195. How Alanna Imbach Built Vibe Coworks Around Community and Connection

What happens when someone leaves a career at the United Nations to open a coworking space in a small town? That's exactly what Alanna Imbach, Founder and CEO of Vibe Coworks, did. Alanna spent 17 years working around the world, including with the UN World Food Programme and WaterAid, before returning to her hometown of Poulsbo, Washington. What started as a search for a place where she and her husband could continue working remotely became Vibe Coworks. In this episode, we talk about: How Alanna's first experience with coworking happened at Grind in New York City Why she originally thought coworking was a terrible idea and what changed her mind The decision to leave a global career and return home to build something locally Designing a coworking space from the ground up after visiting dozens of spaces around the world How Vibe Coworks became part of a unique mixed-use building that includes a restaurant, chocolate shop, liquor store, and speakeasy The creation of Matchstick Lab and its work supporting entrepreneurship in the community Building a culture where people get to know each other as people first, not just by what they do for work Why Alanna believes people should be able to do the work they love from the place they love. This conversation is a great reminder that coworking can be about much more than workspace. It can be about creating connections, supporting entrepreneurs, and helping people build meaningful careers without leaving the communities they care about. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Alanna on LinkedIn Vibe Coworks website Connect with your Hosts: Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast