The Builders - A Report
Launching on 4 September 2026
“The Builders - How Independent Operators and Entrepreneurs are Creating the Future of Work”
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What is ‘The Builders’?
A report featuring 15 leaders and entrepreneurs who are building pioneering solutions in the space between talent, and services - what they’re building and why, and how they see the future of this ecosystem:
Platform builders designing the digital rails for borderless, high-trust transactions.
Grassroots community leaders organizing independent talent and providing finishing schools for Fractional operators.
Corporate innovators and HR pioneers rewriting the talent playbook inside multinational organizations.
Pragmatic policymakers contemplating how to sustainably harness this demographic and economic transition.
Boutique agency founders scaling flexible, liquid teams to challenge traditional pyramid models.
By bringing these diverse, real perspectives into a single narrative, this report aims to serve as both a strategic guide and a call to action. We are not passive observers documenting a trend - we write this as active builders and connectors, driving change.The Report offers up 3 Red Threads - Hypotheses for where we are headed in terms of:
Standardization of process and platformization
Personal motivation
The tipping point in the industry
With a Foreword and Epilogue from Consulting Editor Brandon Lee, Head of Futures at SWDA
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Report Outline
Independents - The ‘Why’ and the ‘How’
The Path of the Pioneer: Adrian Tan on finding his niche in HR Tech
Redefining Success: Sarah Wong on making new choices inspired by motherhood
The Work – Where it connects and where there are gaps
A Sober Perspective: Yeo Puay Lim on the enterprise dilemma and the role of HR
The Advantages of Small: Lee Tuck Wai and the hidden value proposition of SMEs
The Startup Catalyst: Elena Chow and the ‘Buy, Build, Borrow’ model
Intermediaries – new models for a new age
The Search for New Models: Ricky Willianto and the interplay between trust and tech
The Liquid Agency: Antti Toivonen and disrupting creative services with specialized networks
The Home for Independents: Anurag Bhalla and Outsized's vision for growth markets
Orchestrating the Marketplace: Michelle Allbon and Mark Mullinix on The Fractional Directory and market acceleration
Bridging the Age Gap: Lim Kai Ning and The Courage Chapter's mission for senior professionals
Infrastructure – support tools and networks
The Power of Connection: Zachary King and building community for the Fractional C-Suite
Building Blocks of Trust: Peggy Choi and the infrastructure of the freelance economy
Systems thinkers – bringing the pieces together
The Human Cloud: Matthew Mottola and large-scale enterprise adoption of flexible talent
The System Approach: Brandon Lee and powering national competitiveness with flexible talent
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Behind 'The Builders' Report
Moritz Kaffsack is an advocate for the power of Human Expertise in an AI World. He is the Founder of Flexer and Founder of Portfolio Careers in Asia. Moritz has spent 20 years leading organizations through commercial growth and organisational change. He has managed teams and customers through acquisitions, pivots and digital transformations, taken companies to markets across three continents, and worked directly with leadership teams on post-M&A integration, market entry, leadership transitions and other moments of fundamental change.
Transformation and capability building for an AI world. Flexer works with companies in Asia to install new systems for growth and build the leadership capability to run them - delivered by experienced operators with a track record at top companies in the region.
Portfolio Careers in Asia is the region's leading community of senior independent professionals - and the PCA Catalyst Accelerator, developing experienced operators who deliver top growth and transformation programs across Asia.