Talent Empowerment | The Future is Now
The past year has been another of significant change for the global mobility industry, driven by a variety of factors ranging from ongoing post-pandemic adjustments, technology advancements, geopolitical factors, real estate litigation, and more. The next few years will continue to bring a new set of opportunities and challenges.
As Cornerstone prepares to attend Worldwide ERC®’s Global Workforce Symposium at the end of October, we have found ourselves contemplating this year’s event theme of empowering talent. What does empowering talent mean? What do some of the significant changes mean for talent management in the future, and how might they transform the delivery of relocation services?
Since the pandemic, talent needs have changed and competition for talent has intensified, leading companies to rethink their relocation benefits and recruitment strategies in a variety of ways. Similarly, geopolitical factors, ranging from immigration policies to global unrest, are driving companies to explore new business strategies to navigate possible complexities. When we checked in with Debra Frost-DeCaro, CRP, GMS-T, SVP, Global Services, she shared, “This year, mobility has seen major changes, from global unrest to shifts in real estate, and there's potentially more to come with the upcoming U.S. Presidential election. The industry has not experienced this much change in a short amount of time since the tax laws changed for household goods or the first year of the pandemic. In the face of uncertainty, our role isn't just to offer resources but to guide and consult, helping our clients navigate shifts confidently. We're here to empower them and keep them moving forward, even when the landscape is uncertain.”
Economic factors have also played a role within global mobility this past year. High interest rates and inflation contributed to the reluctance of some candidates to accept a new role requiring relocation. Housing affordability and availability, particularly, is a challenge in many markets around the globe. Companies benefit from staying vigilant in understanding how these factors impact their talent strategies and adapt. Hannah Byrne, Vice President, CRP, GMS-T, Business Development, shared her own insights, “I have relocated several times for both short-term assignments and permanent opportunities, where I have seen how economic factors can play a big role in shaping the relocation experience and moving logistics. As costs and environmental factors fluctuate, mobility leaders can benefit from continually reviewing their program offerings to stay competitive while ensuring their employees move smoothly. Balancing budget considerations with the needs of relocating families is important for a successful program.”
As companies rethink their strategies and policies to meet evolving business and employee needs, considering regional or other locations for talent hubs is part of their exploration. Janelle Piatkowski, Cornerstone’s President and CEO, stated, “Our goal is to help our clients, and their global talent, thrive in their new locations. Our global supplier network, with its regional expertise and boots on the ground, drives real value for our clients. It means we can offer tailored support, regional nuances and guidance that empowers both the client and their transferring employee. By combining our global reach with deep local insights, we help them tackle relocation and talent challenges and turn them into growth opportunities.”
Another consideration is integrating AI into talent and mobility strategies. Technology advancements in recent years have improved both employee and client experiences across the global mobility ecosystem. More recently, there has been a tremendous amount of discussion on the topic of AI and how it will impact job productivity as well as how it can support an improved customer experience. While cautions exist, there is substantial opportunity for streamlining everything from rapid analysis of unstructured data for improved insights, to predicting needs of relocating employees. Cornerstone’s Beth Pasiak, CRP, GMS, Senior Vice President, Global Operations, stated, “Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are not just reshaping our global mobility practices - they are redefining the very fabric of employee experiences. By harnessing AI, we can anticipate needs, streamline processes, and elevate the human element in relocations, making every transition smoother and more personalized. I’m looking forward to the sessions WERC is presenting on this important topic.”
Lori Hartman, Senior Director, Global Client Relations, added, “AI and other technologies are being designed to enhance, not replace, the human element of what we do. It is streamlining access to data, increasing flexibility, and enabling more productivity in our roles. From a Human Resources perspective, these tools can support hiring by using new measures to identify and screen potential candidates, create development programs to support learning and employee retention, and optimize data analytics for strategic initiatives and risk management.”
The emergence of AI and the level of change brought on by the pandemic builds a strong case for companies to be adaptable and creative when facing unanticipated change or challenges. For example, unrest in the Middle East and Russia/Ukraine demonstrate the value a strong relocation management partner brings when needing to make and execute quick decisions about staff movement. Even the recent changes in the real estate landscape have shown the need for innovation in addressing the potential long-term downstream impacts of new rules for the broker and relocating employee relationships. This was echoed by Jeanette Oakeshott, Regional Director, Strategic Global Accounts, when she noted, “During the pandemic, the entire mobility community had to continuously think ‘outside of the box’ and develop ingenious solutions that are still in place today. For example, leveraging the digital nomad visa so people can work remotely, allowing companies to retain talent. In our post-pandemic state, the adage about global mobility continues to ring true – ‘the only constant is change.’ We are seeing adaptability as a critical element for ensuring our clients’ success when change is always on the horizon.”
During the “Great Resignation,” there was massive turnover across all industries. With competition for highly sought after skill sets continuing to be a challenge, companies are more focused than ever on growing employees organically within the organization, which may require relocation at some point. In addition, while remote work is still higher than pre-pandemic, the number of remote workers has fallen with employers recognizing the value of a flexible hybrid work model. A hybrid work model requires that employees be within a reasonable commuting distance of the office. These talent trends combined demonstrate the need for flexibility across organizational policies and have influenced relocation programs. Dana Whitman, CRP, Vice President, Business Development, shared his thoughts on how mobility has been redefined, adding, “Talent mobility is no longer just about relocating employees – it is about giving people the flexibility to move across roles, departments, or even industries. Thanks to remote work and digital tools, it’s easier than ever to keep your team agile and adaptable. Now, talent mobility is the key to staying innovative and resilient.”
This year’s Global Workforce Symposium will focus on empowering talent, global mobility innovation, and trends. The event is the largest for talent mobility professionals seeking expert knowledge on topics ranging from domestic and international relocation, immigration policies, tax issues, innovative technology trends, and much more.
So, what does it mean to empower talent? Janelle Piatkowski commented, “Empowering talent means building a framework - an ecosystem - where relocation is a strategic advantage, boosting both individual and organizational performance. By aligning relocation processes with business goals and fostering global competence, we can effectively empower employees’ growth during their transitions to new locations.”
Cornerstone is gearing up for Worldwide ERC’s Symposium. Whether you’re an industry professional, or a newcomer eager to learn, this event is a great place to share ideas and forge lasting connections – and we’ll see you there.