--- title: Inside Our First Club 100 Huddle of 2025 description: Join us for a recap of our first Club 100 Huddle of 2025, exploring tech efficiency, industry challenges, and innovative solutions in Global Mobility. --- [Latest News ](https://www.expat-academy.com/blog) # [Inside Our First Club 100 Huddle of 2025](https://www.expat-academy.com/blog/inside-our-first-club-100-huddle-of-2025) Written by [Stuart Jackson](https://www.expat-academy.com/blog/author/stuart-jackson) | 17 Jan 2025 We kicked off the year with our inaugural Club 100 Huddle of 2025, staying true to tradition by starting with a lively icebreaker: *What’s the best and worst advice you’ve ever been given?* There was no shortage of contenders in the room, but the Expat Academy prize goes to: *“You don’t need a work visa!”* and *“It’s only a job; it doesn’t really matter.”* **Enhancing Efficiency Through Technology** Our first session, *Using Technology to Make You More Efficient*, explored how Global Mobility professionals can harness technology to enhance efficiency. From AI-assisted notetaking and document creation to workflow automation, participants shared their experiences integrating technology into their processes. A common theme emerged: technology should support, not replace, the human element. The session concluded with a key takeaway - automate repetitive, low-value tasks and dedicate human effort to areas requiring judgment and creativity. When used thoughtfully, AI can be a powerful ally. ****   **Learning from Our Members** One of the highlights of the day was hearing from [Carla Campbell-Smith](http://linkedin.com/in/carla-c-19a61021) of Squarepoint and [Lucy Cross](http://linkedin.com/in/lucy-cross-17b64094) at TUI. These members offered a fascinating glimpse into their priorities for 2025, unified by a shared challenge: securing buy-in from the business. Whether focusing on standardisation, centralisation, or compliance tracking, their insights resonated across the room.     **Tackling Global Mobility Hot Potatoes** Before lunch, we tackled some *GM hot potatoes*, showcasing the depth of expertise within our community. Key topics included: - Tracking business travellers and managing risks associated with their activities abroad. - Securing senior leadership buy-in to establish a formal Global Mobility function. - Supporting local-to-local transfers into the US with minimal relocation support. The discussions underscored the power of collaboration within the Expat Academy community to generate innovative ideas and practical solutions. **Overcoming Roadblocks** Our post-lunch session, *What’s Stopping You?*, encouraged creative thinking to address Global Mobility challenges. Participants shared top tips, such as: - Conducting mock audits and creating cheat sheets. - Hosting employee seminars to raise awareness. - Leveraging vendor expertise. Special mention goes to the member who protects their budget by tapping into the company’s travel points pool - a frugal and innovative approach! **Embracing Chaos** [Grant Thornton](https://www.linkedin.com/company/grant-thornton-uk-llp/posts/?feedView=all) facilitated an engaging session titled *Embracing Chaos*, where [Jo-Anne](http://linkedin.com/in/jo-anne-allen-0b1a4926) Allen and [Katy Bond](http://linkedin.com/in/katy-bond-14b62b33) shared a brilliant framework for managing the evolving complexity of Global Mobility. Members can access this framework in the *Latest Presentations* section of the Vault. Discussions focused on bringing structure to chaotic environments and adapting to continuous change. **Debating the Future of Global Mobility** The day ended with a spirited *Perspective Playground* debate: *“The drop in the number of assignments is an existential threat to Global Mobility.”* Teams exchanged compelling arguments, with laughter and thought-provoking insights in equal measure. Key reflections included: - If assignments are decreasing, why are we busier than ever? - Are we overextending into areas outside our scope? - How can we formalise processes and ensure immigration compliance? - How do we measure and communicate our impact to stakeholders? **Final Takeaway** Our key takeaway from the day: *“Make sure you evolve and sort the chaos out!”* **Acknowledgments** We extend our heartfelt thanks to [Grant Thornton](https://www.linkedin.com/company/grant-thornton-uk-llp/posts/?feedView=all) for hosting this Club 100 Huddle, with special recognition for [Jo-Anne Allen](http://linkedin.com/in/jo-anne-allen-0b1a4926) and [Katy Bond](http://linkedin.com/in/katy-bond-14b62b33). We are also deeply grateful to our subject matter experts - [Gerson Relocation](https://www.linkedin.com/company/gerson-relocation/posts/?feedView=all), [Newland Chase](https://www.linkedin.com/company/newland-chase/), [Santa Fe Relocation](https://www.linkedin.com/company/santa-fe-relocation/posts/?feedView=all), and [Workia](https://www.linkedin.com/company/workia-mobility-management/posts/?feedView=all) - for their professional guidance and contributions. **Join Us Next Time** We look forward to welcoming you to our next Club 100 Huddle. Don’t miss the chance to connect, learn, and grow with the vibrant Expat Academy community!     [View full post](https://www.expat-academy.com/blog/inside-our-first-club-100-huddle-of-2025) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Stuart Jackson" }, "dateModified" : "2025-01-17T18:21:53.242Z", "datePublished" : "2025-01-17T18:21:41Z", "headline" : "Inside Our First Club 100 Huddle of 2025", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 778, "url" : "https://139665915.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/139665915/A%20Great%20Super%20Team.jpg", "width" : 1920 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://www.expat-academy.com/blog/inside-our-first-club-100-huddle-of-2025", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 60, "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png", "width" : 60 }, "name" : "Latest News" } } ```