Creating a Vibrant and Diverse Community: An Interview with Candy Treft, Founder of Lokal Tbilisi
Co-working spaces have become a popular alternative to traditional office spaces, providing flexibility, convenience, and a collaborative environment for professionals. Lokal Tbilisi is a co-working space in Georgia that has distinguished itself through its commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community of professionals. In this interview, we speak with Candy Treft, the founder of Lokal Tbilisi, about the challenges of running a co-working space, the importance of community, and her vision for the future of co-working spaces.
Can you tell us about a particularly memorable event or moment that occurred at LOKAL that embodies the spirit of the community you have created?
One of the most memorable events that we hold at LOKAL is our annual Holiday event, called "Epiphany: Burning of the Chichilaki." This event is particularly special as it brings together both the local community and our remote and expat members, showcasing the spirit of inclusivity and diversity that we value.
The Georgian tradition of burning the chichilaki, a holiday tree, is a symbolic way of leaving the past year's misfortunes behind and welcoming new beginnings. At our event, we had nearly 50 people in attendance, and over 30 chichilakis were burned, creating a beautiful and mesmerizing display.
It was heartwarming to see our members come together, sharing their stories and experiences, and embracing the local traditions. The event was an excellent opportunity to connect with others, celebrate diversity, and foster a sense of community and belonging.
For me, this event truly embodies the spirit of the community we have created at LOKAL - a place where people from different backgrounds and cultures can come together, learn from each other, and celebrate their differences. We are proud to foster this vibrant and inclusive community, and we look forward to creating more memorable events that showcase the unique traditions and cultures of our members.
How do you ensure that LOKAL remains a welcoming and inclusive space for members of all backgrounds and industries?
At LOKAL, we strongly believe in creating an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for all members, regardless of their background, industry, or any other personal characteristics. To achieve this, we have implemented a code of conduct that serves as a guiding principle for all members and staff to follow.
Our code of conduct outlines the behavior and actions that are expected from all members and staff at LOKAL. It promotes respect, inclusivity, and tolerance, and it prohibits any form of discrimination, harassment, or offensive behavior. We take any violations of our code of conduct very seriously and address them promptly to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for everyone.
Furthermore, all of our events are designed to be inclusive and open to all members, with no allowance for events that are targeted to a specific demographic, orientation, or gender. We believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to fostering a collaborative and creative atmosphere that benefits all of our members.
We understand that building an inclusive community is an ongoing process, and we are committed to constantly improving and adapting to the needs of our diverse members. We encourage feedback and suggestions from our members on how we can continue to make LOKAL a welcoming and inclusive space for all. If you'd like to learn more about our code of conduct, you can visit our website at https://lokaltbilisi.com/coworking-coliving-code-of-conduct/.
In what ways do you see co-working spaces like LOKAL evolving in the future? How do you plan to stay ahead of the curve?
Co-working spaces like LOKAL have become increasingly popular in recent years, and I believe this trend will continue in the future. With more people embracing remote work and flexible schedules, co-working spaces provide a convenient and productive alternative to traditional office spaces.
One way I see co-working spaces evolving is through the integration of technology. As the world becomes more digitally focused, co-working spaces will need to adapt to provide the latest technology and infrastructure to meet the needs of their members. This could include faster and more reliable internet, collaborative tools, and other innovative technologies.
In addition, I envision co-working spaces evolving to prioritize community engagement. Although remote work can offer more flexibility, it can also lead to feelings of isolation, even when working from a co-working space. Therefore, it is crucial to foster opportunities for networking and socialization, which can facilitate member collaborations and spark creativity.
At LOKAL, we are committed to staying ahead of the curve by keeping up-to-date with the latest industry trends. This involves conducting thorough research, attending relevant industry events, and actively seeking feedback from our members to identify areas for improvement. Our goal is to enhance our services and continuously provide additional benefits to our members.
Overall, I believe co-working spaces will continue to play a vital role in the future of work. By providing a flexible, collaborative, and innovative environment, co-working spaces like LOKAL will help individuals and businesses thrive in the years to come.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a founder of a co-working space, and how do you overcome them?
As the founder of a co-working space, I face a variety of challenges that require constant attention and strategic thinking to overcome. Some of the biggest challenges that I encounter include competition and member engagement. As the popularity of co-working spaces continues to grow, so does the competition. It can be challenging to differentiate ourselves from other co-working spaces, especially those that offer similar services.
We constantly seek new and innovative ways to differentiate ourselves from other co-working spaces. This could involve investing in new technology, offering unique services, or developing new partnerships. In addition, we prioritize gathering feedback and input from our members on a regular basis. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where members feel valued and supported, and where they have opportunities to network and collaborate with other professionals. By listening to our members and implementing changes based on their feedback, we can create a more vibrant and engaged community that promotes member retention and satisfaction.
Overall, the key to overcoming the challenges of running a co-working space is to stay agile, adaptable, and responsive to the needs of our members and the ever-changing landscape of the industry. By staying focused on innovation, member engagement, financial planning, and operational excellence, we overcome these challenges and create a thriving co-working space that meets the needs of our members.
How do you approach balancing the financial aspects of running a co-working space with the community-oriented aspects that are so important to LOKAL's ethos?
Balancing the financial aspects of running a co-working space with the community-oriented aspects that are so important to LOKAL's ethos is something that we take very seriously. We believe that the financial stability of our business is critical to our ability to provide a high-quality experience for our members and to create a thriving community of professionals.
At the same time, we recognize that the community aspect of our business is what sets us apart from other co-working spaces and is a fundamental part of our identity. To strike a balance between these two priorities, we have developed a business model that relies on the financial support of our co-working and co-living services to sustain the business financially.
This allows us to place a strong emphasis on providing a wide range of free community events and activities that allow our members to network, socialize, and collaborate with one another. These events are an important part of our ethos and are essential to creating a vibrant and engaged community of professionals.
Overall, we believe that the key to balancing the financial and community-oriented aspects of running a co-working space is to have a clear vision of our priorities and to be intentional in the way that we allocate our resources. By focusing on both the financial sustainability of our business and the community-oriented aspects of our ethos, we have created a co-working space that is both successful and fulfilling for our members.
Also read:Boosting Productivity in a Coworking Space: Tips and Tricks from Lokal Tbilisi