🎙 How Innovation Is Making Real Estate Better Than Ever

The Future of Work, Leadership & Real Estate Innovation with Craig Robinson, Former Chief Growth Officer at WeWork ________________________________________________ In this episode, Chris Moreno sits down with Craig Robinson, former Chief Growth Officer at WeWork and seasoned real estate and technology executive, to explore the evolution of work, leadership, and innovation across the real estate industry. They break down: • The real story behind coworking, remote work, and the future of the office • Lessons learned scaling companies like WeWork and Industrious • Why real estate is ultimately a “people business” • The biggest misconception about proptech and venture-backed growth If you care about building smarter real estate strategies, leading high-performing teams, and understanding where the future of work is headed, this conversation will give you real-world insight, hard-earned lessons, and a new lens on leadership and innovation. ________________________________________________ Connect with Chris Moreno LinkedIn:   / chrismoreno   Instagram:   / chrismorenoatl   Twitter: https://x.com/morenochris Facebook:   / chrismoreno13   Website: https://goinfiniteniches.com/ Connect with Craig Robinson Website: https://www.craigmrobinson.com/ LinkedIn:   / craigmrobinson   ________________________________________________ Referenced in this episode Ref 1 – WeWork Company: https://www.wework.com Ref 2 – Industrious Company: https://www.industriousoffice.com ________________________________________________ Chapters 00:00 – Why the future of work isn’t what you think 01:00 – Atlanta’s rise as a tech + real estate hub 02:30 – Craig’s career journey across real estate & innovation 05:00 – Why real estate is fundamentally about people 07:30 – Leadership lessons from recruiting top talent 10:00 – The real story behind WeWork’s growth 13:00 – The “proptech vs traditional real estate” divide 16:00 – What WeWork got right (and wrong) 18:30 – Venture capital vs real estate: the mismatch 20:00 – Why coworking is a service business—not a tech business ________________________________________________ Key Ideas • Real estate is not about buildings—it’s about people, relationships, and trust • The best leaders win by recruiting, developing, and empowering talent • WeWork succeeded because it reimagined space as a human experience • The biggest mistake: treating a service business like a high-margin tech company • Innovation works best when old-school expertise meets new-school thinking ________________________________________________ Keywords future of work, coworking spaces, remote vs office work, WeWork story explained, Craig Robinson real estate, proptech trends, commercial real estate innovation, leadership in real estate, real estate investing insights, flexible office space, workplace strategy 2026, real estate leadership podcast, how to scale a business, venture capital vs real estate, startup growth lessons, office space trends, hybrid work future, Atlanta tech ecosystem, real estate podcast, Chris Moreno podcast ________________________________________________ Adam Neumann Context: Co-founder of WeWork • Referenced as a visionary leader who scaled WeWork rapidly • Known for pushing bold ideas and growth strategies • Discussed in relation to leadership style, risk-taking, and investor influence Miguel McKelvey Context: Co-founder of WeWork • Described as the “heart and soul” of WeWork’s culture • Focused on purpose, community, and the human element of workspaces • Balanced the company’s vision with meaning and connection Masayoshi Son Context: CEO of SoftBank • Mentioned as a major investor influencing WeWork’s growth strategy • Encouraged aggressive expansion and large-scale vision • Represents venture capital pressure to scale بسرعة and dominate markets David Fano Context: Chief Growth Officer at WeWork • Credited for bringing in experienced operators • Advocated for blending traditional real estate expertise with innovation • Helped legitimize the need for industry experience inside a disruptive company Adam Weers Context: COO of Trammell Crow Company (later in career) • Example of someone Craig recruited early in his career • Illustrates the long-term impact of investing in talent early Bob Sulentic Context: CEO of CBRE (formerly CEO of Trammell Crow Company) • Highlighted as a senior leader involved in recruiting efforts • Represents high-level leadership engagement in talent development Christopher Perry (Industrious colleague) Context: Real estate professional • Mentioned as someone Chris recently met • Described as passionate and deeply knowledgeable about real estate