Moving by the Seat of Our Pants: Navigating Global Mobility Trends

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In this engaging podcast series, we journey alongside Global Mobility professionals who deftly navigate the ever-changing landscape of international work. Hosted by Expat Academy and EQUUS Software, along with industry experts and in-house leaders, each episode delves into critical topics relevant to 2024, 2025, and beyond. From policy twists to data-driven decision-making, join us as we explore the challenges, opportunities, and unexpected turns faced by those who manage the world’s workforce. Fasten your seatbelts—it’s going to be a dynamic ride!

  1. JAN 14

    The New Relocation: Beyond Housing and Household Goods

    James Speirs, the Vice President of Client Services at RelocationOnline, joins Moving By The Seat of Our Pants to unpack how relocation and employee support have evolved beyond traditional, logistics-focused models.   Find out more about the shift toward a more holistic approach – one that emphasises wellbeing, flexibility, and technology – shaped by Covid, Gen Z expectations, and increasing demands around compliance, cost control, and AI. It’s a highlight on how global mobility teams are adapting to balance employee experience with organisational priorities.   Tune in to this episode as we explore: (03:05) An accidental journey into mobility (04:39) Relocation trends from goods to holistic support (09:31) Rethinking global mobility priorities (13:29) Effective compliance for cost control (15:53) Relocation benefits and the evolving business rationale (18:39) Candidate assessment in relocation (21:39) Why mobility lags in wellbeing (25:09) Prioritising wellbeing in mobility (30:30) From gatekeepers to strategic partners (33:24) Person-led AI enhancing efficiency (35:52) The future of connected mobility solutions (37:58) Enhancing the digital employee experience   Links mentioned in this episode: James Speirs on LinkedIn RelocationOnline

    40 min

  2. 12/03/2025

    The Next Generation of Assignees: Gen Z, Millennials, and the Demand for Purpose

    Kathryn Blackley-Smith is the Global Mobility Senior Manager EMEA at Alvarez & Marsal. Join us as we dive headfirst into the next generation of international assignees – think Gen Zs and Millennials – and what truly motivates them to take on assignments abroad. You’ll hear candid stories about falling into global mobility entirely by chance, myth-busting about what these younger employees really want (hint: it’s not just about the money), and a real look at how modern policies need to do more to support people as individuals, not just moving parts.   Tune in to this episode as we explore: (04:08) EMEA global mobility leadership (08:10) Balancing work, life and growth (12:05) Global mobility guiding and supporting (14:40) Balancing business and employee needs (18:42) Navigating global mobility challenges (20:02) Adapting mobility for Gen Z (23:56) Mental load: a growing awareness (27:34) Flexible policies for dynamic needs (30:19) Policies ignoring dual-income norm (33:25) Centralised immigration support platform utopia (36:53) Mental health support for relocation (39:28) Support during key challenges   Links mentioned in this episode: Kathryn Blackley-Smith on LinkedIn Alvarez & Marsal

    41 min

  3. 11/05/2025

    Mission Impossible: How GM Went From Moving People to Managing Everything

    Jennifer Dyer, Global Consulting Leader EMEA from Cartus, unpacks how global mobility has evolved from simply moving people to managing everything international – often with limited resources and endless new challenges. From compliance and remote work to geopolitical curveballs, the trio explore why mobility has become the go-to function for solving complex global problems.     Tune in to this episode as we explore:  (00:00) Jen’s journey through global mobility and consulting  (05:21) How mobility teams are adapting to constant change  (10:15) Confidence, boundaries and the power of networking  (13:17) Balancing urgency with practicality in mobility  (18:03) Rethinking workforce strategies for a global world  (21:42) Building mobility policies that actually fit your business  (23:06) Managing burnout and finding strategic balance  (27:54) The realities of burnout and shrinking budgets  (30:43) Understanding responsibility in global mobility  (34:45) How to prove global mobility’s value internally  (38:15) Aligning mobility with wider business goals  (39:24) The shifting role of global mobility today    Links mentioned in this episode:  Jennifer Dyer on LinkedIn  Cartus

    41 min

  4. 10/08/2025

    Back to the Future: Balancing Tech, Talent and Trust with Liesal Rudlin

    As we kick off Season Two of Moving by the Seat of Our Pants, hosts Chris Blair and Scott Turner sit down with Liesal Rudlin, experienced Global Head of Mobility with on-the-ground experience across South Africa, Kenya, the UK and Hungary. Together, they unpack how global mobility has evolved – from the early days of expat assignments to today’s hybrid, tech-driven and ever-more complex landscape.    Tune in to this episode as we explore:  (05:20) Decoding mobility's complexity  (07:55) Unpacking the core flex concept   (12:01) The “Shiny Toy Syndrome” in business  (13:40) Mobility impact and value focus  (16:48) Efficient global payroll governance  (20:30) Relocation process insights  (26:31) Challenges facing mobility teams  (27:26) Creating bespoke employee experiences  (31:57) Simplifying mobility: human-centric approach  (35:21) Questioning immigration task coordination  (38:08) Mobility: future, people and mistakes    Links mentioned in this episode:  Liesal Rudlin on LinkedIn

