While widespread remote working was instigated during the pandemic, ideas to develop a ‘remote-first’ workforce have been pushed by prominent advocates for years. Now, with companies like Airbnb and Spotify having shifted to this model, could this future be within reach? And is the world ready for it?
Iwo Szapar is the CEO of Remote-how, the world's leading marketplace with remote and hybrid work experts. Since 2017, he has advised over 600 companies to help them optimise their distributed workforce. As a remote work expert, he co-created 'Remote-how Academy', the world's first certification programme for remote teams. Iwo wrote the book Remote Work Is The Way, and over the past five years, he has worked remotely while living in 15 countries. In 2022, Iwo co-founded the Remote-First Institute, a not-for-profit organisation on a mission to promote the remote-first approach.
Nadia Harris is a keynote speaker, the author of How to tackle hybrid working?, and a global expert of remote and hybrid work. She is a leader in remote and hybrid work according to the TOP 15 Remote Work Advocates ranking prepared by All American Speakers, and the Onalytica report Who's who in remote working, and a global "Remote Innovator of 2022" according to Remote. Her areas of expertise include HR operations, growth, and worldwide talent strategies, as well as designing HR processes and procedures. She has successfully implemented frameworks to ensure the scalability of flexible working models in both global startups and corporations.
Toni Frana is the career services manager at FlexJobs, a job site dedicated to remote work opportunities, and Remote.co, a resource platform for organisations exploring or embracing a remote approach. Her goal is to empower job seekers with the best information, tools, and resources in order to be highly confident in searching for jobs suited to their personal and professional goals.
Dina Pyramid is a digital nomad coach. She helps people to understand what it takes to be a digital nomad and coaches them on starting up remote businesses.
Josephine Platt is a writer, editor, and researcher, with a background in lifestyle and travel journalism. She covers international travel and culture and has written across arts, fashion, wellness, and self for a range of titles. Pursuing her interest in cultural, social, and psychological phenomena, Platt is studying social and cultural anthropology as a postgraduate student, with research interests around Western engagement with indigenous spiritual practices.