On this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we resume our Distributed Work Expert Series.

With this series, we’re highlighting some of the world’s leading experts who continue to map, innovate, and design how distributed work looks from inside forward-thinking companies — designing a version of work that works for teams — regardless of where they choose to work.

Our goal is to start highlighting distributed work leaders in companies to help forward-thinking leaders like you to:

• Navigate remote and hybrid work challenges with real-world examples

• Draw inspiration to find a distributed work model that is best suited for your teams

• Reimagine your workplaces with research-backed insights from experts at the forefront of the future of work conversation

For this episode, we’re joined by Leah Knobler, VP of People at Help Scout, who shares their company’s commitment to accessibility, transparency, and intentionality — as a fully remote-first organization since 2012.

Leah shares how Help Scout continues to double down on their distributed work model — in spite of the current RTO (return-to-office) trends — and how their remote-first approach has allowed them to continue to grow globally year on year.

🎧 Tune in now to learn more about how global leaders like you are continuing to adapt in our ever-changing work landscape.

#InclusiveDistributedWork #MulticulturalTeams #GlobalLeadership #HelpScout #InclusioninProgress

TIMESTAMPS:

[03:10] How intentionality plays a big role in distributed work.

[07:33] What people misunderstand about remote work and how in-person collaboration helps distributed teams thrive.

[11:04] How the hiring process jumpstarts innovation, especially with robust onboarding.

[13:14] Why it is important to emphasize and practice clarity when collaborating through digital tools.

[17:41] How company transparency and accountability keeps distributed teams engaged.

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Download our Distributed Work Models E-Book to learn how to find the distributed work model that enables your teams to perform at their best.

Connect with Leah through LinkedIn to learn more about her journey at Help Scout.

Want to know more about the tools Leah mentioned in this episode? Check out the Slab, Slack and Linear websites.

Download our 2024 Whitepaper: "How Cybersecurity Companies Can Retain, Promote & Advance Women to Minimize the Gender Gap"

Want us to partner with you on building more inclusive distributed work? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Subscribe to the Inclusion in Progress Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get notified when new episodes come out!

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

As we’ve learned over the last five years, workplace flexibility is not one-size-fits all. Some teams need structure, others need autonomy. Some teams are scattered across the globe, and others are scattered across a state or a country.

Which is why on this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we’re diving into one of the 12 distributed work models we’ve identified while working with remote and hybrid teams.

This episode breaks down the Flexi-Remote + Core Office Weeks Model — which balances strong in-office presence and remote work flexibility for recruitment, retention, and performance goals.

We cover:

• How the model does against the three principles of our Inclusive Distributed Work™ framework

• What to consider before choosing this Flexi-Remote + Core Office Weeks Model for your teams

• The challenges of implementing this distributed work model and how it can affect your teams in the longrun

We’ll be breaking down the rest of all of these work models on future episodes, so subscribe to the podcast to make sure you don’t miss out!

And if you’re a People or HR leader who wants a more detailed breakdown of the 12 distributed work models (and an easy framework to decide which works best for your organization)...

Download a copy of our Distributed Work Success E-book today!

#InclusiveDistributedWork #AsynchronousCommunication #HybridWork #InclusionInProgress

TIMESTAMPS:

[01:52] Why is Inclusion in Progress highlighting different Distributed Work Models?

[02:29] How do we define the Flexi-Remote + Core Office Weeks Model?

[02:56] How does this distributed work model measure up against the principles of our Inclusive Distributed Work™ framework?

[04:11] What are the challenges that may arise from the implementation of this model?

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Download our Distributed Work Models E-Book to learn how to find the distributed work model that enables your teams to perform at their best.

Learn more about Proximity Bias, The 3 Hidden Biases of Hybrid Work & How to Avoid Them.

Want us to partner with you on finding your best-fit hybrid work strategy? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Subscribe to the Inclusion in Progress Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get notified when new episodes come out!

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

As hybrid work becomes the new normal, companies face the challenge of balancing flexibility with collaboration. This has become the defining challenge for companies worldwide today.

For some, hybrid work offers the best of both worlds, providing flexibility for employees while maintaining in-person collaboration. However, without a clear strategy, companies risk increased turnover, disengagement, and missed opportunities for innovation.

On this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we’ll discuss:

• How to design hybrid work models that foster equity, innovation, and long-term success

• The biggest roadblocks organizations face when tackling the RTO vs remote debate

• Why hybrid work matters for today’s workforce and the future of work

• Practical solutions to align hybrid strategies with measurable business goals.

To complement your listening to this episode, download our Distributed Work Model E-book for more insights on how you can apply our framework to your distributed teams.

TIMESTAMPS:

[03:33] How does Inclusion in Progress define Inclusive Distributed Work™?

