Evidence, Insight, Impact: The MasteringGM® Podcast

About Evidence, Insight, Impact: The MasteringGM® Podcast

Evidence, Insight, Impact is the podcast for busy Global Mobility and international HR leaders who want clear, research-driven thinking without the noise. Each episode distills complex ideas into practical, usable insights — from translating academic studies into real-world lessons, to commenting on emerging trends, to occasional conversations with experts shaping the future of mobility. Designed to fit into a demanding schedule, episodes are short, focused, and grounded in evidence. If you want to make better decisions, think more strategically, and bring real impact to your GM practice, this podcast is for you.

Publisher

Benjamin Bader

Category

business · business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Dec 2025

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

44 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Oct 2026

   Why I Finally Wrote the Book I’d Been Putting Off for Years

   Episode Description Global Mobility has become increasingly important to organizations around the world. Yet despite its growing relevance, the function often remains trapped in operational conversations about policies, processes, exceptions, and compliance. In this episode, Ben shares the story behind his new book, From Operational to Strategic Global Mobility, available October 20. He explains why the idea developed over nearly two decades of research, consulting, and conversations with Global Mobility professionals and business leaders, and why he ultimately decided to turn those experiences into a book. What began as a project about Global Mobility gradually became something much broader: an exploration of organizational influence, leadership, trust, decision-making, and what it really means for a specialist function to become strategic. What This Episode Covers • why Ben decided to write From Operational to Strategic Global Mobility • the recurring challenges he observed across organizations over two decades • why positioning may be Global Mobility's biggest strategic challenge • how the book evolved beyond international assignments and mobility management • why becoming strategic is not necessarily about doing different work • why the book deliberately avoids simple formulas and management buzzwords • what readers can expect from future podcast episodes exploring the stories behind the book Key Reflection Questions • is your Global Mobility function recognized for the strategic value it creates, or primarily for the operational services it delivers? • what prevents specialist functions from becoming influential within their organizations? • are you trying to become more strategic by changing what you do, or by changing how others understand your contribution? Key Insight Becoming strategic is not simply about taking on new responsibilities or adopting new technologies. It is fundamentally about positioning, influence, trust, and demonstrating value. The challenges facing Global Mobility are often the same challenges facing specialist functions throughout an organization. Related Themes This episode connects closely to discussions around strategic Global Mobility, organizational positioning, leadership, stakeholder influence, decision-making, organizational value creation, and the transition from operational excellence to strategic relevance. 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. Available October 20. Find out more: https://strategicgm.benjaminbader.com (https://strategicgm.benjaminbader.com) Host Hosted by Benjamin Bader, Professor of International HRM and co-founder of MasteringGM®. Subscribe Subscribe to Evidence, Insight, Impact — The MasteringGM® Podcast for short, focused episodes exploring the realities of Global Mobility, leadership, organizations, and international work.

2. 

   7 Oct 2026

   The Relocation Industry Has a Transparency Problem - An Interview with Chris Kline

   Episode Description After almost 40 years in the relocation industry, Chris Kline has seen the same problems discussed again and again: spiraling costs, policy misalignment, exceptions, limited transparency, and frustration with suppliers. So why do so many of these issues persist? In this special conversational episode, Ben sits down with Chris, author of Unpacking Employee Relocation, and challenges him to condense almost four decades of industry experience into just five minutes. Their conversation takes place in the heart of New York City and explores how the relocation industry makes money, why greater transparency matters, and what organizations should be asking if they want to better understand and control their mobility programs. What This Episode Covers • why familiar relocation challenges continue to persist • what high exception rates may tell us about traditional mobility policies • why organizations need to understand how their suppliers make money • how incentives across the relocation supply chain can influence cost and complexity • why greater transparency starts with asking better questions • the role of contracts, program reviews, and auditing • how organizations can have more open conversations with their suppliers Key Reflection Questions • do you really understand how your relocation suppliers make money from your program? • where are the biggest cost drivers, delays, or sources of friction in your current program? • how valuable are you to your suppliers as a client — and have you ever asked them directly? • what would your suppliers change about the relationship if you gave them the opportunity to answer honestly? Key Insight Transparency is not about treating suppliers with suspicion. It is about understanding the commercial system in which everyone operates. Organizations are better positioned to make informed decisions when they understand how suppliers generate revenue, where incentives sit across the supply chain, and what is actually driving cost, complexity, and employee experience. Related Themes This episode connects closely to discussions around relocation costs, supplier management, mobility policy, exceptions, transparency, procurement, governance, auditing, and the commercial realities of the Global Mobility ecosystem. Guest Chris Kline has spent 37 years working in the relocation industry and brings an insider perspective on how the industry operates, how suppliers make money, and how organizations can make more informed decisions about their relocation programs. He is the author of Unpacking Employee Relocation. Chris’s Book Unpacking Employee Relocation provides an insider perspective on the commercial realities of employee relocation, helping organizations better understand how the industry operates and make more informed decisions about their mobility programs. Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unpacking-Employee-Relocation-Control-Mobility/dp/B0F6CH72V7 (https://www.amazon.com/Unpacking-Employee-Relocation-Control-Mobility/dp/B0F6CH72V7) Host Hosted by Benjamin Bader, Professor of International HRM and co-founder of MasteringGM®. Subscribe Subscribe to Evidence, Insight, Impact — The MasteringGM® Podcast for short, focused episodes and special conversations exploring the realities of Global Mobility, leadership, organizations, and international work.

3. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Is Everything We Know About the Global Mindset Wrong?

   Episode Description The global mindset has become one of the most widely used concepts in international business, leadership, and Global Mobility. Organizations frequently seek employees and leaders who possess it, develop it, or demonstrate it. In this episode, Ben explores whether the concept has become too broad to remain truly useful. Drawing on recent research, he examines why international effectiveness may be better understood as a combination of different capabilities, experiences, behaviors, and contextual factors rather than a single characteristic called a global mindset. What This Episode Covers • why the global mindset has become such a popular concept • the challenge of defining what a global mindset actually is • why international effectiveness is rarely explained by a single capability • how organizations sometimes use the global mindset as a label rather than an explanation • the importance of context in shaping international success Key Reflection Questions • what specific behaviors does your organization associate with a global mindset? • are you evaluating individual capabilities or environmental factors? • when somebody succeeds internationally, can you clearly explain why? Key Insight The global mindset is probably not a single capability. It is more likely a collection of attitudes, experiences, skills, behaviors, and contextual factors that interact in complex ways. Related Themes This episode connects closely to discussions around international leadership, expatriation, cross-cultural effectiveness, talent development, global careers, and international HRM. Host Hosted by Benjamin Bader, Professor of International HRM and co-founder of MasteringGM®. Subscribe Subscribe to Evidence, Insight, Impact — The MasteringGM® Podcast for short, focused episodes exploring the realities of Global Mobility, leadership, organizations, and international work.

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Spotify

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2 ratings

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Guest appearances

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