The Independent Workforce

freelancermap
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Here we explore the now and the future of work through the lens of temporary employment, such as freelancers, contractors, fractional experts, you name it 💪

  1. 🐱‍🏍 Breaking Into The Czech Freelance Market | The Independent Workforce | Klára Hrubá Kristýna Pechová

    12/15/2025

    🐱‍🏍 Breaking Into The Czech Freelance Market | The Independent Workforce | Klára Hrubá Kristýna Pechová

    "Hiring external experts isn’t a risk when you have the right partner. The real risk is delaying your projects because you’re afraid to try.” In this episode, we discussed how to navigate procurement and compliance, what clients misunderstand about independent talent, and why flexibility, speed, and partnership matter more than ever, in particular: 👉 What makes the Czech freelance ecosystem unique and more complex compared to 10 years ago. 👉 The real reason procurement slows down freelance hiring (and how to fix it). 👉 How gender, leadership, and communication shape collaboration in a male-dominated IT space. Join Yurii Lazaruk, an Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships at freelancermap, Klára Hrubá a leader who’s been shaping the talent and investment landscape of Central Europe for nearly two decades, from leading commercial strategy at Hays for over 11 years, to now serving as CEO of nemensis that creates a trustworthy connection between companies and freelancers that both sides can rely on, and Kristýna Pechová, with over 13 years in HR, contracting, and leadership, the Commercial Director for Technology at nemensis, where she builds new business divisions, drives growth, and helps teams and clients thrive, who's s also a certified coach and member of Inspire & Impact, and is passionate about developing people. Together, we explore the now and the future of work through the lens of temporary employment, and how companies can get the most out of such collaboration! Connect with Klara, Kristyna, and Yurii on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/klarahrubahayscz/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristynapechova/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/ Whether you’re looking to hire top freelance talent fast or are a freelancer ready to find your next big project, freelancermap connects the right people with the right work 💪 Visit https://www.freelancermap.com/ and start building your next success story today!🚀 Timestamps: (00:00) Meet Klára Hrubá and Kristýna Pechová (01:27) Klára's Journey into the Czech Market (04:15) Vision for nemensis in the Czech Market (06:05) Kristýna's Perspective on the Freelance Market (09:39) Women in Leadership in a Male-Dominated Industry (16:05) Understanding the Freelance Market in the Czech Republic (19:07) Navigating Corporate Structures to Engage Freelancers (23:33) Challenges of Relying on Full-Time Employees (25:27) The Benefits of Hiring Freelancers (28:49) Client Success Stories with Freelancers (30:12) Navigating Client Agreements and Procurement (34:31) Overcoming Barriers to Freelance Collaboration (39:29) Advice for Companies New to Freelancers #freelance #hiring #futureofwork

    48 min
  2. 💪 How Microsoft Built a Global Freelance Workforce | The Independent Workforce | Nuri Demirci Lopez

    12/08/2025

    💪 How Microsoft Built a Global Freelance Workforce | The Independent Workforce | Nuri Demirci Lopez

    “Start small, go slow, and build trust through clarity. Once your freelancers understand the ‘why,’ they won’t just complete tasks—they’ll push your whole company forward.” In this episode, we discussed how companies can build resilient, scalable, human-centered organizations by integrating freelancers, contractors, and flexible talent, in particular: 👉 How Microsoft built a 900+ person freelance-powered global support ecosystem across 70+ countries. 👉 Why flexible talent gives companies speed, resilience, and competitive advantage. 👉 Why companies should start small, go slow, and iterate when hiring freelancers. Join Yurii Lazaruk, an Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships at freelancermap, and Nuri Demirci Lopez, a Principal Program Manager at Microsoft, AI startups founder, and author of Leading the Unknown and The Inevitable Future of Work books. Together, we explore the now and the future of work through the lens of temporary employment, and how companies can get the most out of such collaboration! Connect with Nuri and Yurii on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nuri-demirci-lopez/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/ Whether you’re looking to hire top freelance talent fast or are a freelancer ready to find your next big project, freelancermap connects the right people with the right work 💪 Visit https://www.freelancermap.com/ and start building your next success story today!🚀 Timestamps: (00:00) Meet Nuri Demirci Lopez (01:27) The Journey to Embracing Flexible Talent (02:34) The Impact of Freelancers on Microsoft Support (04:36) Scaling with Freelancers During Crises (06:29) The Curiosity and Drive of Freelancers (13:16) Trust and Security in Freelance Work (17:40) Freelance Platforms and Onboarding Processes (20:50) Onboarding Process and Tools (25:44) Importance of Community Building (28:30) Managing Freelancers Effectively (34:43) Final Advice for Hiring Freelancers #freelance #hiring #futureofwork

