The Remote Work Leadership Awards (2024)

This year, there’s been a push to drag everyone back to the office.

Remote work freedom is literally on the line. So, who’s fighting for your right to work anywhere?

These are the leaders standing up, pushing back, and proving that real work doesn’t need cubicles, commutes, or control. That’s who we’re interested in – the remote leaders on a mission.

These are your:

• Champions of balance over burnout
• Advocates for careers driven by purpose (not presence!)
• Creators of a world where flexibility isn’t a luxury - it comes standard
• Tinkerers of cutting-edge remote technology designed to make YOU great

They REJECT the demand that you trade freedom for fake job security.

And they work to IMPROVE the way we all work remotely.

This year’s Remote Work Leadership Awards go out to the fighters, the innovators, the true rebels out there. We want to spotlight those who stand up for every remote worker’s right to flexibility, global opportunity, and sanity.

These are the voices driving remote work forward.

They’re proving that work should fit around life, not the other way around.

This is your movement, and these are the people leading it.

After months of collecting your nominees, and performing deep dives into the past year’s big events - this is our top 10 list of winners for The Remote Work Leadership Awards of 2024.

The Remote Work Leadership Awards (2024): Winners

1. Amina Moreau (The Voice of Reason Award)
2. Yen Tan (The AI Innovation Award)
3. Laura Whaley (The Short Storyteller Award)
4. Fred Swaniker (The Global Economic Freedom Award)
5. Rick Haney and Kaleem Clarkson (The Podcaster of The Year Award)
6. Nadia Harris (The Remote Rights Award)
7. Andrew Allen (The Instigator Award)
8. Sumeet Gayathri Moghe (The Voice of The Future of Work Award)
9. Joel Gascoigne (The Remote Team Culture Award)
10. Siddharth Rajsekar (The Global Remote Coaching Award)

Congratulations to this year’s winners!

1) The Voice of Reason Award 2024: Amina Moreau

This award honors the leader who brings clarity to the chaos of remote work. 

Known for their practical guidance and steady hand, this individual is a trusted advisor for teams navigating virtual challenges, inspiring confidence and driving smart, effective decision-making every step of the way.

Amina is a serial creator, builder of companies and a renown storyteller. 

She brings a refreshing sense of undiluted honesty and passion to her work. Most recently this has been applied to Radious – which is like the airbnb of home office space.

When remote workers need more space – for in-person team workdays, offsites and retreats or general get-togethers, Radious fills that gap.

The app breaks free from the rigidity of traditional office spaces, providing remote teams with accessible, productive environments right where they are. We love that.

Amina’s dedication to creating a balanced remote work experience - supporting privacy, productivity, mental well-being, and flexibility - makes her the ideal recipient of this year’s Voice of Reason Award.

Her work brings clarity to the evolving needs of distributed teams, empowering them to work together without compromising on freedom or efficiency.

• Follow Amina on LinkedIn
• On X, Facebook and Instagram
• Check out Radious
• Her Website

2) The AI Innovation Award 2024: Yen Tan

This award honors the leader who is pioneering AI integration in remote work. 

Known for their forward-thinking approach, this person transforms complex tech into practical solutions, empowering teams to work smarter, adapt faster, and achieve more.

Yen Tan is a writer, future of work leader and AI entrepreneur whose work is transforming remote management and employee well-being for everyone. 

They co-founded Kona – an AI sidekick for remote managers who want to grow places.

If you’ve been paying attention, this incredible piece of AI tech helps leaders learn on-the-job. Their work advocates for thoughtful AI, avoids quick fixes and instead focuses on tools that genuinely address the needs of managers and teams.

Featured in major publications like The Guardian and Fortune, Yen brings their unique insight to building AI that serves people-first workplace cultures.

Yen’s dedication to inclusive, purpose-driven AI makes them a deserving recipient of this year’s AI Innovation Award.

Their work exemplifies how technology, when designed with empathy and intention, can improve team dynamics and remote work success - and sets a high standard for AI-driven solutions in leadership.

• Follow Yen on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to their newsletter
• Follow Yen on Instagram, and on X.
• Check out Kona

3) The Short Storyteller Award 2024: Laura Whaley

This award celebrates a master of short-form communication, a leader who connects with a single, powerful message. 

Known for using relatable humor to reveal what unites and divides us, they inspire discussion, educate, and spark meaningful conversations on key issues in remote work.

If you don’t know who Laura Whaley is, you might recognize her by her TikTok sign-off: Toodaloo! 

She’s a Canadian content creator, entrepreneur and everyone’s ‘virtual work bestie’ who uses searing wit and storytelling to address the ups and downs of corporate and remote work.

With over 3.9 million followers on TikTok, she shares relatable, witty takes on everything from awkward email exchanges to setting boundaries with bosses. 

In a sea of boring, she’s a refreshing voice for tech professionals navigating work-from-home life.

Laura’s content resonates deeply, and helps remote workers set vital boundaries for themselves. We love her talent for turning everyday work moments into hilarious insights that capture what so many professionals feel but don’t say out loud.

She wins the Short Storyteller Award this year for her ability to connect remote teams with her succinct, humorous content that highlights the real experiences of remote work.

