Updated April 6, 2026
GCUC New York City is almost here. And the lineup and “Who’s Coming” page are packed with industry all-stars and thought leaders whose expertise extends far beyond coworking.
Not only will GCUC attendees have the opportunity to connect with some of the biggest movers and shakers in the industry (and beyond), we’ll also get to hang out in person with indie operators doing transformational work at the local, regional and national level.
So buckle up!
And, I want to get ahead of something that always happens: smaller operators can feel displaced by some of the discussions by and between national and international brands. There will be talk of big dollar valuations, brands with hundreds of spaces, big teams, big spaces, and big revenue.
For an indie operator or small team it can feel overwhelming.
I know this because I’ve been going to GCUC since 2015. I’ve seen indie operators’ eyes glaze over and I’ve heard your concerns about feeling irrelevant.
I’ve also watched indie operators go from thinking about a space, to launching a space, to scaling their brand, to becoming a thriving hub in their town as a result of some of the connections made and lessons learned at GCUC.
So here are my best tips for indie operators to make the most of GCUC and come home inspired, empowered, plugged in and ready to roll.
Buckle up
Some of the biggest names in the industry will be presenting, hobnobbing, and sharing their stories, lessons learned and insights.
Buckle up for big conversations, big ideas, a full schedule and a few fast-moving few days. Take notes, pace yourself and fully soak up the GCUC experience. Team GCUC always brings it, so prepare to keep up!
Embrace the evolution of coworking
Coworking has been on a wild ride for the last 15 years. It has transformed from a DIY movement into a global industry. The spaces are incredible. We’re branching off into unexpected niches and markets. Flex has now entered the chat. Growth projections continue to impress. Corporate adoption of coworking is very real.
And … the loneliness epidemic rages on. The fancy spaces need to deliver something more than fancy space, or they will get left behind. Community-focused coworking is back in the spotlight because, it turns out, we really do need each other and indie coworking solves for loneliness very, very well.
Coworking has evolved and will continue to evolve. It was never going to stay a scrappy little DIY movement. When an idea has the potential to transform the world, don’t be surprised when it transforms the world. So embrace it! Go with it! Find the place within this amazing industry and global community where you can share your superpower, serve your community and work within your zone of genius.
Look for the similarities
If you focus on the differences between you and other operators, you’ll miss out on so much. I can’t stress this enough: Everyone has something to teach you, and you have something to teach them. Focus on the similarities and align where you can. This is where the good stuff is.
Contribute to conversations
Your perspective is valuable. Share your thoughts, your tips, your insights, your ideas. The big brands have much to learn from indie coworking spaces (and vice versa). As we move back toward a community-focused model as an industry, there are a lot of brands, spaces, and pros who are eager to learn how you actually do that. Because, as any community-focused space knows, the space is the easy part. What happens in the space is where the transformational work begins.
Take advantage of access to industry leaders
GCUC is always packed with industry leaders and game-changers. Don’t overlook this rare opportunity to learn from and talk with people doing amazing things in the industry and their local (and beyond) communities.
Make some friends
Coworking people are your people! Make some friends, reach out to operators you haven’t met yet, grab a coffee with someone new, introduce yourself. You just might make a connection that will help elevate your business and form a friendship that will last a lifetime. I certainly have.
Learn about tools and strategies
You’ll hear about tools and strategies that will help you level up and possibly transform how you work. Listen, learn, ask questions, be curious. If something doesn’t resonate with you, cool. But make sure you know all that is available to you. As coworking explodes, so too does the number and quality of the tools supporting coworking spaces.
Have fun
Don’t take yourself too seriously. Coworking is full of fun, cool people, and you can find a bunch of them at GCUC. Bring a good sense of humor and know that you may have an occasional eye roll. You won’t agree with everyone. And that’s part of the fun!
Hang out with me
I’m on a mission to connect with everyone in coworking, and I am all in on community-focused spaces. So come find me, tell me what you’re up to and what you could use help with. I’m happy to point you in the right direction and make any intros that would be valuable. So come say hi, tell me what you’re building in your space and community and ask me about the Coworking Creators Lab for community-focused spaces. I’ll do my best not to talk your ear off.
Catch the Indie Coworking discussion
On Tuesday afternoon, there’s a panel titled, “The Unscalable Advantage: Why Indie Spaces Win When Big Brands Can’t Keep Up,” with my friends Angel Kwiatkowski, Jessie Hathcock, Jeanette Rodriguez, Brandon Houston, and Kristin Hardwick. If you need to ground into something that feels relevant to you, this promises to be a great discussion. I’ll see you there.
Talk with sponsors and service providers
Years ago a space operator told me she had no idea what most conference sponsors do, and that she was slightly intimidated to ask.
Embrace the moment and ask! The people sponsoring GCUC would be delighted to tell you, and you just might find a service or software that solves a pressing issue for you and your space.
Go ahead and walk up to the sponsors. The ones I know and work with (There’s a lot of overlap between GCUC sponsors and our Coworking Convos sponsors) are all super nice and easy to talk with. Plus, coworking is such a close-knit community that the sponsors and service providers are the same people you’ll be eating next to and mingling with. Just think of them as part of the larger coworking community. Because they are.
Ask questions
If you have a question, it’s likely that a bunch of other people have the same question. Ask away! It’s a great way to learn and further your understanding of, well, everything.
Be open to big ideas
Maybe you want to scale. Maybe you want to stay small. Maybe you’re already on your way to dominating your region. Maybe you’re brand new to coworking. Wherever you are in your coworking journey, be open to breakthrough ideas and big thinking. I mean, if we’re going to transform the world, we have to go big, right?
Can’t wait to see you in New York City!
I attend, speak, and host things at GCUC year after year because it lights me up. This year I’m hosting a meetup for anyone creating content, community, and impact, before the welcome party (Check the event app for details), as well as two roundtables on what actually drives retention and belonging in a coworking space. If you’ll be at GCUC, come hang out with us.
If you don’t have your GCUC ticket, use the code CATGCUC for a discount.
📸 Photos: GCUC