    40 min
  3. 😲 Hiring Freelancers: What Companies Still Get Wrong | The Independent Workforce | Kaja Storbeck

    12/01/2025

    😲 Hiring Freelancers: What Companies Still Get Wrong | The Independent Workforce | Kaja Storbeck

    “Don’t expect excellence if you haven’t communicated expectations. Freelancers aren’t mind-readers—they’re partners, and partners need clarity.” In this episode, we discussed the evolving freelance landscape, how high-skill experts are shifting into independent work, the practical steps companies must take to integrate them, and the common pitfalls, blockers, and mindset shifts needed to succeed, in particular: 👉 The biggest blockers preventing companies from hiring top talent. 👉 Where communication and expectations go wrong. 👉 The hidden risks of refusing to adapt to flexible talent models. Join Yurii Lazaruk, an Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships at freelancermap, and Kaja Storbeck, a passionate recruiter at Progressive Recruiting (part of SThree), who is bridging the gap between companies that need specialized expertise and the professionals driving innovation forward, and is on a mission to bring skilled people together to build bright the future of work. Together, we explore the now and the future of work through the lens of temporary employment, and how companies can get the most out of such collaboration! Connect with Kaja and Yurii on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaja-storbeck/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/ Whether you’re looking to hire top freelance talent fast or are a freelancer ready to find your next big project, freelancermap connects the right people with the right work 💪 Visit https://www.freelancermap.com/ and start building your next success story today!🚀 Timestamps: (00:00) Meet Kaja Storbeck (02:10) The Evolution of the Independent Workforce (04:02) Benefits of Hiring Freelancers (05:02) Overcoming Objections to Freelancers (08:32) Steps to Hire a Freelancer (12:04) Administrative and Compliance Considerations (18:30) Client and Freelancer Collaboration (28:04) The Role of AI in Hiring Freelancers (33:57) Advice for Companies and Freelancers freelance #hiring #futureofwork

    38 min
  4. How To Innovate Faster With Freelancers: Lessons From NASA | The Independent Workforce | Steve Rader

    11/24/2025

    How To Innovate Faster With Freelancers: Lessons From NASA | The Independent Workforce | Steve Rader

    “If upskilling your workforce feels impossible, bring the skills to them. Every freelancer you hire becomes a teacher to your entire team.” In this episode, we discussed how companies and freelancers can work together smarter through open innovation, trust, culture shifts, and examples straight from NASA’s journey into the freelance economy, in particular: 👉 How NASA learned to leverage freelancers. 👉 How technology is evolving so fast that traditional hiring models can’t keep up. 👉 The role of curated digital communities in finding world-class talent. Join Yurii Lazaruk, an Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships at freelancermap, and Steve Rader, a true pioneer in open innovation and the future of work who spent almost 36 years at NASA and for more than a decade guided its Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, helping tap into the power of open talent and crowdsourcing to solve complex problems, who now, as the founder of Crowd Resources Consulting, continues to inspire organizations around the world to leverage collective intelligence, drive innovation, and rethink how we work together in a rapidly changing world. Together, we explore the now and the future of work through the lens of temporary employment, and how companies can get the most out of such collaboration! Connect with Steve and Yurii on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steverader/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/ Whether you’re looking to hire top freelance talent fast or are a freelancer ready to find your next big project, freelancermap connects the right people with the right work 💪 Visit https://www.freelancermap.com/ and start building your next success story today!🚀 Timestamps: (00:00) Meet Steve Rader (01:49) The Birth of Open Innovation at NASA (03:44) Challenges and Reframing Open Innovation (04:58) The Tsunami of Technology and Open Talent (08:34) Freelancing: The Future of Work (14:03) Trust and Integration of Freelancers (17:15) Building Relationships with Freelancers (26:42) Learning Platforms (28:05) The Role of HR and Managers (30:31) Freelancer Satisfaction and Statistics (34:12) Challenges in Freelancer Relationships (37:05) Adapting Business Models for Freelancers (44:07) Advice for Companies Hiring Freelancers #freelance #hiring #futureofwork

