In this episode of the Coworking Values Podcast, Bernie sits down with Vanessa Sans, a leader and quiet storm who’s been rewriting coworking rules across Europe, Africa, and beyond for over fifteen years.
From the gritty streets of Barcelona’s transforma bcn to the sun-drenched calm of Kalima Coliving, Coworking & Cafè, Vanessa’s work isn’t just about creating workspaces but connecting people in ways that matter.
Her influence stretches across continents like a thread between the wild, untethered lives of digital nomads and the locals who shape these communities from the ground up.
But this isn’t your typical coworking success story.
It’s about sweat, failure, and the hard lessons learned in the trenches.
Kalima—a place born from vision and struggle—is more than just a coworking space by the sea.
It’s a personal victory for Vanessa, a testament to the power of community-led neighbourhood coworking.
Here, the lines blur between work and life as Kalima - Coliving | Work Café breathes new life into the local economy, revitalising the neighbourhood and building a culture far beyond desks and Wi-Fi and just 7 seconds from the beach.
This is where Vanessa’s journey and the coworking community’s future collide in something raw, natural, and undeniably triumphant.
Timeline Summary:
[00:26] – Bernie introduces Vanessa Sans as a coworking leader and a community architect whose projects span continents.
Her work has brought people together in coworking spaces beyond the physical—spaces that breathe life into cities and create lasting bonds.[02:51] – Vanessa reminisces about her first encounter with coworking at Utopicus - it wasn’t just a moment of inspiration but a revelation.
It was a place that wasn’t just about working but connecting and building something bigger than yourself.[04:48] – The birth of transforma bcn. Vanessa doesn’t just talk about founding this space; she explains her vision of coworking as a tool for transformation.
She didn't just want to build a business—she wanted to create a movement that brings culture, creativity, and collaboration together.
[06:04] – Coworking in Europe back in 2012. This was the beginning of something much more significant.
Vanessa reflects on how she helped shape coworking into more than an office space—it became a cultural hub, a place for ideas to meet and grow.[09:55] – The 2014 Coworking Europe Conference in Lisbon.
This wasn’t just a conference; it was a reunion of sorts—a meeting of minds that were shaping the coworking world.
For Vanessa, this was a pivotal moment when coworking became more than just an idea; it became a movement that connected people across borders.
The video below was made at the Copass Camp at Coworking Europe Lisbon in 2014.
Watch out for Vanessa and Bernie in this video below.
(And the goodbye hugs with our late great coworking friend Matija Raos in the final scene.)[15:41] – The serendipity of Kalima.
Vanessa describes when she stumbled upon a beachside hotel in Catalonia that would soon become her latest venture.
Kalima - Coliving | Work Café isn’t just a coworking space—it’s a community by the sea where remote workers and locals come together to create something unique.[20:19] – The magic of co-creation. Vanessa didn’t build Kalima - Coliving | Work Café alone—she invited local and international remote workers to help shape its branding and philosophy.
The result? It is a thriving, organic community that has always been there.[29:17] – Digital nomads vs. remote workers: Vanessa breaks down the differences and how Kalima has become a unique space that caters to both, creating a blend of work and life that few places can offer.
[32:28] – How coworking spaces like Kalima will transform neighbourhoods. It’s not just about business; it’s about people.
Vanessa shows us how coworking spaces can activate local economies, support nearby businesses, and foster a sense of belonging that’s hard to find in today’s fragmented world.
Detailed Episode Breakdown:
Vanessa Sans isn’t just another coworking consultant.
Vanessa has seen firsthand how these spaces can change the fabric of a city, the rhythm of a street, and the lives of the people inside them.
In this episode, we follow her journey from the streets of Barcelona, where she founded transforma bcn, to the sunlit shores of Kalima - Coliving | Work Café.
This conversation is about more than workspaces—building lasting communities.
Vanessa talks about how she built Kalima - Coliving | Work Café from the ground up, involving local and international workers in every process step.
It’s a rare and beautiful example of what can happen when a space is created with the people in mind rather than just profit.
We explore how coworking can revitalize a neighbourhood by creating collaboration, friendship, and economic growth opportunities.
For Vanessa, coworking spaces aren’t just places to work—they’re hubs of creativity, culture, and connection.
Kalima is the embodiment of that vision.
Links & Resources:
Happy Working Lab - Vanessa’s consulting firm.
transforma bcn coworking space.
Join the 7k people in the LinkedIn Coworking Group
Save the date 15th May 2025, European Coworking Day
Connect with Bernie on LinkedIn
Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn
One more thing
Remember, the strength of our communities lies in our collective efforts and shared values.
Please rate, follow, share, and leave a review for the Coworking Values Podcast; it helps our show have an even greater impact.
It also helps people in the general public and your neighbourhood understand coworking, how it can benefit their local community, and how it can benefit them in building their careers, projects, and work.
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