[06:42] Why are we not advocating for fully remote or fully in-office workplaces?

[10:15] Why do we say that the current version of hybrid work is broken?

[12:50] What are practical examples of effective distributed work models?

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Download our Distributed Work Models E-Book to learn how to find the distributed work model that enables your teams to perform at their best.

Check out IIP Episode 96 to learn more about The 3 Hidden Biases of Hybrid Work & How to Avoid Them.

Want us to partner with you on finding your best-fit hybrid work strategy? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Subscribe to the Inclusion in Progress Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get notified when new episodes come out!

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

Hybrid work is a spectrum — and there are more than two options than just fully remote and fully in-office.

Which is why on this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we’re diving into one of the 12 distributed work models we’ve identified over the past decade of working with remote and hybrid teams.

This episode breaks down the Asynchronous-First + Planned In-Office Time Model — which balances asynchronous or async work with intentional in-office time — balancing employees’ desire for flexibility with curated networking and team-building opportunities to improve employee engagement.

We cover:

• How the async work model looks like in practice and why in-office time still matters

• What to consider before choosing this async + in-office model for your teams

• The challenges of implementing this distributed work model and how to solve them

We’ll be breaking down the rest of all of these work models on future episodes, so subscribe to the podcast to make sure you don’t miss out!

And if you’re a People or HR leader who wants a more detailed breakdown of the 12 distributed work models (and an easy framework to decide which works best for your organization)...

Download a copy of our Distributed Work Success E-book today!

#InclusiveDistributedWork #AsynchronousCommunication #HybridWork #InclusionInProgress

TIMESTAMPS:

[03:14] How Inclusion in Progress defines and measures Inclusive Distributed Work™

[06:18] What are some of the key principles to applying asynchronous work with planned in-office time?

[07:33] What are some of the most common challenges for this Distributed Work Model?

[09:12] How to know if the Asynchronous-First + Planned In-Office Time Model is for your organization?

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Download our Distributed Work Models E-Book to learn how to find the distributed work model that enables your teams to perform at their best.

Want us to partner with you on finding your best-fit hybrid work strategy? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Subscribe to the Inclusion in Progress Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get notified when new episodes come out!

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

On this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we kick off our Distributed Work Expert Series.

With this series, we’re highlighting some of the world’s leading experts who continue to map, innovate, and design how distributed work looks from inside forward-thinking companies — designing a version of work that works for teams — regardless of where they choose to work.

Our goal is to start highlighting distributed work leaders in companies to help forward-thinking leaders like you to:

• Navigate distributed work challenges with confidence, innovation, and inspiration from real-world examples

• Design a version of work that works best for your teams

• Reimagine and reconstruct the future of distributed workplaces

For our first episode, we are joined by Dajana Berisavljević Đakonović, Head of People at Toggl, who shares their company’s commitment to creating successful, healthy work environments — regardless of where their teams are across the globe.

🎧 Tune in now to learn more about how global leaders continue to adapt in the ever-changing work landscape!

#InclusiveDistributedWork #MulticulturalTeams #GlobalLeadership #Toggl #InclusioninProgress

TIMESTAMPS:

[4:50] How has Toggl defined distributed work and has this shifted with the recent RTO debate?

[9:33] What has been the most significant challenge for distributed teams recently?

[11:08] What have you been most excited about when innovating team communication at Toggl?

[13:44] How does Toggl encourage collaboration across borders and backgrounds? Do you have any recommended tools?

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Download our Distributed Work Models E-Book to learn how to find the distributed work model that enables your teams to perform at their best.

Connect with Dajana through LinkedIn to learn more about her journey at Toggl.

Download our 2024 Whitepaper: "How Cybersecurity Companies Can Retain, Promote & Advance Women to Minimize the Gender Gap"

Want us to partner with you on building more inclusive distributed work? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Read our Forbes features on Ways to Support Employee Mental Wellbeing, What Self Care Looks Like For Us, and How to Create Effective Online Diversity Training.

Subscribe to the Inclusion in Progress Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get notified when new episodes come out!

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

In today’s global workplace, effective communication can make or break a team’s success. But for multicultural, distributed teams, navigating differences in language, cultural norms, and collaboration styles often feels overwhelming.

In this episode of Inclusion in Progress, we uncover the root causes of communication challenges in distributed teams — and more importantly, how to solve them.

You’ll learn:

• Why cultural nuances often lead to misunderstandings and misaligned expectations.

• The key to establishing clear norms for synchronous and asynchronous communication.

• How leaders can model inclusive behaviors that build trust and alignment.

Whether you’re managing a globally distributed team or part of one, this episode offers actionable strategies to help your team collaborate more effectively.

🎧 Tune in now — and don’t forget to download our Distributed Work E-Book for additional tips and tools to create a communication framework that drives connection and results.

