At Common Desk, we’ve always believed that the magic of coworking happens outside of the dedicated office space. It happens when a designer bumps into a lawyer, or when a startup founder shares a laugh with a financial analyst. Those unexpected connections, those ‘common threads’ of shared experience, are what help us build a vibrant professional community and defeat loneliness in the workplace.
That’s why Common Thread was born: a monthly, community-wide networking event that’s quickly becoming one of our most popular staples. Think of it as the ultimate low-pressure, high-impact gathering, designed to pull you away from your screen, plug you directly into the talented ecosystem that surrounds you, and deliver valuable knowledge and experience you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Each month, an industry and topic are chosen and members of those categories are invited to share on a panel in our shared space.
What is Common Thread?
Common Thread is our seamless and practical answer to the traditional, sometimes stuffy, networking event. Like all of our events, it’s your chance to meet the faces behind the companies you pass in the hallways. We bring in some fantastic food, crank up the music, and ensure our hospitality bar is fully stocked with coffee (and cocktails).
But the real focus isn’t the refreshments—it’s the connections. Common Thread offers an easy, disarmed way to expand your professional network, whether you utilize our dedicated office spaces, day passes, monthly coworking memberships, or one-off conference room rentals. It gives you the ability to access the knowledge, experience, and expertise of other professionals working in industries you’d never encounter otherwise. We see dozens of new collaborations and friendships start here every month, proving that your career’s best work resources and friends are sitting mere desks away in your Common Desk workspace.
A Word From Our Staff
We asked Caleb, the Community Lead who’s the mastermind behind Common Thread, to share his perspective on the event:
“The Common Thread event started with the idea of ‘space activation’. We have large, aesthetic shared spaces, but I wondered how often we were utilizing every nook and cranny for member events. That was the idea at first, to do an event in open space. It evolved into being a sort of panel or ‘TED Talk’ because we’d be sitting on a sectional in an area that almost resembled a stage. The result? We gathered a cluster of members to sit on a panel and talk about their businesses! The name came from the fact that each member on the panel had something in common. Our very first installment of Common Thread was for Women’s History Month. So, our ‘common thread’ on that panel was that it was occupied by the ladies of Common Desk – Richardson. Other iterations have been the field or industry as the commonality. There are so many directions to take it, which makes it fun for other Common Desk locations to adapt to their spaces and their unique community.”
Threading the Needle Coast-to-Coast
The event was such a hit in Richardson, Texas that it wasn’t long before our team members in other markets decided to try it. Aaron, Maggie, and Emily from our Common Desk – Wilmington location in North Carolina saw the excitement and knew they had to deliver that level of community to their members.
“Sometimes it’s easy to just pass each other in the hall, but Common Thread creates a space for us to really connect and learn from one another. We’ve loved hearing everyone’s stories, ranging from the unique challenges of working remotely to the experience of being newcomers in Wilmington. We’re excited for what’s next, including this month’s discussion on influential books and the business-focused theme planned for Q1 of next year.”
The Member Perspective
The greatest validation of Common Thread’s success comes straight from the people it’s designed for: our members. Here’s what they’re saying:
“I’m Malik. I’ve been a Common Desk member for the last year and have attended Common Thread for the last three months regularly. Trust me, it’s been an amazing experience—bringing entrepreneurs and professionals together in one place to share experience and discuss things that aren’t widely brought up. That’s the beauty of exchanging thoughts. You may have some disagreements but at the end of the day, you forget all that with good company and food around you.”
Video Recap
Want to see Common Thread in action? Check out a preview of our last gathering below!
Join the Thread
Ready to step out of the office and into the conversation? If you’re looking for high-quality workspace rentals or a new office space where community is a core value, check us out! Existing members, check your monthly newsletter and the CD member portal for details on the next Common Thread event (tip – if your location doesn’t have a Common Thread scheduled, feel free to request one).
