Welcome back to Franchise Interviews! Today, we are sitting down with Mike Thakur, the mastermind behind the WorkLodge franchise opportunity. Now, Mike’s journey to the business world is anything but ordinary. After moving from the UK to Houston, planting a church, and working in high-stakes international security, he noticed a major problem: the shared workspaces he was forced to use felt less like a community and more like solitary confinement.

He knew professionals deserved better. So in 2015, he launched WorkLodge—a franchise designed to design, operate, and grow all-inclusive workspaces that actually inspire and empower their members. And timing couldn't be better: the shared workspace industry has exploded.

We’re diving deep into the WorkLodge model today. Plus, stick around for Part Two, where we’ll drop a fan-favorite clip from our Great Quotes in Franchising Podcast.

Let’s get into it!

Through our weekly franchise radio show and podcast, Franchise Interviews has built a library of more than 1,000 franchise interviews featuring leading franchisors, franchise experts, franchise attorneys, franchisees, consultants, and authors. Each episode provides insights into franchising, entrepreneurship, leadership, and business growth. Listen to more episodes at www.franchiseinterviews.com.

Dr. Martin McDermott is also the author of Rock Star MBA, a book that explores the lessons learned from rock stars, musicians, actors, artists, and other creative professionals. Drawing from decades of interviews and research, Dr. McDermott discovered that many successful performers have developed valuable insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, creativity, and personal growth. Many of the insights featured in Rock Star MBA originated from conversations and interviews conducted through Franchise Interviews. Rock Star MBA challenges readers to see art and business not as opposites, but as complementary ways of understanding innovation, value creation, and human connection. Learn more at www.rockstarmba.com.