Laura’s dedication to making corporate communication fun, accessible, and meaningful earns her this recognition as a true voice for today’s remote professionals.

• Follow Laura on LinkedIn
• Watch her shorts on TikTok
• On Instagram, YouTube or Facebook
• Check out Her Business Website

4) The Global Economic Freedom Award 2024: Fred Swaniker

This award honors the leader who champions remote work as a path to economic independence. 

Known for creating global opportunities, this visionary empowers teams to achieve financial freedom, breaks down barriers and inspires personal growth beyond local circumstances.

Have you heard of Fred Swaniker? You have now. He’s a Ghanian pioneer in talent development and a transformative force in Africa’s tech and AI sectors.

As the CEO of Sand Technologies, founder of ALX Africa, African Leadership Academy, and African Leadership University, Fred has created educational programs that empower young Africans to tackle some of the continent’s most audacious challenges.

His work redefines traditional education, encouraging students to choose missions instead of majors, allowing them to focus on fields like healthcare, governance, and climate change.

His commitment to a purpose-driven workforce exemplifies his vision for an economically independent Africa that leads in global innovation.

As the recipient of the Global Economic Freedom Award, Fred Swaniker is recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to unlocking economic opportunity across Africa with his remote initiatives.

By bridging education and real-world applications, Fred empowers young Africans to become leaders and innovators across borders.

• Follow Fred on LinkedIn
• And on X
• African Leadership Academy

5) The Podcasters of The Year Award 2024: Rick Haney and Kaleem Clarkson

This award recognizes the voices that remote teams turn to for insights, guidance, and inspiration. 

This podcaster elevates remote work conversations, sparking dialogue on key issues, and connecting listeners across industries with fresh ideas and invaluable perspectives.

Rick Haney and Kaleem Clarkson are the epic co-hosts behind the Remotely One podcast, a top-rated show on remote work. 

Rick is a talented voice actor, writer, and video content producer while Kaleem, is a remote work advocate and the COO of Blend Me, Inc., a consultancy for hybrid and remote work solutions.

You might recognize Kaleem from last year’s awards (we told you he was going places!) With a background that includes features in Harvard Business Review and Fortune, Kaleem offers his listeners deep insights into the challenges and strategies for managing remote work like a pro.

The two came together with a shared vision to explore remote work's nuances, and Remotely One became the perfect platform. 

Their show combines practical advice with light-hearted humor, often featuring guests who share memorable, funny, or thought-provoking remote work experiences.

Together, they create a space that’s insightful and relatable, helping remote workers navigate work-life balance, productivity, and connectivity in a world that doesn’t always make sense.

Rick and Kaleem are the esteemed recipients of this year's Podcaster(s) of the Year Award for their ability to make remote work conversations engaging, fun, and thought-provoking.

Through their genuine banter and expert perspectives, they turn each episode into a valuable resource, connecting remote workers across the globe and inspiring real change in remote workplace culture.

• Listen to The Remotely One Podcast Here
• Follow them on LinkedIn
• Check out their YouTube channel, Instagram and TikTok pages
• Follow Kaleem on LinkedIn
• And Rick on LinkedIn

6) The Remote Rights Award 2024: Nadia Harris

This award is for a leader who stands up for legal fairness and balance in the global remote workplace. 

Recognized for their advocacy for worker’s rights to flexibility, autonomy, and well-being, this trailblazer reshapes the standards of equitable work for a global workforce.

Nadia Harris is an accomplished remote work advocate, consultant, author, university lecturer and the founder of Remote Work Advocate, a platform dedicated to helping organizations and individuals navigate the complexities of remote and hybrid work.

With expertise in remote work law, compliance, and global team-building - Nadia has worked with major corporations like Amazon, Volkswagen, and Roche, guiding them on adapting to flexible work models while keeping them legally and culturally aligned.

Her insights are widely respected, as she frequently addresses critical issues like proximity bias, employee misclassification, and international remote work policies.

Her passion for equitable work environments shines through in her mission to make remote work accessible and fair for everyone, regardless of where they happen to live.

Nadia’s relentless commitment to upholding worker rights and her advocacy for people-centric, legally compliant remote work practices make her a commendable recipient of this year's Remote Rights Award.

We love that she empowers companies to build inclusive, fair workplaces that support remote workers’ autonomy, flexibility and well-being.

• Follow Nadia on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to her YouTube Channel
• Visit her Business Website
• Follow her on X

7) The Instigator Award 2024: Andrew Allen

Honoring the leader unafraid to challenge the norm, this award goes to the instigator of change. 

Bold, courageous, and always a step ahead, this person drives meaningful shifts within remote work, inspiring teams to think differently and embrace new ways of achieving excellence.

This year’s Instigator Award goes to Andrew Allen, our VP of Content Marketing at Crossover - a trailblazer who’s expanding the remote work narrative.

As the relentless advocate behind Out of Office - a hit web series with over 40 million views on LinkedIn - and co-creator of Radically Remote, LinkedIn’s largest remote work community (2.4 million subscribers), Andrew brings stories to light that reveal the life-changing potential of remote work.

