Business

How To Leverage The Great Resignation

Published

3 years ago

March 8, 2022

In the year 2021, more employees were leaving their jobs than ever before. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a staggering 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November. The instability brought on by the pandemic has had a greater hit on low-wage sectors including hospitality, transportation, and utilities.

However, the labor market itself is not contracting. People are leaving their jobs to take up other opportunities. The transition to the digital economy has also created a rich and robust gig economy, where freelancing provides a lucrative incentive to work remotely and with more flexibility.

Opportunities in a New Era

The online infrastructure has presented unique opportunities for entrepreneurs to arise. According to an Intuit survey, more people desire to start their own businesses in 2022.

The catalyst for people to start their own businesses or pursue a different career after the pandemic comes with “the ample time they were given to reflect, to realize that they desired the long-term sustainability that pursuing an entrepreneurial path could potentially bring”, Lezly says.

Not uncommon to the feeling of fragility in the corporate workforce, Lezly D’limi was presented with a difficult conundrum. After helping build a talent acquisition company to the millions under a span of a few years, she came to face the reality that she was going to lose it all because of her pregnancy.

“She was now just another ‘resource’ and ‘capacity gap’ that needed filling. This first-hand experience was the trigger she needed to leave and create something of her own, defining a new place where people actually mattered, and their uniqueness was celebrated”.

Lezly is not alone in this feeling. The pandemic has statistically impacted women in the workforce far more than it has in men.

However, as the old adage goes, with one door that closes, another one opens.

There are a variety of skills and services that are higher in demand than ever, and the need for true talent never goes away. Adaptable and quick-minded individuals are likely to benefit from the momentum generated from this transitionary period. This may allow people to explore different outlets of making money, and thus, make the best out of the “Great Resignation”.

Explore New Outlets to Make Income

The rising use of technology and the internet has transformed how many industries operate and redefined the types of skills that are coveted. The opportunities to learn a skill set at the touch of a keyboard are easier than ever. There’s always the option to go back to the drawing board and learn a skill that can be used to build a side hustle. These include, however not limited to e-commerce, writing, content creation, and web development.

Pursuing a freelancing career also allows you to have more reign over your schedule giving you more time to dedicate to the intellectual assets that you’re passionate about.

Another option is to apply your existing skills and expertise in an area to build your own company. Starting a company is a tedious endeavour, but the advantages include the option to scale as you would like, build your own team and work culture, as well as exercise leadership capabilities on a whole different scale.

Lezly D’limi, founding director of Talentko, saw the opportunity to build and scale her own talent acquisition company. However, this time around the company would employ a people-centric, value-driven, and trust-based approach. Taking on the lessons of her own pursuit of freedom in workplaces, she and the Talentko team are on a mission to create flexible working. This means, giving their consultants the skills and tools to be location independent, as well as building their ability to run their desks like their own businesses. Creating true freedom and wealth generation.

Evaluate Your Connection to Your Values

Throughout our working lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks, whether you’re an employee or in a management position. Sometimes we find ourselves lacking fulfillment in our careers, and instead of pinpointing exactly what it is, we use artificial targets to guide our work.

When our values are misaligned with our work, it can be difficult to stay engaged, productive, and satisfied long-term.

“Our greatest realizations are uncovered on the days that we take a step back to sit still and observe”, Lezly says.

Choosing to step away from the hustle every once in a while can be beneficial in helping us reevaluate our decisions and can sometimes lead us to make profound changes in our lives.

It was from these periods of quietness, that Lezly found the calling to build her company, Talentko. Reflecting had allowed her to see the detrimental patterns of her past, and how to reconcile these differences between the corporate hustle, and her own vision of the type of company she wanted to build. Today, Talentko operates on the principles of helping people prosper and find joy in their work.

