Here at Apex, we love coworking. It brings people together, inspires creativity, and challenges the way that we look at our work. Our friends at FastTrack cowork at a impressive space called Coworking Les Galeries. Situated in the gorgeous Galeries Royales St-Hubert, this coworking space has all the beauty and grace to win the love of coworkers here in Brussels and beyond.
We’re happy to introduce to you Valerie, the owner of Coworking Les Galeries, and one of our amazing clients! Her entrepreneurial spirit is driven by a passion for hard work and the vision of an artist. We had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Valerie about how she channeled her passions into Coworking Les Galeries and her vision for its future!
Why coworking? Why Coworking Les Galeries?
I believe in the concept of coworking. It’s an answer to several challenges that we face. First is the economy; people, entrepreneurs, or the “freelancers,” are looking to launch their own businesses, and coworking allows them to do this economically. Then we have an urban demographic. We have cities, and we are all sharing square meters. It just makes sense! And now we have a society that leans towards an accent on access.
On a personal level, I cofounded another coworking space, transforma bxl. We were featured in a newspaper article, and then we were actually contacted about the space in the Galeries. Needless to say, I fell in love with the space!
What do you love most about your location?
I mean, it’s at the Galeries St-Hubert! There is a glass ceiling with natural light and statues, it’s beautiful. It’s definitely a historical space, but I also have childhood memories there, so it makes it a bit more special. The space is lively, in a central part of Brussels with a lot of people. The view, of course, is amazing. On top of this, it’s an authentic place– a space with a soul.
Why did you want to start a coworking space?
Coworking spaces are home for freelancers and entrepreneurs. I wanted to organize events for women– empowering women! Part of coworking is also meeting new people. There’s a certain magic to it. It’s something out of nothing! Ideas and collaborations are made concrete. Coworking makes ideas real.
What inspired the space that you’ve created at Les Galeries?
It’s a bit selfish. I combined all of my personal passions. I like to say that I believe in “Heart Work”– it’s hard work, but it’s also passion. I wanted to create a space that inspired people to work and innovate, but also to collaborate and test new things. It’s also an art space! We showcase designers, so we have handmade lamps, moveable furniture, painters, and designers. My vision is to eventually have everything in the space be for sale, so everything will be made by artists. I was also inspired by women entrepreneurs, so I wanted to create a space that was comfortable and safe for them to develop their professional dreams. In the end, I’ve found that art and work have a lot in common. You start from scratch and need the right ingredients to create your final product.
How do other people inspire you?
What inspires me the most? Passionate people who deliver, and are professional.
We love the vision that Valerie has for Coworking Les Galeries. Coworking is something that we also find very important, and the view at Les Galeries is pretty irresistible. If you find yourself looking for a great place to be productive and make connections, consider making a stop at Coworking Les Galeries. You can read more about it here!
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