    39 min

  5. 09/03/2025

    Compliance Crossroads - Navigating the Legal Complexities

    In this episode, Chris Blair and Scott Turner are joined by compliance experts Katy Bond from Grant Thornton and Rachel Harrington from Slaughter and May. They unpack one of mobility’s most critical and misunderstood challenges: compliance.   From navigating shifting regulations and Brexit’s lasting impact to balancing employee experience with risk management, hear their takeaways on streamlining processes, preparing for a digital compliance landscape, and correcting common misconceptions.   Tune in to this episode as we explore: (03:53) Career journey in mobility consulting (07:59) Compliance and strategic mobility (10:07) Frequent business traveller compliance issues (15:03) Challenges in decentralised organisational models (18:57) Navigating complex mobility challenges (20:21) Compliance challenges in business (24:07) Assessing and managing business risks (26:31) Adapting risk strategies post-COVID (30:19) Compliance crossroads and flexibility (34:47) Proactive stakeholder management   Links mentioned in this episode: Rachel Harrington on LinkedIn Katy Bond on LinkedIn

    37 min

  6. 07/30/2025

    Data Analytics Flightpath – Leveraging Data for Smoother Operations

    What does it really take to make global mobility work? In this episode, we sit down with Cat Vose from Vodafone and Mike Hibberd from Global Expat Pay. They pull back the curtain on the often messy, high-stakes reality of managing a global workforce.   We talk about the power of data, as well as the danger of leaning on it too much. When should you trust your gut over the numbers? How do you build trust with internal stakeholders who just don’t get it yet? And why, sometimes, the breakthrough comes not from the perfect spreadsheet, but from asking a better question.   Tune in to this episode as we explore: (05:30) Solving assignee frustrations: data disconnect (11:06) Understanding mobility's operational flow (15:03) Global payroll and tax coordination (17:24) Streamlining finance team processes (22:35) Vodafone's tech and simplicity focus (24:47) Mindset shift for data-driven decisions (28:44) Balancing data with storytelling (32:24) Stakeholder-centric understanding (35:11) Navigating negative leadership feedback (38:26) Beyond buzzwords: evidence-based mindset (43:23) Stakeholder engagement in data strategy (45:32) Streamlining operational data management   Links mentioned in this episode: Cat Vose on LinkedIn Mike Hibberd on LinkedIn Global Expat Pay

    47 min

  7. 06/04/2025

    The Human Edge: Leveraging Technology to Transform Global Mobility

    Emily Stewart is the Client Success Director in Mobility Technology for EQUUS Software. Her global experience and unconventional path into mobility – complete with red-eye flights, missed sleep, and a cameo from her five-year-old son Jamie – make for a fascinating listen.   We explore the Human Edge: how technology can enhance global mobility not by replacing people, but by helping teams be more human in what they do. Emily shares insights from her career, including supporting mobility for people with disabilities, and shows how tech and data can improve the employee experience and free up teams to focus on what really matters.   We also unpack the balancing act between automation and empathy, lessons in change management, and getting ready for the metaverse.   Tune in to this episode as we explore: (06:28) Global mobility career journey (08:12) Understanding DEI through accessibility challenges (10:41) Streamlining mobility and reducing admin work (13:29) How tech boosts employee satisfaction (17:17) Breaking down knowledge gaps (20:50) Embracing change in payroll automation (24:24) Business travel trends and what they reveal (26:58) Evolving virtual assignment policies (29:39) Smarter dashboards for workforce planning (35:47) Using AI in financial reporting (38:00) Can you trust open source AI? (40:46) One portal for employee mobility (43:09) Why personal mobility experience matters   Links mentioned in this episode: EQUUS Software

    47 min

  8. 05/07/2025

    Visa Ventures - How to Lead Mobility When the Rules Keep Changing

    Visa rules are changing, expectations are rising, and global mobility teams are stuck navigating the grey. Joanne Taylor and Anita Ofis from Immigration Law firm Magrath Sheldrick LLP join the show to unpack myths around immigration law, real-world visa challenges, and what compliance really looks like post-Brexit and post-pandemic. From remote work headaches to policy blind spots, they dive into the risk, the reality, and the unexpected humour of getting global talent where they need to be.   Tune in to this episode as we explore: (05:32) How the UK immigration system has evolved (07:01) The impact of remote work on immigration (10:40) Why UK business visitor rules are still unclear (14:43) Post-Brexit business travel: what's changed (16:59) The rise of intelligence-led immigration penalties (20:44) What an annual workforce risk assessment really means (25:02) The hidden challenges of short-term work travel (27:16) Visas, planning, and staying flexible (29:31) Border entry: why every experience is different (35:49) What makes decision-making so tough for GM teams (38:12) Navigating immigration with cost constraints (40:13) Clawback clauses and compliance risks (43:50) When immigration policies lead to employment discrimination (46:54) Why you need to audit your current position now   Links mentioned in this episode: Magrath Sheldrick LLP

    49 min
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In this engaging podcast series, we journey alongside Global Mobility professionals who deftly navigate the ever-changing landscape of international work. Hosted by Expat Academy and EQUUS Software, along with industry experts and in-house leaders, each episode delves into critical topics relevant to 2024, 2025, and beyond. From policy twists to data-driven decision-making, join us as we explore the challenges, opportunities, and unexpected turns faced by those who manage the world’s workforce. Fasten your seatbelts—it’s going to be a dynamic ride!

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