#InclusiveDistributedWork #MulticulturalTeams #GlobalLeadership #FutureofWork

TIMESTAMPS:

[3:56] What barriers arise in multicultural, distributed teams.

[7:20] Why effective communication and alignment are critical when working with a team that spans backgrounds and borders.

[9:52] Common barriers that get in the way of collaboration, as observed working with teams across EMEA, APAC, and the Americas.

[13:50] The practical solutions that can help multicultural, distributed teams overcome communication barriers.

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Download our Distributed Work Models E-Book to learn how to find the distributed work model that enables your teams to perform at their best.

Download our 2024 Whitepaper: "How Cybersecurity Companies Can Retain, Promote & Advance Women to Minimize the Gender Gap"

Want us to partner with you on building more inclusive distributed work? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Read our Forbes features on Ways to Support Employee Mental Wellbeing, What Self Care Looks Like For Us, and How to Create Effective Online Diversity Training.

Subscribe to the Inclusion in Progress Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get notified when new episodes come out!

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

From leadership gaps to communication barriers to unclear expectations — companies are missing opportunities to find a distributed work model that works best for their teams.

On this episode of the Inclusion in Progress podcast, we discuss what is standing in the way of making distributed work models effective, why the debate should move beyond remote vs. RTO (return-to-office), and what leaders like you can do to unlock the true potential of distributed work in 2025 and beyond.

To discover more actionable insights on building effective distributed work models that address key challenges and support both business outcomes and employee well-being, supplement your listening by downloading our Distributed Work Model E-Book. It’s packed with actionable insights to help:

• Build clear, intentional work models that improve productivity.

• Reduce inefficiencies and turnover, boosting your bottom line.

• Position your company as a leader in inclusive, globally distributed teams.

And if you want to learn more, we’re partnering with clients using our Inclusive Distributed Work™ framework this year — all you have to do is reach out to us at info@inclusioninprogress.com.

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Download our Distributed Work Models E-Book to learn how to find the distributed work model that enables your teams to perform at their best.

Review our previous discussion on IIP096: The Hidden Biases of Hybrid Work.

Learn more about Global Workplace Analytics' study on the Costs of Distributed Work.

Check out Mark Ma and his team's full paper discussing the Return to Office Mandates and Brain Drain.

Want us to partner with you on building more inclusive distributed work? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Read our Forbes features on Ways to Support Employee Mental Wellbeing, What Self Care Looks Like For Us, and How to Create Effective Online Diversity Training.

Subscribe to the Inclusion in Progress Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get notified when new episodes come out!

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.

We’ve spent 2024 navigating some of the most pressing challenges facing our organizations today:

• Communication breakdowns between teams due to socioeconomic or geopolitical events

• The tug-of-war between return-to-office and remote work

• The politicization of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) itself

…all of which directly affects the teams that leaders claim they’re supporting.

While organizations are feeling pressure to cut budgets or scale back their efforts — at Inclusion in Progress, we believe that this shift actually presents an opportunity. An opportunity to align inclusion, distributed work, and people-focused strategies more directly with an organization's objectives in 2025 and beyond — and continue to build freer, fairer workplaces that work for us all.

As we wrap up the year, we’re sharing the lessons we’ve learned from 2024, the challenges and opportunities for 2025, and what’s next for us at Inclusion in Progress.

Finally, we’ll continue to share our resources, insights, and conversations with you here on this podcast as a resource for globally-minded leaders like you. It’s our hope that we can continue to shine a light on the benefits of flexible work — and enable you to continue to lead conversations about how to create your own inclusive distributed workplace.

Grab your copy of our Distributed Work Models playbook launching in January 2025.

Or email us at info@inclusioninprogress.com to learn how we’re continuing to support organizations with our Inclusive Distributed Work™ framework in the new year.

#inclusionatwork #hybridworkplace #futureofwork #inclusioninprogresspodcast

LINKS:

info@inclusioninprogress.com

www.inclusioninprogress.com/podcast

www.linkedin.com/company/inclusion-in-progress

Download our Distributed Work Models playbook to learn how to find the distributed work model that enables your teams to perform at their best.

Download our 2024 Whitepaper: "How Cybersecurity Companies Can Retain, Promote & Advance Women to Minimize the Gender Gap"

Listen to how the return-to-office debate has been politicized in our previous episode, IIP128: Why In-Office Mandates Hinder Innovation & Inclusion

Want us to partner with you on building more inclusive distributed work? Get in touch to learn how we can tailor our services to your company’s DEI and remote work initiatives.

Read our Forbes features on Ways to Support Employee Mental Wellbeing, What Self Care Looks Like For Us, and How to Create Effective Online Diversity Training.

Subscribe to the Inclusion in Progress Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get notified when new episodes come out!

Learn how to leave a review for the podcast.