149: Frederic Tshidimba - Global Work Nets: Labor Becomes More Liquid

Fréderic Tshidimba is the Co-founder and Chief Inspiration Officer at Empleyo, an Employer of Record (EOR) that helps businesses navigate international employment, remote staffing, and HR services. Fred shares his experiences growing teams in emerging economies. He discusses global talent flow and the need to make labor markets more liquid. Fred illustrates EORs’ role in helping companies grow, accessing skilled workers and staying compliant. He describes how outsourcing international HR services opens up markets. Fred explains the value of fair employment contracts in supporting workers’ financial security and mobility, while enabling employers to scale flexibly. 

 

 

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

 

[00:23] Fred studies business engineering with a focus on marketing and consumer psychology.   

[01:40] Fred joins Coca-Cola in a digital marketing traineeship having no digital experience.   

[02:25] Three key lessons at Coke: think big, prioritize execution, and focus on consumer insights.   

[03:32] Transitioning to Nestlé, Fred focuses on the product portfolio and bottom-line.   

[04:50] Fred declines a transfer to Italy and moves for his wife’s new job in the Philippines.   

[06:20] Discovering the Philippines’ strengths in digital and outsourcing industries.   

[07:16] Fred enjoys agency work in young, fast-paced, endorsement-driven S.E. Asian markets.   

[08:50] A friend suggests co-founding a business to bridge digital expertise and outsourcing.   

[09:45] Fred scales the business supporting global e-commerce and software clients.   

[10:56] The venture grows by focusing on clients’ needs as they scale.   

[12:00] Riding two waves: the e-commerce boom and early globalization of talent.   

[12:58] Fred gets bought out and launches Empleyo to enable global employment opportunities.   

[14:10] Empleyo helps companies hire talent in countries where they don’t have local presence.   

[15:05] Startups often use Employer Of Record services after hiring remote workers independently.   

[15:42] Pre-sales roles, software engineers, and mission-driven or tech specialists are key EOR hires.   

[17:20] Startups use Employers of Record services for flexibility and growth.   

[18:10] Fred sees labor becoming more liquid like capital, removing structural employment barriers.   

[19:25] The workforce becomes a “work net” with collaboration transcending borders and time zones.   

[20:40] Workers still want financial stability even as their multiple career paths become more fluid.   

[21:35] Empleyo focuses on long-term contracts to give workers job security and legal protections.   

[22:38] Companies need formal employment frameworks to scale responsibly and remain compliant.   

[23:50] EORs take care of compliance needs, e.g. GDPR and NDAs, managing across client contexts.   

[24:55] Empleyo focuses on emerging markets in S.E. Asia and Africa, also expanding in Europe, the US.   

[26:05] HR becomes more strategic as companies seek talent aligned with purpose and growth goals.   

[27:28] Fred emphasizes hiring local experts to navigate regional contexts and gain customer relevance.   

[28:30] Internal mobility offers employees growth and engagement, especially in large organizations.   

[29:35] Will future employment models continue to have fixed salaries and leave policies.   

[30:50] Empleyo shares best practices learned from innovative clients.   

[32:02] Personal cases, such as relocation during unrest or family planning, underscore Empleyo’s human impact.   

[33:15] Companies are prompted to think beyond borders—hiring a country CEO without a local office.   

[34:20] Fred sees cross-border employment as a way to support families and keep communities intact.   

[35:12] Fred is committed to keep expanding their horizons and connecting people through work.   

IMMEDIATE ACTION TIP: Using an Employer of Record helps companies scale quickly and legally by hiring skilled remote workers globally. 

  

 

RESOURCES 

 

Frederic Tshidimba on LinkedIn 

Empleyo.com   

 

 

QUOTES 

 

“Labor is pretty cranky… it’s a factor that’s not so liquid.” 

 

“We believe more and more in the concept of a "work net", not just a "workforce".” 

 

“The workforce is getting more and more flexible, but people still need to be bankable.” 

 

“If you want talent with purpose, you often have to go further than your local market.” 

 

“Scaling with purpose means balancing speed with intentionality in your recruitment.” 

 

“Sometimes people just want to live in their community and work for a global employer—that’s a beautiful thing.” 

 

“Our mission is to help labour become more liquid by making employment simpler, fairer, and more accessible.” 

 

“It’s exciting because, in the end, it’s about people, their lives, and helping them grow wherever they are.”