Build a Career that Aligns with your Passion

It is helpful to think of career trajectories as many different opportunities for you to exercise your skills and passion for a subject. For example, if you like to help people; there are several ways you can make a living from that passion. You don’t have to become a doctor; you can teach academics or build an online business that teaches other entrepreneurs how to scale their own companies. If you love to write, you’re not subjected to a career of writing books. There’s an abundance of opportunities in the online space to monetize off your craft.

When we’re passionate about something, the job no longer is a chore, but something we’re happy to put in the extra mile for. This translates to better work, and likely higher productivity on our end so we can use the extra time to manifest into other important areas of our lives; like our health and families.

“The true freedom from owning her own business came from the connection to purpose, impact, and choice”. Lezly was able to leverage her passion for helping others to build a company that allowed people to prosper and grow under a non-toxic, unrestrained work environment.

Conclusion

In the modern age, we are presented with new and emerging opportunities to explore and diversify our skill sets. Climbing the rungs of the corporate ladder is no longer as desirable as it used to be. Employees are prone to choose workplaces that inhibit good work cultures, social and health benefits, as well as the option to work remotely. Freedom and quality of life are important factors in today’s modern workplace culture.

Instead of perceiving the Great Resignation as a signal for failure, we should accept that this new reality might just bring out the types of reforms and innovations that have been long overdue.

Business

Remote Professionals Getting More Value for Their Work Thanks to Borderless Banking

Published

5 days ago

July 10, 2025

Matthew Wiles

Not too long ago, the idea of working remotely from an island in Thailand or a co-working space in Berlin sounded like the kind of fantasy only tech moguls or backpacking freelancers could afford.

Fast forward to today, and it’s as good as a global reality. Millions of professionals have cut the cord from traditional office life in exchange for flexibility, freedom, and a work-life balance that fits their personal rhythm and not their employer’s timezone.

However, as remote work has reshaped how people earn a living, it’s also pointed out the existing limits to most of the world’s financial systems. Traditional banking simply wasn’t built for a workforce that’s always on the move, operating in multiple currencies, and getting paid across borders.

Thankfully, that’s where borderless banking like Black Banx have proven vital, and has quietly transformed the way money is managed for people vacationing and working overseas alike.

The Rise of the Remote Work Economy

Remote work isn’t just a pandemic-era trend that faded with Zoom fatigue—it’s become a defining feature of the modern workforce. A recent survey revealed that over 39% of Gen Z and Millennials planned to live and work abroad for extended periods this year, many staying six months or more in a single location. That’s beyond a short trip, and can be considered as good as a sabbatical with a substantial lifestyle shift.

According to recent estimates, the digital nomad economy now also contributes as much as US$787 billion annually to the global economy. And this isn’t just entry-level gig work. A third of digital nomads earn between US$100,000 and US$250,000, while another third take in US$50,000 to US$100,000 annually.

It is indeed evident that the manner in which many make a living has changed. Unfortunately, most financial systems haven’t kept up.

Where Traditional Banks Are Still Falling Short

For those who have ever tried to open a bank account abroad or receive payment from a foreign client, they already know the drill: the paperwork is endless, delays are frustrating, and the fees? So much to do, even for the smallest amounts of money.

Just to name few of the hurdles remote workers still face with conventional banking:

Account setup restrictions: Need proof of residence, tax IDs, or a local job offer—things many digital nomads simply don’t have.
Slow international transfers: Payments can take days to process, which is a nightmare when rent’s due.
High foreign exchange fees: Currency conversions often come with steep, hidden costs.
Limited multi-currency support: Most banks still force users to operate in a single currency, making financial planning chaotic at best.

And perhaps most tellingly, many banks have digitized their operations but haven’t personalized their services. According to Accenture’s 2025 Banking Trends Report, while digital transformation has improved efficiency, it often sacrifices the customer experience. That’s not great news for people who live outside the lines.

