140: Ashley Proctor - Coworking: A Movement and Catalyst for Innovation and Community

Ashley Proctor, Founder of Creative Blueprint, Coworking Canada, and COHIP, is one of the founders of the coworking movement. She shares her experiences designing coworking environments as catalysts for creative and business synergy with economic sustainability and social impact. Ashley explains the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration and how intentional community-building leads to long-term success. She emphasizes how coworking represents a shift in how people connect, co-create, and thrive together shaping the future of work.

TAKEAWAYS

[01:45] Ashley Proctor chooses to study art and design for its creative problem solving.

[02:34] Ashley feels at home with people at college who are all 'a little bit weird'!

[03:42] Space issues during a renovation lead Ashley to create a shared study and learning environment.

[04:55] XSpace is created to provide an external, student-run environment which has lasting impact.

[06:22] Coworking for artists looks different than for information workers with laptops.

[06:51] The Foundry building creates a maker space for artists, entrepreneurs, and tech startups.

[07:53] Cross-industry coworking results in artists being more entrepreneurial and entrepreneurs being more creative in problem-solving.

[09:49] 312 Main transforms a former police building into a coworking hub focused on social impact.

[12:18] A bold vision and complex situation requires extensive community consultation and is a slow build.

[13:34] Co-creation stimulates the necessary transformation supported by the local community.

[14:40] Thoughtful coworking design includes harm reduction, de-escalation strategies, and cultural inclusivity. [24:00] The coworking movement is rooted in accessibility, inclusion, and empowering independent workers. [26:30] COHIP (Coworking Health Insurance Plan) emerges to address gaps in coverage for freelancers. [29:00] Ashley's personal health crisis highlights the need for sustainable, independent health coverage. [31:30] COHIP expands to serve artists, entrepreneurs, and small businesses across Canada. [34:00] The IDEA Project challenges coworking spaces globally to enhance inclusivity and accessibility. [37:00] Coworking is about fostering connections and collaboration, not just providing office space. [39:30] Larger organizations can benefit from coworking's agility and cross-pollination of ideas. [42:00] Companies are increasingly funding coworking memberships to support hybrid work needs. [45:00] Employees thrive with autonomy in choosing coworking spaces that suit different tasks. [47:30] Coworking hubs in rural areas provide professional environments without long commutes. [50:00] Ashley shifts focus to mentorship and ensuring long-term sustainability of coworking models. [53:00] Community land trusts and coworking hubs can serve multiple civic and emergency functions. [56:00] Larger organizations should see coworking as a strategic investment, not just a perk. [58:30] Flexible workspaces help companies reduce costs, improve retention, and boost productivity. [1:01:00] Coworking spaces offer expertise in workplace design, benefiting both employees and companies. [1:03:30] IMMEDIATE ACTION TIP: Your company can benefit from coworking by realizing lease cost savings, the coworking provider's informed use of assets, tools, and space, and improved employee wellbeing and retention.

This episode emphasizes how coworking drives innovation, inclusivity, and economic growth while providing practical benefits for individuals and organizations alike.

RESOURCES

QUOTES

Verbatim Quotes from Ashley Proctor Episode Title: Coworking as a Catalyst for Innovation and Community

1. "Working as a movement."

2. "I feel like I'm solving problems and sometimes founding an entity is the way to do it, to continue to solve it for other folks."

3. "When we build those spaces with intention, we can have a lot of layered impact."

4. "I've been saying from the beginning that what we're doing really is about what we're doing when we're working together."

5. "The magic that happens when we work together."

6. "It was a massive vision for a very complex space in a complex neighborhood."

7. "The key pillars, like I said, is that essential upfront communication, so the design and what we're working towards is fully community-led and then community-centered."

8. "Coworking is about what happens when we work together."

9. "The coworking movement and industry remains inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible."

10. "The diversity and the collaboration is what makes it work."

11. "To empower their employees to do their best work, they need to give them that flexibility of choice as well."

12. "I'm seeing a lot of growth in rural communities or outside of the urban core, where people don't want to commute all the way downtown to go to work."

13. "Happy and healthy employees are productive and loyal employees."

14. "We don't need to maintain headquarters in these office spaces around the world that are mostly empty."

15. "We are really just starting to see this blossom around the world."