In this episode, Mark Gilbreath, CEO & Founder of LiquidSpace dives into the hidden killer of hybrid: the coordination tax—that silent productivity drain when freedom isn’t matched with structure.
Mark unpacks how smart companies like T-Mobile, Allstate, Airbnb, Spotify, and the GSA are rethinking office strategy with:
- Flexible workspace ecosystems
- AI-powered portfolio intelligence
- People-first planning (not place-first guessing)
What We Cover:
- Why the RTO debate is a distraction
- The economics behind Allstate’s $250M cost savings
- How to unlock the “Hybrid Dividend” (yes, it’s real)
- Why 83% of office bookings are not for solo work
- And how to actually make hybrid work… work
6 Takeaways From the Conversation with Mark Gilbreath
1. The Real Enemy of Hybrid Work? Coordination Chaos.When everyone chooses where to work, but no one aligns on when—collaboration breaks down. This is the coordination tax. And it’s killing productivity.
2. Flip the Script: People, Then Place. Traditional systems ask: “Where do you want to work?”LiquidSpace asks: “What are you trying to do—and with whom?”This is what makes hybrid work actually work.
3. Flex Work Isn’t Fringe Anymore. The biggest enterprises on the planet are ditching fixed leases for agile space networks—complete with budgets, policies, and booking data baked in.
4. AI = Instant Portfolio Intelligence. LiquidSpace Portfolio Manager can now calculate the cost delta between flex and leased space in seconds. What used to take weeks? Now it’s a click.
5. The Hybrid Dividend Is Double. Place dividend: Massive cost savings (e.g. Allstate cut $382M to $125M) People dividend: Choice → Engagement → Retention
6. Data v. Gut Feel. 83% of bookings are for group work. Real data is revealing how, where, and why people gather—and how CRE strategy needs to catch up.
Meet Mark Gilbreath
Mark is the founder and CEO of LiquidSpace, the hybrid workplace management SaaS platform and on-demand office marketplace for enterprise.
The LiquidSpace marketplace is the only platform today that is providing dynamic companies with the superpowers to provide a global workforce with workplace flexibility and provide their workplace leaders with the tools to control and learn from the new rituals of work and workplace.
A silicon valley veteran, Mark began his career in the semiconductor industry in the late 80’s, before founding and operating a series of software and real estate ventures, culminating with LiquidSpace.
Key Moments
01:16 – Introduction to Hybrid Work Challenges
02:52 – The Birth of LiquidSpace
08:35 – Navigating the Pandemic’s Impact
17:12 – Leveraging Data for Strategic Decisions
21:02 – Understanding the Hybrid Dividend
24:27 – The Shift Towards Flexibility and Choice
27:29 – Addressing the Coordination Tax
32:50 – Innovative Solutions for Team Collaboration
34:25 – The People Dividend and ROI in Real Estate
37:30 – Data-Driven Decisions in Workplace Strategy
41:30 – Employee Choice and Space Utilization
45:50 – Empowering Employees in Workplace Design
48:39 – The Human-Centric Approach to Workspaces
51:39 – Workplace Transformation and Employee Engagement
53:33 – The Role of Policy in Hybrid Work
58:44 – Looking Ahead: Peak Office and Future Trends
01:01:16 – The GSA and Flexible Office Solutions
Credits:
- Created & Directed By Bob Fox
- Produced By Work Design Studios
