Overview
The office isn’t dead—but the old delivery model is.
In this episode of The Flexible Office Economy, Mark Gilbreath sits down with industry veteran John Arenas, CEO of Serendipity Labs. With three decades in flexible workspace—and multiple startups to prove it—John unpacks what he calls “Coworking 3.0,” a new era defined by institutional rigor, enterprise readiness, and user-driven experience.
From Stratis Business Centers in the 1990s to today’s growing Serendipity Labs network, John shares candid insights on scaling a flex brand, partnering with landlords, and delivering the standards enterprise customers actually expect. He makes the case that the flexible office is no longer an experiment—it’s infrastructure.
If you want to understand where Coworking is going, how the category is maturing, and what it really takes to build a profitable, platform-first flex business—this is the episode for you.
Episode Highlights
- Why we’ve entered “Coworking 3.0”—and what makes it different from what came before
- How Serendipity Labs balances hospitality with enterprise-grade rigor
- Building trust with landlords through managed models, not just leases
- Why success isn’t about square footage—it’s about systems and scalability
- Predictions on consolidation, capital markets, and the future of flex underwriting
- The ‘serene vibrancy’ of a networked workplace—and why density isn’t the goal
Whether you're a landlord seeking yield, an operator chasing scale, or a strategist rethinking workplace delivery—this conversation is a blueprint for what sustainable success in flex really looks like.
John Arenas has lived the history, seen the cycles, and is now leading one of the industry’s most quietly successful brands. His take is grounded, measured, and refreshingly honest.
This episode is about more than coworking. It’s about building a category that lasts.
