We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Savannah Aubinoe. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Savannah below.

Hi Savannah, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Moss was started with an idea that often in urban environments coffee shops and co-working spaces are not conducive to optimal productivity or decompression. So, as we crawled out of the pandemic Los Angeles needed a pulse again. What does that look like, what does that feel like, what is the scent, texture and shape?

I worked with japanese desgner, Sakura Heffron, to design a 3 story, 3,200 square foot “tree house” that was the very first location of renowned music venue, Winston House in its glory days. Many pop and alternative artists you hear on the radio today once played in our “open office” downstairs. The size is intimate but collaborative, and the wellness room, meditation, room, stage, 18 plants, and 2 custom made moss walls give it a unique and elevated feel.

I took inspiration from my own burnout, and inflated wellness booking prices in the area to devise the model. It took people awhile to feel close to others in physical spaces again after the pandemic, so events and music shows really help piece after hours fun together. We work with the best in town, to achieve you feeling and learning your best everyday.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Moss was not an idea that I had for years, or a dream I always knew I wanted to turn into reality. It came from a really challenging time in my life that required me to look within and remember what was important to me. Community is arguably the most important thing in life, and Venice is close-knit, wellness focused, high energy, with hundreds of incredible ideas. It’s truly electric. It needed to wake up after being shocked to it’s core. Creativity is why I originally moved to LA – to open a photo studio. So we combined creativity, curiosity and compassion to design a value based co-work space and bring it to life.

I believe a part of what makes Moss unique is it was built and designed right after the pandemic, to bring people together and it was also used as a Los Angeles donation hub during the LA fires in January 2025. People needed a lot so we built internal communication channels, a delivery team, and a thrift store to help deliver needed clothing, food and supplies to families and first-responders in need.

A lot of our team came from disaster relief during COVID, so the pivoting was pretty abrupt, needed and natural. I’ve never seen LA come together like that, and I will forever be inspired.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

A team is the building block of culture of any company, and if and when that is neglected it can be felt and seen in the results of products, deliverables, events, performance reports and more.

I learned how not to lead, and how to not manage, which led to internal and external challenges for me before Moss existed. At that time, I reflected on my experience and all the teams I had managed since the age of 15. The level of self-awareness, regulation, qualifications, grit, and humility that I have now far surpasses the leader I used to be.

I tell my team “when you grow, we grow, and when we grow, you grow”. I think it reverts back to the aligned integrity of all relationships, purpose driven results. and ability to advance in career and be recognized and awarded for achievements.

1) in managing a successful team employees and employers should care enough about the mission to want to propel forward 2) the team is challenged enough to move the needle in their own roles, and be adaptable 3) growth trajectory is high for employees and for the company 4) fun is had 5) reasonable and consistent incentives are set
6) constructive feedback is everything 7) respect is the basis of all

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

During the Los Angeles fires, Moss transformed into a (715+) volunteer-led donation hub of Los Angeles, providing essential supplies, shelter, and support to affected residents, first responders, displaced community members, and over 400 families in the LA area. In addition, we also created distribution channels for local fire stations, police force, highway patrol and service workers.

Despite being a small business ourselves, we mobilized quickly and contributed time, space, and resources to care for those in need (at the expense of our own operations, for nearly a month). I honestly think our team was able to do this for a few reasons 1) our background in disaster relief and going into fight mode when these types of things happen 2) the power of social media and spreading the word during a pretty dark time and 3) leadership delegating roles to incredible people coming forward to help.

We essentially devised into teams to operate each department of the donation and distribution center. Our landlords came together to offer us a second unit next door when things got too crowded. We had no plan, no timeline- yet our members were completely supportive and even came to volunteer. Truckloads of clothing, energy drinks, water pallets and food were delivered overnight. I have never seen an outcry like that of community in my life.

I am forever moved and touched by that movement, and I will never forget it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mosscollective.com
• Instagram: @mossvenice
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannahaubinoe/

Image Credits

headshot: Marco Malacara
additional images: property of Moss Collective, LLC