Prompt Cast
The Journey of Miguel McKelvey in Co-Founding WeWork
TLDR Miguel McKelvey co-founded WeWork after growing up in a unique hippie community, taking risks in architecture, and facing challenges in securing office space. Despite initial struggles, WeWork grew rapidly, reaching a billion-dollar valuation and creating a seamless work environment.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Miguel McKelvey grew up in an all-women hippie collective in Eugene, Oregon before co-founding WeWork.
05:32
Miguel McKelvey grew up in a hippie community in Eugene, Oregon, surrounded by a unique environment that sparked his aspiration for something bigger.
10:07
Miguel McKelvey took a risk by moving to New York for a low-paying job in architecture, which eventually led him to work on multiple American Apparel store projects that significantly impacted his career.
14:32
Miguel McKelvey met Adam Neumann, his future partner at WeWork, through a mutual friend and connected due to their contrasting personalities and shared interest in business innovation.
18:43
Miguel McKelvey and Adam Neumann faced challenges in securing office space due to lack of experience, but eventually found a perfect building for their startup concept.
23:13
Miguel McKelvey and Adam Neumann started their company, Green Desk, by renting out office spaces in a building in Brooklyn, offering private workspaces with a diverse community of companies.
27:46
Miguel McKelvey and his partners quickly filled up their first building with 350 members at Green Desk, leading to profitable growth and expansion plans that eventually led to a sale of the business.
31:50
Miguel McKelvey and his partners struggled to come up with a new name for their community-oriented business until a friend suggested "WeWork" in the middle of the night, leading them to secure their first building in Soho through persistence and the funds from the Green Desk sale.
36:09
Miguel McKelvey and his partners took on the challenge of wiring their first WeWork building themselves, including tasks like soda blasting and using baking soda to remove paint, resulting in a unique and engaging workspace that quickly attracted members.
40:05
Miguel McKelvey and his partners attracted an early investor by proposing a $45 million valuation, leading to the first investment in WeWork and subsequent rapid growth and expansion.
44:40
Miguel McKelvey reflects on the journey from reaching a billion dollar valuation with WeWork to creating a work environment that integrates life and work seamlessly.
49:27
The podcast episode concludes with information on how to find more episodes and submit stories for future features.
Categories:
Business
