Meet Cathy – Office Manager at Embassy House Medborgarplatsen, a Coworking Space in Stockholm Built on Service and Community
A human approach to coworking, office hotel services, and community building in Stockholm
At Embassy House Medborgarplatsen, a central coworking space in Stockholm, the member experience is shaped not only by the companies working there—but also by the on-site team who run the space every day.
One of the key people behind this experience is Cathy Chen, Office Manager at Embassy House Stockholm.
Her background is unusual for the coworking and office hotel industry, but it reflects what Embassy House stands for: service, accessibility, flexibility, and genuine human connection.
From Michelin-star kitchens to coworking space management in Stockholm
Before working in coworking, Cathy spent almost 10 years working as a chef in fine dining restaurants, including Michelin-starred kitchens.
This experience built a strong foundation in:
precision and operational excellence
teamwork under pressure
delivering high-quality service
She later studied food sustainability, which brought her to Sweden through an exchange programme.
After that, she co-founded a foodtech startup focused on reducing food waste through a surplus food marketplace, which introduced her to the coworking ecosystem in Stockholm for the first time.
That journey led her to Impact Hub Stockholm, where she discovered coworking as a community model.
“I got hooked on coworking. Not just the space, but the people and what happens when you bring different perspectives together,” she explains.
Experience across coworking, startups, and innovation ecosystems
Cathy’s career spans multiple roles in entrepreneurship and community building in Sweden, including:
Co-creating Stockholm Food Movement events for 4 years
Scaling Founder Institute Stockholm across Sweden and the New Nordics
Working at Norrsken Foundation during a restructuring phase
Supporting 300+ events and publishing a book on event strategy
Creating and trademarking the Business Event Canvas framework
Her experience combines startup growth, ecosystem development, and coworking space operations in Stockholm.
Why Embassy House is different from other coworking spaces in Stockholm
Embassy House Medborgarplatsen is a coworking space and office hotel in Stockholm that focuses on simplicity, accessibility, and service rather than exclusivity.
Cathy describes it as:
unpretentious
business casual
friendly and approachable
focused on real human interaction
Unlike premium-positioned coworking brands, Embassy House is designed to be accessible for startups and growing companies that want flexibility without unnecessary overhead.
“There’s a ping pong table, people talk to each other, and it feels very down to earth,” she says.
What good service means in a serviced office environment
For Cathy, service is the foundation of a well-functioning coworking space or office hotel.
Good service means:
fast response times
accessible on-site support
proactive problem solving
underpromising and overdelivering
At Embassy House, this includes everything from office operations to member support.
“I try to respond within 24 hours, usually the same day if possible. It’s about making sure things just work without people needing to think about it,” she says.
This level of service reduces the need for companies to hire internal office managers, making Embassy House a cost-efficient alternative to a traditional office.
What happens inside a coworking space every day
Running a serviced office in Stockholm involves both operational tasks and community support.
A typical day for Cathy can include:
making sure coffee, printers, and office supplies are working
supporting meeting room bookings and technical issues
connecting members with relevant people in her network
helping companies find accountants, advisors, or specialists
creating events and community activities
This combination of operational support and networking is what defines a modern coworking space experience.
Sometimes it also includes creative community moments like themed events, playful installations, or spontaneous member activities designed to bring people together.
Why on-site teams are essential in coworking and office hotels
Many coworking spaces rely heavily on digital systems.
But Cathy highlights that the on-site team is the most important part of the experience.
Technology can fail. Wifi issues happen. Meetings need rearranging. Members need immediate help.
The on-site team ensures:
smooth daily operations
quick problem resolution
reduced friction in office life
a consistent member experience
This is especially important in flexible office environments in Stockholm where companies expect reliability without managing it themselves.
Community in a coworking space is about people, not categories
Unlike coworking spaces that organise communities by industry or role, Embassy House focuses on something simpler: people.
With 28 nationalities represented, Embassy House is an international coworking community in Stockholm where connection happens naturally.
“We don’t try to force a specific culture. People just meet, talk, and things happen,” Cathy explains.
Community building is often supported through small, playful interactions that encourage conversation across companies.
Flexibility for growing companies in Stockholm
A key reason companies choose Embassy House is flexibility.
As companies grow, their office needs change. At Embassy House Medborgarplatsen, this can include:
expanding or reducing office space
removing or building walls between rooms
creating hybrid setups for remote and in-office teams
adjusting layouts without relocating
This makes Embassy House a practical option for startups and scaleups looking for a flexible office in Stockholm that grows with them.
Why companies stay in coworking spaces before moving to their own office
Companies typically stay at Embassy House for years before moving on.
One example is Codon, who were members for six years before expanding into their own office due to growth.
Long-term membership is often a sign that:
the workspace supported company growth
operational needs were met
the service model worked effectively
Most companies leave not because they are dissatisfied, but because they outgrow the space in terms of team size.
Why companies choose Embassy House Medborgarplatsen
Companies choose Embassy House when they want:
a central coworking space in Stockholm
a serviced office or office hotel in Södermalm
flexible office solutions that scale with growth
no need to hire internal office management staff
fast, human, on-site support
a friendly and accessible business community
“When everything works together, it becomes easy to let the coworking space handle everything around the office,” Cathy says.
“I never wanted to work in an office”
Cathy never expected to work in office environments.
“I always thought offices would be boring,” she says. “Now I run one and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
For her, Embassy House is not a workplace, but a system for making work life easier, more human, and more connected.
With 28 nationalities, diverse companies, and a strong service culture, Embassy House represents a modern model of coworking in Stockholm: practical, flexible, and community-driven.
At its core, her approach is simple:
Make things work. Help people connect. Keep it human.