For an event designed to energize and unite all our professionals after merging two distinct companies together with a combined workforce of thousands, Brian landed his speech in the company’s unique organizational context and culture.

Brian has become a friend and champion. He has helped build my network within distributed work communities, and he opened doors for me to speak on podcasts or conference stages. He has a rare gift for creating fruitful mutual connections and opening doors for others. 

I consider Brian the sharpest thinker and communicator I know on the future of work. He’s not a “strategist” opining from an ivory tower, but someone who knows firsthand how real organizations work, how executive teams make (or struggle to make) decisions, and how different employee segments respond. He has lots of real-world stories and examples and can provide actionable, easy-to-understand advice, practices, and resources.

Brian Elliott's expertise and experience in helping companies design effective workplace strategies were invaluable to our business unit. Brian also led a company-wide executive workshop that drove the conversation forward, got core concerns out in the open for discussion, and provided great real-world examples to spur new thinking.

I first met Brian as part of the COVID-era Future Forum consortium Brian founded with leaders from BCG and Slack. In that project, which worked with senior HR practitioners to use data and evidence-based practices to identify future-focused solutions to the talent crisis unleashed by COVID, I was profoundly impressed by Brian’s ability to synthesize insights from data and pragmatic best practices into real-world solutions.  

Later, when Brian launched Work Forward, I began following his social media posts on “return to work” because no one was posting more relevant, accurate, data-based insights on this phenomenon than Brian. As a result, the HR Advisory Board of Workforce Opportunity Services (of which I’m a member) invited Brian to speak at our annual Talent Symposium in October of 2024. Brian blew the audience away with the powerful insights he offered on flexibility and the future of work. Brian is that rare, alchemical blend of strategy guru and operating wizard — and I highly recommend him as a speaker and consultant.

Desana have worked closely with Brian to develop and deliver two industry events that attracted senior real estate and workplace leaders from some of the world's largest and most influential companies. The feedback on Brian's facilitation has been second to none, bringing data-driven and differentiated ideas to events that can historically be a little stagnant. We're excited to continue to look at opportunities to work with Brian in the future.

Brian is a trusted advisor and a valued thought partner to us at MillerKnoll. Through our previous collaboration with Future Forum, where we explored the future of work, Brian worked closely with us to drive meaningful insights. He has also provided strategic advice to MillerKnoll and engaged with our senior leaders, helping us work more effectively and better prepare for the opportunities and challenges of the future.

As a distinguished authority on flexible work, Brian Elliott played a pivotal role in the success of our highly impactful 2024 in-person workshop for enterprise executives. Drawing on his unparalleled expertise, Brian thoughtfully designed and led the workshop, empowering employers to optimize the integration of on-site, hybrid, and distributed work strategies.

The full-day program, masterfully crafted by Brian, emphasized peer learning, fostering meaningful dialogue, and inspiring participants to bring actionable insights back to their organizations. His ability to draw out the best in attendees while delivering tangible value set the workshop apart.

We were privileged to leverage Brian's expansive network of future-of-work thought leaders, many of whom joined the event specifically due to his esteemed reputation. This collaboration exceeded expectations, and we are eager to continue building on this successful partnership in the future.

The evolving landscape of work demands visionary leadership and actionable insights — Brian delivers both. His ability to combine data-driven strategies with a human-centric approach had led to refreshing ideas on how to advance distributed work with clarity and focus. Beyond his expertise, Brian excels at bringing together smart, driven individuals to solve challenges collectively, fostering innovation and progress. Working with him has fundamentally shaped how I think, lead, and drive meaningful outcomes in this dynamic environment.

Brian has been an invaluable member of our team as we've worked to evolve our approach to 'Live & Work Anywhere.' He has played a key role in designing an environment that will foster high-performing teams, regardless of their location. Brian has seamlessly integrated into our work, offering critical insights that have sharpened our thinking. He has also ensured we remain connected with and learn from peers who are on a similar journey. I highly recommend working with him.

Brian Elliott has been an invaluable thought partner to the Upwork Research Institute, bringing unparalleled research expertise, exceptional communication skills, and a gift for storytelling. His ability to distill complex ideas into compelling narratives has elevated our work and helped us deliver impactful insights to our audience.

Brian Elliott is a transformative thought leader in the future of work, with a remarkable ability to guide organizations through meaningful change. His insights are forward-thinking but also deeply practical, making him an effective change agent in even the most complex environments. His expertise and influence are invaluable to any organization seeking to stay ahead in today’s rapidly evolving workplace landscape. 

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Brian’s thought leadership, community building, and facilitation have made an important impact on me and my organization. I always leave more prepared to tackle the next big thing in our future of work strategy.

I’ve had the pleasure of hearing from Brian at two conferences this year, and his thought leadership, community building, and facilitation have made an important impact on me and my organization. I was exposed to data-driven insights and peers who shared challenges and their solutions, and I received real-time feedback on key business decisions I needed to make. Any time Brian invites me to participate in similar events now I’m an automatic ‘yes’ because I always leave more prepared to tackle the next big thing in our future of work strategy.

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