CANOPY Senior Community Manager Lauren Behm recently celebrated her first anniversary with the CANOPY team. Here, she reflects on the last 12 months in the evolving world of work, and some of her favorite things to do in the neighborhood and wider Bay Area.
Where did you work prior to joining the CANOPY team?
I’ve been working in restaurants for 20 years. Before I was hired as a Community Manager in SF, I produced events for Original Joe’s restaurants–I was there for about four years–and was based just up the street at the group’s North Beach location. A friend of mine, Juliet Turalski, who used to work for CANOPY, told me that this position had opened up and she thought I’d be perfect for it. I came in and interviewed and that was it!
Congrats! How does your role at CANOPY compare to working at Original Joe’s?
They’re both very different. CANOPY is definitely at a more corporate scale and I had a lot to learn when I first started. I was working in sales at Original Joe’s as well, but selling coworking space is very different to selling private space in a restaurant environment and running events. One reason I love coming into work at CANOPY is that my day to day varies.
I start my morning going through my emails, following up on leads and private office inquiries, and making sure that everything is set up for the day. Then, I take on whatever comes my way: examples of typical tasks include working on facilities projects, offering tours to prospective new members, helping new members move in and helping long-term members with anything they might need. There’s always something for me to do and I really enjoy it.
In your first two months here after 20 years in the restaurant industry, you’ve been able to see evolutions in the world of work with fresh eyes: mask mandates being relaxed, people becoming more comfortable in shared workspaces. Do you have advice or observations around the benefits of a hybrid or coworking model today?
During this period when the work-from-home model became more prevalent, it really emphasized how important it is to have camaraderie between employees, colleagues and associates–especially in the wake of the worst part of the COVID-19 epidemic. I noticed that people had become a little more comfortable with working at home, but that they didn’t have the same strong connections or chemistry with the people they were working with. This made it much harder for people to interact with new people, which is what I think is the best part about hybrid work and coworking spaces: networking, meeting new people, and just being able to interact face to face.
Feeling connected is so important. I think it’s great to have our own quiet space in which to work, but then also be able to connect and network at other times–CANOPY offers both! We have private offices, meeting rooms and phone booths, and communal spaces in which to work, talk and relax.
Do you have an essential office item, amenity or tool that you’ve discovered at CANOPY?
At our Financial District location, we have a Nespresso machine and a matcha maker, as well as Brian the barista at Jackson Square, and I definitely take advantage of those amenities every day. Working in a restaurant, you have access to all tea and coffee facilities and it’s really nice to have that here as well –making my own coffee and having coffee talks with members by the machine has become part of my routine in the morning and throughout the day. I really enjoy those special moments where we can take a break from work and connect with each other.
Sustainability is something we’re focused on at CANOPY day-to-day, from becoming carbon positive by purchasing credits through SeaTrees, to sourcing drinks and snacks for members. We use Counter Culture coffee, which is sustainably sourced from cooperatives and villages around the world, and we procure healthy snacks from SunRidge Farms in bulk to avoid wasteful packaging.
Do you have any advice for somebody who’s looking to make a career shift, or perhaps apply for a role at CANOPY?
Go in with an open mind, and always take advice from the people who have been at the company for a while. Always be ready to learn and get out of your comfort zone. I think a lot of people feel frustrated if they can’t do something right away–sometimes things take a little more time to master. Sales in general is a constant learning curve, ebbing and flowing with the current market.
At CANOPY, specifically, everyone wears multiple hats, tackling anything and everything that comes our way–we’re a really cohesive, supportive team–and I’ve found there’s so much to learn. I couldn’t ask for a better mentor than my boss, Jessica Kearney, CANOPY’s VP of Operations. Jessica is always there if I have any questions, and is always willing to offer guidance and make sure that everybody excels. She supports our entire team, day in and day out.
At CANOPY, being successful is about understanding the needs of the talented people who come for a tour and owning your own individual style while being true to the brand’s core philosophy of offering five-star service and sustainable, thoughtfully designed, meticulously maintained spaces.
What skill do you think everyone should master?
People skills and communication skills are key. I think in all aspects of life, whether it’s for your job or just meeting someone new and just being nice to people, interpersonal skills are super important, both inside and outside the workplace.
Everyone at CANOPY knows you’re passionate about music. Is there a musician, band, DJ or album you would recommend to anyone?
I love almost every genre of music. From Sofi Tukker, Majid Jordan, Tash Sultana, Billie Eilish, and Rebelution, to The Animals and Bruce Springsteen. That’s just to name very few. I’m one of those people that has 52 playlists on my phone, so what I listen to is usually based on my mood. I love going to live shows at The Fox Theater in Oakland, The Midway in San Francisco, 1015 Folsom in San Francisco, and the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. There are so many great shows and artists to see in the Bay Area.
A destination you never get tired of traveling to or spending time in?
I grew up in Marin and I love getting out of the city to spend time there when I can. What I love most about Marin is being out in nature, going hiking or stopping at my favorite stores, restaurants, and bars. Whenever I’m in Marin, I always have to get Sol Food in San Rafael. Some other favorite Marin restaurants of mine are Hook Fish, Buckeye Roadhouse, Piatti, and Joe’s Taco Lounge, all located in Mill Valley; and Bar Bocce, The Trident, Sushi Ran, and Copita all located in Sausalito.
What’s your favorite thing to do in San Francisco?
For a night on the town, I love going out in North Beach, close to CANOPY’s Jackson Square location. I know many people who live and work in the area after working at Original Joe’s for so long. It’s a great area packed with restaurants and bars so you can bounce around from place to place.