Borderless Banking for Professionals Across the Globe

The concept of borderless banking goes far beyond wiring money internationally. Fundamentally, it’s also about being able to eliminate the friction between people and their money, no matter where they are in the world, and maintaining an ecosystem where geography, bureaucracy, and currency don’t stand in the way of financial freedom.

A working example of this is Black Banx, a Toronto-based fintech founded by German billionaire Michael Gastauer. Since launching globally in 2015, it has grown to serve over 78 million clients in 180+ countries as of Q1 2025, proof that people take to digital banking solutions when it is accessible, affordable, and is useful in just about any locale.

In the first three months of this year, Black Banx had also earned US$4.3 billion in revenue and US$1.6 billion in pre-tax profit, more than double from the same quarter the previous year and showing it has consistently delivered tangible value to global customers—remote professionals included

How Borderless Banking Maximizes Value for Remote Workers

1. Instant Account Access—No Strings Attached

The times of hunting down local branches or collecting endless documents just to open an account are finished. With borderless banks, users can open an account in minutes using just a photo ID—no proof of address or income required. That’s a lifesaver for anyone living outside their passport country or hopping from one location to another.

2. Multi-Currency Mastery

Managing money in multiple currencies used to mean juggling several accounts—or worse, losing money on conversions. Borderless platforms like Black Banx support 28 FIAT currencies and allow real-time currency conversions at competitive rates. That means remote workers can:

Invoice clients in one currency
Spend or save in another
Hedge against local currency fluctuations
Avoid excessive conversion fees altogether

3. Seamless, Real-Time Global Payments

Getting paid late, or paying others late, isn’t just inconvenient; it can damage relationships and disrupt your cash flow. With real-time payment support, remote workers can receive funds instantly, no matter where their clients are. This is particularly valuable for freelancers and entrepreneurs juggling multiple contracts across time zones.

Plus, bulk payment features and API integration streamline processes for those running teams or businesses.

4. Built-In Crypto Options

It isn’t surprising that many digital nomads are already deep into crypto. Whether it’s for investment, faster transactions, or avoiding traditional finance red tape, crypto is becoming essential.

Since 2016, Black Banx has allowed users to send, receive, and convert crypto (like BTC and ETH) within their accounts. That integration saves users from having to manage separate crypto wallets, and adds another layer of flexibility to their financial toolkit.

5. Secure Transactions

Remote workers often log in to work from cafés, coworking spaces, and airports, to name a few. Of course, this flexibility of being able to work almost anywhere should never come at the cost of security. Borderless banks like Black Banx use end-to-end encryption, AI fraud detection, and two-factor authentication to keep accounts safe from risky elements.

Financial Freedom, Not Just Convenience

Perhaps the most overlooked benefit of borderless banking is the freedom it provides. Not just to access money, but to fully participate in the global economy. For millions of professionals in underbanked regions like Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, borderless banking has become a gateway to financial inclusion and a way to take on opportunities that typically wouldn’t be available to them if not remote.

By removing barriers to entry, platforms like Black Banx empower underserved individuals to both take control of their finances and increase their earning power by working with companies from higher paying markets. This democratization of finance isn’t just good for individuals, it’s good for the global economy as a whole.

As Black Banx CEO Michael Gastauer put it: “Our multi-currency solutions enable businesses to tap into global talent without worrying about payment complexities. We make cross-border transactions as seamless as local ones.”

The Road Ahead

By 2030, the number of digital nomads worldwide is expected to soar past 60 million, according to the Forbes Technology Council. That means tens of millions of workers will be navigating foreign currencies, time zones, and financial systems—all while expecting the same seamless experience they’d get at home.

Indeed, remote professionals aren’t just looking for places to work—they’re looking for systems that work for them. In a lifestyle built on flexibility, traditional banking is proving too rigid, too slow, and too expensive.

Borderless banking services like those offered by the likes of Black Banx, on the other hand, offer exactly what today’s global workforce needs: instant access, multi-currency support, real-time payments, crypto integration, and enterprise-level security—all in a streamlined experience.