International Women's Day 2020: Celebrating astounding women in the coworking industry.
The celebration of International Women's Day is a universal yearly event, which takes place on the 8th of March. On this day, the world honours women who have excelled in their professions and industries from the likes of Malala Yousaf to Dr Mae Jemison and Jessica Watson. We've decided to partake in this celebration by putting pen to paper and composing a list of astounding women in the coworking industry, in no particular order.
Liz Elam: Liz Elam is a known and celebrated leader of the global coworking movement. Liz Elam blends a spirit of collaboration and innovation with an unwavering commitment to excellence and pushing boundaries.
Founder of the largest coworking conference in the world, the Global Coworking Unconference Community (GCUC). Liz Elam unapologetically pushes the coworking movement to adopt sound business practices and think bigger about the vision and impact individual operators and workspace brands can make.
Liz Elam, also launched Link Coworking in Austin, Texas, in 2010, which expanded to three locations, and she grew it to the fourth-largest coworking brand in Austin before selling it in 2019.
Cat Johnson: Cat Johnson is a content strategist, storyteller and teacher; her work focuses on coworking and community. She is the founder of coworking Convos and the Coworking Content Alliance. In early 2020, she launched the Coworking Content Shop to provide a one-stop resource for marketing and content tools. As lead writer for Shareable, Cat Johnson helped establish the publication as the 4th nonprofit blog in the world. Her work has been featured in dozens of publications, including Yes! Magazine, Mother Jones, Triple Pundit, Huffington Post, Lifehacker and Allwork space.
Angel Kwiatkowski: Angel Kwiatkowski is the founder of Cohere, the first and largest community-managed shared office space in Fort Collins, Colorado. Since its opening in 2010, Cohere has helped more than 500 local freelancers and remote employees to integrate into their community and to achieve professional and personal success. Angel was also the first female panellist at the first-ever Global Coworking Unconference and Conference (GCUC), and she is among the few female coworking authors in America. She also founded Fort Collins' the first niche collaborative rehearsal space for musicians in 2015.
Chelsea Rustrum: Chelsea Rustrum is the author of It's a Shareable Life, and the founder of a social and educational series in the Silicon Valley, dubbed The Sharers. Chelsea Rustrum also worked as an adviser to dozens of marketplaces, she speaks to corporate audiences such as PwC and J&J. Chelsea Rustrum has participated in various conferences and summits speaking on the growth and development of the collaborative economy, including TEDx, Expo Italy, Grow Co. She also contributed to articles in Inc. Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Wired, Forbes, and The Economist.
Nicole Vasquez: Nicole Vasquez, is a serial entrepreneur, she has built companies and communities with the shared mission of supporting, promoting, and connecting people to the resources, opportunities, and networks that can help them reach their personal or professional goals. Nicole was named one of the "35 Under 35 Making an Impact in Chicago," she won the 46th Ward Innovator Award and the RedEye Chicago Big Idea Award for Community. She was a Professional Fellow through the U.S. Department of State travelling to Europe to speak about entrepreneurship, building collaborative communities, and owning coworking spaces.
Her current roles include Co-Founder and Chief Community Officer of Deskpass (named one of Chicago's "50 on Fire" companies), Co-Founder of Second Shift (coined as 'Chicago's Best Coworking Space in 2017). Founder of The Shift, a social impact program company, which empowers people with the skills to create and maintain safe, respectful, and inclusive environments and communities.
Some women in the coworking industry couldn't make it to this list, nonetheless, we celebrate and honour you, including every other woman reading this. As the saying goes, an empowered woman is an empowering woman. Happy international women's day!
The growing understanding of coworking needs, combined with our innovative approach means that we can keep this coworking SaaS up-to-date with new features and improve the user experience. If you would like to read more of our helpful tips, subscribe to our free newsletter below. Thank you for reading.
Related stories
Global Coworking Trends and Opportunities for 2025
Now well into 2025, the coworking industry continues to demonstrate strong momentum. With demand for coworking spaces remaining steady around the globe, it's clear that coworking is not just enduring—it's thriving. Let’s explore the major trends and opportunities shaping the global coworking landscape this year.
Creating Events that Drive Community Engagement in Coworking Spaces
Community is everything in coworking, but a genuine sense of connection between members doesn’t magically happen overnight or by chance. Often, meaningful relationships take intentionality, effort, and time to build, with events being an effective vehicle for bringing people together around shared interests, goals, and experiences, creating opportunities for collaboration, and a thriving coworking culture. This article looks at creating events that drive community engagement in coworking spaces.
Liz Elam: ‘Community is the number one amenity in coworking spaces’
A household name in the global coworking industry, Liz Elam, is the founder of one of the world’s best coworking event series: GCUC. Liz’s coworking roots began in 2010, when she established Link Coworking – a welcoming, affordable, and professional coworking space – in her hometown of Austin, Texas. Link Coworking achieved incredible success, expanding across three locations and becoming the fourth-largest coworking brand in Austin. It was sold in 2019, making Liz the first woman globally to exit a coworking brand.
Key Takeaways from the Coworking Alliance Summit 2025
Gathering online for the Coworking Alliance Summit last week, members of global coworking alliances, coworking spaces, and community leaders came together to navigate global issues, strengthen ties across the coworking industry, and work collectively towards future goals.
5 Ways to Reduce Noise in Open Offices & Coworking Spaces
Some people like working against a background of noise, while for others it’s their worst work nightmare. The truth is, our relationship with noise depends on our own preferences and the nature of our work.
Key takeaways from the Workspace Design Show 2025
London’s Workspace Design Show is undoubtedly one of the best coworking events of 2025. For one, the exhibition (held at Islington’s Business Design Centre) features a host of innovative and creative workspace design solutions tailored to the needs of modern workplaces.
What Is Workplace Management and Why Does It Matter?
There has always been a need for workplace management – the process of organising and optimising physical spaces, resources, and operations to support people’s needs. But, as 28% of UK working adults were reported to work in a hybrid capacity last autumn (by the Office for National Statistics), the question of ‘why workplace management matters’ is more critical than ever. Let’s look at the workplace management benefits for your operations.
10 Smart Goals for your Coworking Space: How to Set & Achieve Business Objectives
Coworking is synonymous with creativity, collaboration and productivity. Businesses and freelancers love coworking spaces because (by surrounding themselves with fellow workers) they’re more likely to achieve their goals. The coworking environment, while social, is set up to facilitate focused, distraction-free working.
The Best Coworking Events in 2025: Must-Attend Gatherings for Professionals
Managing coworking spaces is an all-encompassing role, often leaving operators, owners, and community managers with little time to focus on personal growth or draw inspiration from others.
10 Award-winning Coworking Space Designs: A Comprehensive Guide
Vibrant, contemporary workspaces create an undeniable ‘wow’ factor. Textured designs and ambient lighting make spaces feel warm and cosy, while natural elements and biophilic design features have literal mood-boosting properties.
Community
