Primalbase Team: Meet Jess Green, Operations Manager in London
A lot has happened since the start of the Primalbase project in June 2017. One of our most exciting initiatives is our fantastic new space in London. The city’s status as Europe’s ‘capital for tech collaborations’ is well deserved. London tech companies received more than £1.8 billion in VC funding in 2018 — more than double that received by their counterparts in Berlin and Paris. And investment shows no signs of slowing down.
Primalbase LDN is right at the heart of this thriving ecosystem. Occupying the entire 32nd floor of the Citypoint building in Moorgate, it is positioned at the juncture of London’s tech and financial districts. Since launching in October of last year, we have already welcomed an array of tech leaders, hosted events, and watched as inspiring projects take shape.
None of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for the dedication and hard work of our executive team — in particular our London Operations Manager, Jess Green.
Jess was responsible for project managing the office’s entire structural and cosmetic refurbishment. She is the face of Primalbase LDN, working relentlessly for the community and doing everything possible to help us achieve our goal of bringing a fresh approach to coworking and a brighter future for tech.
We caught up with her to find out more about her experiences in the company to date.
The Road to Primalbase: From Digital Ventures to ESPN
What does Primalbase and Walt Disney have in common? Jess Green. Jess’s career has seen her take roles at some of the world’s biggest companies, from YouTube and Walt Disney to Save the Children and ESPN. Prior to joining Primalbase, she worked as an Executive Assistant at a tech startup called Digital Ventures (part of the Boston Consulting group).
“There were so many highlights at both of these roles,” Jess says. “I planned a lot of events at Digital Ventures, including an off site that involved getting 100 people to an island in Essex. At ESPN, I manned the ESPN stand for a week each year in Monaco at the Sports Conference Sportel, which included perks like getting to hang out with Anthony Joshua…no big deal!”
While we don’t often get Anthony Joshua walking through the doors (though you’re welcome any time, big guy) the fast-paced nature of these roles set Jess up nicely for life at a startup. The flexibility of such an environment was another big draw, and the chance to have ownership of a project.
The main thing that attracted Jess to the role, though, was the opportunity to get in on the ground floor — something she wasn’t able to do at Walt Disney because she was born more than 50 years after it was founded. Primalbase is trying to do something entirely new with blockchain, and the opportunity to be a part of something with such transformative potential appealed greatly.
“Being able to join at the very start of the London office and see the journey through from planning stage, construction and launch has been a huge motivating factor for me,” Jess says. “This is a role where I can interact with tenants and token holders as the host for the London office, and also have a chance at creative input with the look and feel of the space.”
Getting to Grips with the Role
Getting the London office ready for Primalbase’s UK launch was no easy task. This wasn’t just a standard office construction and refurbishment project, it needed to match the exacting specifications of any new Primalbase office.
“I worked in the summer with the team from Primalbase AMS, setting up interviews with prospective construction companies,” Jess says. “Once we had chosen them I was on the 32nd floor for the fit out of the offices, liaising with our head office in Amsterdam, our construction company and interior team.
“The launch was my defining moment, definitely. Having an office that was functional in time for the launch party! The week leading up to opening night was intense and challenging, but very rewarding. I am proud of all the relationships I built in the early days with the staff at Citypoint, suppliers and the construction team who completed all of the work for us. It was a massive team effort, especially in the final stages, and it was really satisfying seeing it all come together.”
The Future of Primalbase LDN
The office launch was a huge success, but that was only the beginning for the growth of Primalbase London. The next step has been to fill the office with a vibrant tech community, which Jess has been hard at work achieving. Jess explains that, “Since opening I have been welcoming our token holders, and getting the policies in place that facilitate the running and growth of a coworking space. They’ve all been amazing and I love meeting them!”
The London office is going from strength to strength. Jess has been incredibly busy since joining Primalbase, deeply involved in every event and milestone that the London office has experienced. She will continue to be a cornerstone of operations, so if you happen to be in the London office at any point, be sure to say hello!
If you’re looking for office space in the city, get in touch with one of our team and they’ll be happy to find a solution that works for you.