Andrew’s mission is as bold as it is essential: he spotlights international talent, champions fair and transparent pay, and pushes U.S. companies to recognize the wealth of skill abroad without discrimination.

From his travels to 50 countries, he’s captured incredible stories that give voice to global remote workers, challenging the status quo and introducing fresh perspectives that deepen our understanding of remote work’s transformative potential.

As the Instigator Award recipient, Andrew is celebrated for his fearless dedication to elevating the global remote workforce. His work is about driving a movement for equal pay, opportunity, and visibility for everyone. 

Through his web series, newsletter, and unyielding advocacy, Andrew inspires meaningful change, championing a world where remote talent is valued and rewarded on a global scale.

• Follow Andrew on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to Out of Office
• Subscribe to The Radically Remote Newsletter

8) The Voice of The Future of Work Award 2024: Sumeet Gayathri Moghe

This award celebrates a visionary writer leading us into the future. 

With an eye on what’s next, this leader is shaping remote work by exploring the boundaries of technology, innovation, and human connection, making a lasting impact on how we’ll work tomorrow.

Sumeet is a Principal Product Manager, author and YouTuber with voluminous expertise on asynchronous working with cross-functional teams. As a pioneer of async work, he’s an influential voice for the future of remote collaboration.

With over two decades of experience as a digital product manager and agile coach, Sumeet has helped globally distributed teams optimize their workflows through book The Async-First Playbook – which has become something of a manifesto for async-first work in tech.

His book promotes intentional, asynchronous communication as the key to sustaining productivity, building team cohesion, and enhancing focus across different time zones and cultures.

Sumeet deserves the Voice of the Future of Work Award for his groundbreaking approach to asynchronous work, which redefines productivity and collaboration in remote environments.

His contribution to remote team workflows has cemented him as a go-to strategist shaping async-first productivity in the time of AI, distractions and digital overload.

• Follow Sumeet on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to his YouTube Channel
• Get a Copy of The Async-First Playbook

9) The Remote Team Culture Award 2024: Joel Gascoigne

This award celebrates a leader who transforms remote work into a true community. 

Known for building trust, transparency, and authentic happiness, they create a sense of belonging that brings virtual teams together, setting the standard for a connected and thriving remote workplace.

Joel Gascoigne doesn’t need an introduction – he’s the co-founder and CEO of Buffer, and a key figure in remote work. Under his guidance, Buffer became one of the earliest fully remote companies, setting an industry standard in transparency and employee well-being!

But did you know that he has pioneered pay transparency in a world where most companies turn a blind eye to shady – and unfair – pay practices? That’s why he deserves this award.  

Aside from his dedication to Buffer’s epic company practices, like the much-loved four-day workweek, international team retreats, and a values-based culture that promotes autonomy and inclusion – for 10 years he’s been above board about worker pay. That’s 100% transparency!

In our opinion, that is an outstanding commitment to building a connected, people-centered workplace brimming with trust and accountability. Joel is the deserving recipient of this year’s Remote Team Culture Award.

His leadership in creating intentional, inclusive team dynamics and his efforts to maintain Buffer’s transparent, fully remote structure have set the highest bar for global remote team culture.

• Follow Joel on LinkedIn
• Learn About his Salary System Here
• Check out his Website

10) The Global Remote Coaching Award 2024: Siddharth Rajsekar

This award honors a leader who empowers others to harness remote technologies to elevate their lives. 

Known for their mentorship and vision, this coach inspires people to unlock their full potential, using digital tools to achieve personal and professional success across borders.

Siddharth Rajsekar is a transformative force in digital coaching in India, and is known for his popular Freedom Business Model, which helps people thrive in remote work environments by building profitable online businesses.

His innovative framework combines AI-driven automation with strategic guidance, which empowers thousands to take charge of their careers and achieve sustainable success from anywhere in the world.

Through his community-focused approach, books, courses and workshops - Siddharth has created a supportive network that encourages self-belief and empowers individuals to navigate and excel in remote work.

As the recipient of the Global Remote Coaching Award, Siddharth is celebrated for his commitment to helping people worldwide harness remote work’s potential.

His legacy as a digital coach lies in his ability to inspire confidence and resilience, creating a new generation of remote entrepreneurs and coaches who know how to make a meaningful impact.

• Follow Siddharth on LinkedIn
• Or on X
• Check out his Website
• Subscribe to his YouTube Channel

Congratulations to This Year’s 2024 Remote Work Leaders!

To the rebels, the trailblazers, and the advocates pushing remote work into a new era – you are so vital.

These Remote Work Leadership Award winners embody what it means to fight for a future where work = freedom and a better life.

Their dedication to fair pay, flexibility, and global opportunity reminds us that remote work isn’t just about where you work, it’s about how you work, why you work, and who gets a seat at the table.

To the remote workers out there: stay bold, stay vocal, and keep rejecting the outdated notion that work means giving up your freedom.

These leaders have shown us what’s possible when we refuse to compromise and demand better. Here’s to all the fighters and innovators pushing back and proving that real work doesn’t need an office.

Follow them to stay inspired.