Forbes - Work From Anywhere ✈️

Every Saturday I send you a tight edit of Forbes’ future trends across tech, entrepreneurship, sustainability and more. Enjoy.

Work From Anywhere

With many businesses nearing the second anniversary of offices closing during the initial stages of the pandemic – many are now confronting a new world where a growing percentage of staff have never seen the physical office, and may not even be located in the same city, or country.

There are powerful indicators that many businesses like Google are backing a return to the office, and are scoring a great deal on real estate in the process, but the ongoing revelation that many companies, even high-growth startups like Hopin, can operate largely, or entirely remotely, promises not only to sweep away the walls of the office cubicle but also international boundaries.

That shift can be seen in the list of the Top 100 Companies For Remote Jobs that includes 35 new names this year alone, while around 40% of the employees surveyed in a Gallup poll say they would look for a new job if remote was taken off the table. Making hiring a product manager in Portugal, or a Ruby developer in Romania, as straightforward as a local candidate still isn’t straightforward but there are a growing crop of startups seek to solve those problems for founders and managers. While some entrepreneurs have already made the leap themselves.

Is WFA (Work From Anywhere) the new WFH?

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5 things we learned

Guillaume Pousaz, the Swiss billionaire behind London-based payments fintech Checkout.com, is now Europe’s richest tech entrepreneur. A new $1 billion investment round has catapulted the business to a $40 billion valuation, and a $23 billion fortune for its founder.

It’s no longer a question of “if,” but one of “how much” or how many days people can work from home. That's the finding of the Top 100 Companies For Remote Jobs list which shows remote work is becoming entrenched with big employers, and beyond traditional WFH roles in IT or customer support.

A Twitter squabble between two Brazilian teenagers helped spawn a $12.3 billion startup. Brex co-founders Henrique Dubugras, 26, and Pedro Franceschi, 25, have each joined the three comma club thanks to the super-charged growth of the corporate credit card business.

A Peter Thiel-backed psychedelics company Atai Life Sciences has secured FDA approval to study ketamine therapy trials in the United States. Earlier research suggests that the anesthetic drug could help tackle treatment-resistant depression which represents a $10 billion potential market.

Portugal is investigating a “possible irregularity” after granting citizenship last year to Roman Abramovich. The Russian-born billionaire who owns Chelsea Football Club, landed a desirable EU passport via a scheme that grants citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews.

The good

A study published in the scientific journal Science suggests multiple sclerosis could be caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. The news came shortly after Moderna revealed an early trial of a mRNA-powered vaccine for the common pathogen that raises hopes the devastating neurological condition could be prevented in the future.

The bad

The holiday travel surge and the omicron variant of Covid-19 have taken a toll. More than 3,700 TSA staff have tested positive since Thanksgiving while sick calls from pilots and airline crew have added to travel woes.

Got an event coming up?

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Do this

Skyscraper Yoga. Take part in Chicago's highest yoga class in front of breathtaking views from the 94th floor of the former John Hancock Center. Perfect for all ages and skill levels. Every Sunday, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM CST, from $25.

Watch

The rise of graphic medicine. Watch comic creator Sam Hester describe how a growing movement in healthcare is using small graphic illustrations to promote better and more accessible caretaking. TED, available to watch worldwide.

Listen

Nurses and never-ending shifts. Burnout among nurses has been a long-standing issue for hospitals, and one that has been exacerbated due to the pandemic. Listen to a nurse researcher explain what can be done to put a stop to nurse burn-out. NPR, free to listen worldwide.

Read

A therapist's toolkit. From finding motivation to dealing with criticism - clinical psychologist and TikTok sensation Dr Julie provides a simple yet empowering guide to managing your mental health. HarperOne, from $14.

Taste

The best plant-based restaurants in NYC. Practicing Veganuary this month? Here are 6 of the most delicious vegetarian and vegan tasting menus to try in The Big Apple.

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