    52 min
  5. 💪 Why Freelancers Are The New Competitive Advantage | The Independent Workforce | Matthew Dowling

    11/17/2025

    💪 Why Freelancers Are The New Competitive Advantage | The Independent Workforce | Matthew Dowling

    “You don’t need a perfect system to hire freelancers—just a willingness to communicate, to be fair, and to invest a small amount of time in people who can transform your business.” In this episode, we discussed enormous opportunities in building the future workforce by collaborating effectively with freelancers and agile talent, in particular: 👉 How freelancers bring speed, adaptability, and expertise. 👉 The biggest misalignments between company expectations and freelance realities. 👉 How blending employees, freelancers, and AI will define the next decade of work. Join Yurii Lazaruk, an Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships at freelancermap, and Matthew Dowling, the Founder of Freelancer Club, a platform that’s been educating, elevating, and empowering the next generation of freelancers for over a decade, who also advocates for fair pay and freelancer rights from launching the #NoFreeWork campaign to leading initiatives like "Rise, Freelancer", with the goal to empower and support one million individuals by 2026. Together, we explore the now and the future of work through the lens of temporary employment, and how companies can get the most out of such collaboration! Connect with Matthew and Yurii on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dowlingmatthew/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/ Whether you’re looking to hire top freelance talent fast or are a freelancer ready to find your next big project, freelancermap connects the right people with the right work 💪 Visit https://www.freelancermap.com/ and start building your next success story today!🚀 Timestamps: (00:00) Meet Matthew Dowling (01:27) Challenges and Triumphs in Freelancing (04:54) The NoFreeWork Campaign and Advocacy Efforts (07:38) Educating Freelancers and Clients (13:05) Ethical Hiring and Workforce Blending (19:58) Freelancer Integration and Company Benefits (29:27) Advice for Companies On Hiring Freelancers #freelance #hiring #futureofwork

    43 min
  6. 🐱‍🏍 How To Access 43 Million Freelancers in Europe | The Independent Workforce | Glen Hodgson

    11/10/2025

    🐱‍🏍 How To Access 43 Million Freelancers in Europe | The Independent Workforce | Glen Hodgson

    “Companies that ignore independent talent won’t just miss the best, soon they won’t even get the good or the average. Flexibility is no longer a perk; it’s survival.” In this episode, we discussed why freelancers are rising, how companies can collaborate with them better, and what needs to change in mindset, policy, and practice for this model to thrive, in particular: 👉 What companies risk losing when they ignore independent talent. 👉 The mindset shift from job titles to value, skills, and measurable outcomes. 👉 Practical advice for companies on how to build trust with freelancers. Join Yurii Lazaruk, an Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships at freelancermap, and Glen Hodgson, the founder of Free Trade Europa, a think tank championing openness, free trade, and ethical policy-making across Europe, and the Freelance Movement, a platform uniting honest companies, policymakers, and freelancers to shape a fair and thriving platform economy. Together, we explore the now and the future of work through the lens of temporary employment, and how companies can get the most out of such collaboration! Connect with Glen and Yurii on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glen-hodgson-36136516/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/ Whether you’re looking to hire top freelance talent fast or are a freelancer ready to find your next big project, freelancermap connects the right people with the right work 💪 Visit https://www.freelancermap.com/ and start building your next success story today!🚀 Timestamps: (00:00) Meet Glen Hodgson (01:10) The Growing Freelance Market in Europe (03:49) Benefits for Companies Hiring Freelancers (06:08) Challenges and Solutions in Freelance Hiring (08:03) Glenn Hodgson's Personal Journey (09:26) Policy and Advocacy for Freelancers (22:58) Addressing Freelancer Concerns (32:19) Future of Freelancing with AI and Technology (35:26) Integrating Freelancers into Teams (38:42) Advice for Companies and Freelancers #freelance #hiring #futureofwork

    46 min
  7. 🚀 How to Hire a World-Class Consultant in 48 Hours | The Independent Workforce | David Küpper

