Why belonging is the secret engine of coworking.

Overview

What if the future of flex isn’t just about real estate metrics—but about human belonging?

In this episode of The Flexible Office Economy, Mark Gilbreath sits down with coworking veteran Kyle Coolbroth, founder of Fueled Collective. With more than a decade at the forefront of the movement, Kyle offers a rare, grounded perspective on where coworking has been—and where it’s headed next.

From operational insights to emotional intelligence, this episode explores how design, community, and economics intersect in modern workspace models. Kyle shares lessons learned from building one of the earliest coworking brands in the U.S., why belonging—not square footage—is the key to customer lifetime value, and how asset owners can unlock new margin opportunities by thinking like operators.

Whether you're managing a coworking brand, scaling a flex portfolio, or rethinking the social dimension of your workplace, this is an essential listen.

Episode Highlights

• The origin story of Fueled Collective—and lessons from coworking’s first wave
• Why coworking isn’t a product, but a service defined by hospitality and belonging
• Asset yield optimization: the path to higher margin through better activation
• “Software eats office”: how tech is reshaping coworking business models
• The hidden economics of community: why the most valuable amenity is people
• Advice for landlords and flex operators navigating today’s fragmented market

Why Listen

Coworking has evolved from fringe experiment to foundational pillar of the flexible office economy—but many still misunderstand what makes it thrive. Kyle Coolbroth breaks it down with clarity, candor, and deep operational experience.

If you're trying to scale coworking profitably, design for connection, or make your assets work harder, this episode delivers the strategy behind the vibe.