I Wrote a Book About Global Mobility. Then Something Unexpected Happened!
Episode Description
What happens when the book you finish writing turns out to be quite different from the one you originally intended to write?
With From Operational to Strategic Global Mobility now officially published, Ben shares the biggest surprise he experienced during the writing process. What started as a book about Global Mobility gradually evolved into a much broader exploration of organizations, leadership, influence, trust, and strategic positioning.
Drawing on almost two decades of research, consulting, executive education, and conversations with professionals around the world, Ben explains why the challenges facing Global Mobility are rarely just about mobility. They often reveal something much more fundamental about how organizations operate, make decisions, and recognize value.
What This Episode Covers
• why the finished book differs from Ben's original vision
• how Global Mobility became a lens for understanding broader organizational challenges
• why two organizations with similar mobility programs can achieve very different levels of strategic influence
• the difference between improving a function's performance and improving organizational outcomes
• why influence cannot simply be created through technology, dashboards, or better processes
• what specialist functions beyond Global Mobility can learn about strategic positioning
• why the writing process helped connect ideas developed over almost twenty years
Key Reflection Questions
• are the challenges facing your function really operational, or do they reflect broader organizational dynamics?
• what makes some specialist functions trusted strategic advisors while others remain service providers?
• are you primarily focused on improving your own function, or on helping the organization achieve better outcomes?
Key Insight
Global Mobility is not simply about moving employees across borders. It offers a powerful lens through which to understand organizational influence, leadership, decision-making, and value creation. Becoming strategic requires more than operational excellence. It requires understanding how the organization works and positioning your function to contribute to the decisions that matter.
Related Themes
This episode connects closely to discussions around strategic Global Mobility, organizational positioning, stakeholder influence, leadership, trust, organizational decision-making, strategic HRM, and business value creation.
The Book
From Operational to Strategic Global Mobility explores how Global Mobility professionals can rethink their role, challenge established assumptions, and build a function that creates meaningful talent and business value.
Published October 20, 2026.
Find out more: https://strategicgm.benjaminbader.com
Host
Hosted by Benjamin Bader, Professor of International HRM and co-founder of MasteringGM®.
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