    11/03/2025

    🚀 How to Hire a World-Class Consultant in 48 Hours | The Independent Workforce | David Küpper

    “Working with freelancers isn’t a risk—it’s an opportunity to access world-class talent exactly when you need it.” In this episode, we discussed how to hire top freelance consultants within 48 hours, and what it really takes to make client-freelancer collaboration work, in particular: 👉 Why hiring an independent consultant is be faster and more effective than hiring full-time staff. 👉 How to vet, preselect, and match the right freelancers to specific business projects. 👉 The biggest blockers that slow down freelance hiring inside corporations. Join Yurii Lazaruk, an Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships at freelancermap, and David Küpper, the founder and Managing Director of expertpowerhouse, a global platform connecting companies with top-tier consultants and experts, who, with a background in physics and a passion for people and problem-solving, spent nearly a decade at Boston Consulting Group, leading strategy projects for some of the world’s most influential organizations, and built one of the most respected networks in independent consulting by combining business excellence with human connection. Together, we explore the now and the future of work through the lens of temporary employment, and how companies can get the most out of such collaboration! Connect with David and Yurii on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidkuepper/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/ Whether you’re looking to hire top freelance talent fast or are a freelancer ready to find your next big project, freelancermap connects the right people with the right work 💪 Visit https://www.freelancermap.com/ and start building your next success story today!🚀 Timestamps: (00:00) Meet David Küpper (01:15) Understanding Expert Powerhouse's Global Reach (02:30) The Process of Connecting Freelancers with Clients (04:07) Pre-vetting Freelancers: Ensuring Quality (07:54) Consultants vs. Subject Matter Experts (15:07) Expanding the Network: Tools and Strategies (17:48) Speed and Efficiency in Freelance Hiring (20:13) Client Budget Considerations (21:19) Importance of Clear Job Descriptions (22:39) Mindset Shift for Working with Freelancers (28:22) Ensuring Smooth Freelancer Engagement (29:48) Success Stories and Challenges (33:09) Role of AI in Matching Freelancers (34:50) Future of Freelancing and Platforms (37:38) Advice for First-Time Freelance Employers #freelance #hiring #futureofwork

    40 min
  8. 👔 How Corporates Hire and Manage Freelancers | The Independent Workforce | Mina Bastawros

    10/27/2025

    👔 How Corporates Hire and Manage Freelancers | The Independent Workforce | Mina Bastawros

    “Break projects into pieces you can manage, and let freelancers bring each piece to life — you remain the architect of the big picture.” In this episode, we discussed real-life process of integrating freelancers into corporate ecosystems, managing quality, building trust, and using platforms and AI to scale collaboration, in particular: 👉 How Airbus integrates freelancers and contractors into high-stakes innovation projects. 👉 The key role of internal advocates in building freelance-friendly cultures. 👉 Lessons from failed freelance collaborations and how to prevent them. Join Yurii Lazaruk, an Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships at freelancermap, and Mina Bastawros, a true relationship builder and inspiring leader with over 14 years of experience at Airbus, leading marketing, digital innovation, and now sales and customer satisfaction for major UK airlines, who bridges corporate vision with entrepreneurial drive. Together, we explore the now and the future of work through the lens of temporary employment, and how companies can get the most out of such collaboration! Connect with Mina and Yurii on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minabastawros/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/ Whether you’re looking to hire top freelance talent fast or are a freelancer ready to find your next big project, freelancermap connects the right people with the right work 💪 Visit https://www.freelancermap.com/ and start building your next success story today!🚀 Timestamps: (00:00) Meet Mina Bastawros (01:14) Freelancers in Action: Mina's Experience at Airbus (02:17) The Journey to Embracing Freelancers (04:23) Managing Freelancers: Best Practices and Insights (07:22) Challenges and Solutions in Freelancing (12:17) Project-Based vs. Hourly Freelancing (16:57) Real-Life Freelancing Challenges (19:54) Finding and Vetting Freelance Talent (23:41) Overcoming Internal Resistance to Freelancers (25:39) Criteria for Hiring Freelancers (30:52) Integrating Freelancers into Teams (34:29) AI in Hiring and Digital Twin Technology #freelance #hiring #futureofwork

    43 min
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Here we explore the now and the future of work through the lens of temporary employment, such as freelancers, contractors, fractional experts, you name it 💪

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