Only 12 of 40 Engineers Want to Relocate. Now What? | The Business of Alignment

In this solo episode, AJ Vaughan tackles a real-world scenario from the E1B2 Collective community:

Your executive team has approved relocating 40 engineers to Europe. The business case is solid. The strategy is complete. Then you discover only 12 employees actually want to move.

Now what?

AJ argues that this isn't a relocation problem—it's an alignment problem.

Drawing from conversations with global mobility leaders, HR executives, and workforce strategists, he explores why the most successful mobility programs begin long before immigration paperwork, tax planning, or compliance. They begin with better communication, stronger psychological safety, and a deeper understanding of the people behind the plan.

In this episode:

• Why global mobility failures often start with internal communication gaps
• The role hiring managers should play before relocation decisions are made
• How psychological safety creates better workforce planning
• Why employee context is just as valuable as business data
• A practical framework for aligning business strategy with human reality

If you're a CHRO, Global Mobility leader, HR executive, or business leader responsible for workforce planning, this episode offers a different lens on what alignment really looks like.

Because the best mobility strategy isn't the one that moves the most people.

It's the one built on the truth before the plan is finalized.