.webp)
Adriana has spent the past four years redefining what coworking can mean for people and their careers. As the Head of Coworking at CTP, she has built Clubco into a space where collaboration, growth, and human connection come first. From strategic expansion to everyday operations, her leadership ensures that every member feels supported, inspired, and part of something bigger. Her journey offers a powerful example of how thoughtful, community-driven leadership can transform not just a workspace - but the people who move through it.
After 11 years in Barcelona - the last two spent as an operations manager for a local coworking network - I discovered a world that completely captivated me. Compared to my nine years in gastronomy, coworking struck me with its depth and purpose. While restaurants offer people an experience, coworking creates space for both personal and professional growth. What I love is that a good coworking space isn’t just about a relaxed atmosphere, great coffee, and community events. Above all, it helps people move their business forward and bring their ideas to life.
To me, coworking is an energetic, open environment with a human soul - no corporate barriers, just a place where people feel comfortable, get inspired, and build new collaborations. When I returned from Spain, I searched for a similar role in the Czech Republic, and at that time, Clubco in Brno happened to be looking for a leader. It was exceptional timing. There weren’t many people in Brno with coworking experience and passion for community-building. Maybe it was coincidence, maybe fate - but definitely the right place at the right time.
For me and the team, expanding Clubco wasn’t just about growing the space - it was about growing the community. The business impulse came from our long-term 90%+ office occupancy and increasing demand from both existing and new clients. But we didn’t want to simply add more square meters. We wanted to expand the functions and possibilities we were still missing.
This led to the creation of a second event space - smaller and more private - new relaxation zones with a PlayStation, ping-pong, and table football so members could spend breaks in ways other than just drinking coffee. We also added a podcast studio, which people had been asking for. We see it as a modern tool for promoting companies and personal brands.
The challenge was balancing expansion and construction with daily operations in the already-running part of Clubco. A few months before the expansion we went through some team changes, so part of the process happened with a relatively new team that hadn’t yet experienced everything at Clubco. Still, we managed it incredibly well. We stuck together and maintained service quality and community activities throughout the expansion.
My leadership style has long been built on four pillars - trust, communication, friendship, and humanity. Over time it becomes more defined and more professional, but these foundations remain the same. The most important thing for me is having people on the team who enjoy their work and with whom we can be both partners and friends. I aim to be more of a guide and mentor to my colleagues than a “boss girl”.
Our goal isn’t just to earn as much as possible for Clubco. We want to be a real support system for our clients - offering flexible plans, services, and contracts, fair conditions, and helping them grow. We support meaningful projects, students, and charities. At the same time, I’ve learned to think more like a business leader - which is undoubtedly necessary. Tracking numbers, reporting, and keeping a better overview of processes. I’m delegating more and learning to see things from a bird’s-eye view.
Community is absolutely the heart of Clubco, and I believe it should be the heart of every coworking space. When you connect people from different fields, new ideas and opportunities emerge - the kind that wouldn’t happen otherwise. Sometimes it’s a short chat in the kitchen or a meet-up over prosecco, and a few months later, a collaboration or new project is born.
That’s what I see as the biggest added value of coworking: creating an environment where connections and innovation happen naturally. And when they don’t happen naturally, that’s where we come in - actively connecting people and creating opportunities through networking and community events.
Being a woman in leadership means bringing more understanding and empathy - seeing people not only through their performance, but also through their personality and story. Leadership doesn’t have to be aggressive or unyielding. It can be authentic, friendly, and supportive. I don’t think only women can lead this way, but we naturally tend to lean toward it.
Our team isn’t exclusively female - we also have a man who brings a different perspective and balance to our energy. Each of us is different, and that diversity creates a culture where people feel safe to be themselves and can relate to different styles and personalities.
Respect and authenticity come first. We want everyone at Clubco to feel good just as they are. Coworking should be open to anyone who wants to grow and be part of a community - regardless of age, gender, or field. At the same time, it’s completely okay if someone wants to use Clubco purely as a workspace and isn’t drawn to the community part.
We support female entrepreneurs, student projects, nonprofits, and people who bring new perspectives. We also care about the “little things” - how we speak, listen, and respond. These small moments often determine whether someone feels welcome.
Start even if things aren’t perfect. Leadership isn’t about being flawless - it’s about the courage to do things your own way. Trust your intuition, surround yourself with people who inspire you, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. That’s not weakness - it’s strength.
And most importantly, don’t compare yourself to others. Each of us has a different leadership style, and that’s a good thing. Be authentic, fair, and kind - and success will follow.
I see Clubco as a stable and respected platform that connects people, companies, and innovative projects across regions - maybe even beyond the country. We don’t want to be just a physical coworking space, but a place that supports collaboration, inspiration, and knowledge-sharing.
In five years, I hope Clubco will be a symbol of a high-quality work environment with a community of people and soul. A place where successful businesses are born, but also friendships, ideas, and meaningful projects with real impact. And above all, I hope our values remain just as human and friendly, even as the team evolves over time.
