unREServed

The Foundation

Welcome to the premiere episode of unREServed: The RES Forum Podcast. No corporate scripts, no sanitized PR. Just raw, data-driven, and completely unfiltered conversations about the reality of global work. In this foundational episode, host David Enser is joined by co-hosts Soren Sturup-Toft (Immigration & Mobility Lead at Databricks) and Karlijn Jacobs (Founder of Expat Valley). Together, they lay the groundwork for the series by breaking down the massive disconnect between what corporate boardrooms expect and what global talent actually needs. Leaning heavily on the RES Forum’s groundbreaking Vision 2030 research paper—built from insights spanning 650 companies and nearly 100 industry practitioners—the team tackles the immediate future of the borderless workforce. WHAT WE UNPACK IN THIS EPISODE: * The Vision 2030 Pillars: A look at the three friction points shifting the industry: the independent gig workforce, the "genie-out-of-the-bottle" remote work phenomenon, and the struggle to build sustainable global career pipelines. * The Great Nexus (Tech vs. Human): Soren and David reignite their ongoing debate on whether the future of global mobility belongs to AI, automation, and operational efficiency, or if human-centricity is the ultimate key to success. * The "Checkbox" Problem: Karlijn highlights a critical flaw in modern HR: why employees check the box saying they are "open to relocation" during annual reviews, but freeze when a real international vacancy appears. * The Executive Bottom Line: Why the ultimate success of a mobility program doesn't just rely on tech or family support, but on solving the fundamental leadership headache: How do we actually get talent into our succession pipelines? Join the Debate: unREServed is a community-driven podcast. We want your unpolished industry sounds, your hot takes, and your raw experiences. If you have an opinion on this episode or want to join us behind the microphone, reach out to The RES Forum team. Hit subscribe and help us find the perfect recipe for modern global mobility.