking has operated without a clear, unified source of truth. That lack of transparency has held the industry back, especially in terms of investor confidence and broader market understanding. Tools like the coworking index signal a shift toward greater visibility, and with it, greater opportunity.

But beyond all of that, what really stood out at GCUC 50 was something harder to quantify.

This industry is maturing.

The conversations are deeper. The perspectives are broader. And perhaps most importantly, the community is still intact. There’s a shared understanding that growing the pie benefits everyone, and that collaboration, not competition, is what will move the industry forward.

That’s the part you don’t always see in a conference agenda.

And it’s exactly why GCUC continues to matter.

If this moment is a snapshot of where coworking is today, the path forward is clear. More investment. Better data. Deeper customer understanding. And continued knowledge sharing across markets, models, and operators.

Because at the end of the day, coworking has never just been about space.

It’s about people.

Speaking of people and the importance of being in person. You can join us next in Manchester! Uk.gcuc.co is where you can see the agenda, who’s coming, and save your seat.