Endorsements

"The Matthews thread together the most significant future of work trends of our time, offering a sharp and timely narrative that's equal parts human stories and actionable insights. If you need to get ahead of the curve, The Human Cloud is your shortcut to do just that." 

— Lauren Razavi, award-winning writer and Google's former managing editor for the future of work

“The Matthews provide us with a clear vision of a new workplace, where the gig economy becomes mainstream, almost everybody works alongside a smart machine, and everything is in the cloud. How can you best prepare? Reading this book right now.” 

— Thomas H. Davenport, Distinguished Professor, Babson College, and Fellow, MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy, Author of Only Humans Need Apply and The AI Advantage

“A must-read for anyone whose role is threatened by the seismic shifts of the freelance economy and artificial intelligence. The Human Cloud provides hope and a guidebook on how to survive and thrive in this new world of work.”

— Tony Saldanha, CEO Transformant, bestselling author of Why Digital Transformations Fail, long-time technology executive of Fortune 25 company Procter & Gamble

“The Human Cloud is a must read book to assist you, your organization and your team in using the power of artificial intelligence to augment workplace capabilities. AI will not replace workers but enable them to work smarter!”

 — Jeanne Meister, Founding Partner, Future Workplace, Co-Author, The Future Workplace Experience: 10 Rules For Mastering Disruption in Recruiting and Engaging Employees

“If you are looking for a book that’s cutting edge, enlightening, timely, impactful, and infused with good-hearted humor, I highly recommend that you buy The Human Cloud today. The Matthews have a unique way of getting the reader to see the big picture while also helping them identify practical steps for designing the professional and life outcomes of their desires. Rarely do I find a business book that’s hard to put down, but the Human Cloud is one of those rare finds.”

— Betsy Westhafer, CEO of The Congruity Group, Author, Speaker, Podcaster

"As an intrepreneur (and wannabe entrepreneurial changemaker), I found The Human Cloud to be insightful, inspirational, and highly relevant to both my full time job as chief innovation officer of a large law firm and my several side gigs as an author, real estate investor, and technology angel investor. The authors masterfully juxtapose the yin-yang concepts of the human and machine clouds in a way that will resonate with those familiar with the topics as well as newcomers to this exciting new world. The Cheat Sheet summaries and We Dare You suggested activities at the end of each chapter make for a fresh and engaging read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book."

— Patrick DiDomenico, Chief Innovation Officer, Technology Startup Advisor and Investor, Author of Knowledge Management for Lawyers

“The freelance economy is becoming THE economy. People want choice, flexibility, autonomy, and freedom to express their talents in ways that are meaningful to them. Sometimes, however, those same people are stuck in their existing, suboptimal work environment thanks to the fear of the unknown. Through stories that capture the imagination, the Human Cloud lays out a roadmap for how people can make the leap to the freelance economy. But deeper than inspiration, the Matthew’s provide an explicit playbook to tap into the magic of the freelance economy; the Human Cloud will benefit the world’s most talented individuals for years to come.”

 — Michael Burdick, CEO of Paro, leading Finance and Accounting Freelance Platform

“Why are 10xers (the best talent by far) shifting from W-2 to freelance? This trend was already transformational, but Covid19 accelerated it tremendously. While many workers are forced into the gig economy by external forces, this group of high powered knowledge workers are making this shift for a myriad of reasons. In order to understand why and how to come out on top, read this book!”

— Michael Solomon, Co-Author Game Changer: How To Be 10x In The Talent Economy and co-founder of 10x Management, 10x Ascend, Brick Wall Management and Musicians On Call

"My neck is sore from the nodding and frequent laughter at the relatable situations I personally face as a corporate professional and CEO now working 100% in the cloud. Whether starting companies, leading as an employee, or working independently, leveraging cloud-based technology coupled with a mind-shift to outcome-based work is truly the definition of the future of work. " 

— Liza Rodewald, CEO/Founder Instant Teams

“Organizations of all sizes have been struggling to figure out how to take advantage of remote and freelance talent. But with very few exceptions, progress has been slow and uneven. The ones that are able to adapt and learn this new skill will be the Changemakers that move ahead of everyone else, particularly in this post Covid world. The Matthews do an amazing job of explaining how this trend will play out, and how to overcome the usual roadblocks that hold most organizations back.”

— Tomas O'Farrell, CoFounder and CEO, Workana

“Many business books tend to fall into the "if you've read one, you've read them all" category. So, I expected to just skim this content about which I'm already quite familiar, but the Matthews unexpectedly sucked me into a literary rabbit hole with their irresistible charm, relatable stories, introspective prompts, and poignant voice. Before it had a trendy title, the Gig Economy was a critical phase of my career development, but one that I felt should I should hide or inflate when reviewing my resume because I didn't have a "real" job. However, while reading The Human Cloud, I realized what a competitive advantage my freelancing experience gave me personally and professionally. I'm sorry to admit that I took the privilege for granted. Now I feel that I can wear my independent contractor badge with pride, and am more eager than ever to help advocate for flexibility. Whether you are a freelancer, want to become one, work with one, or have never heard of one, you will be able to feel inspired by this work.”

— Laurel Farrer, Founder & CEO, Distribute Consulting, former COO at Yonder

“A Call to Action: The Human Cloud is the critical guide to our times. Now more than ever, we have the opportunity to write the new normal for transforming  the way work happens, and I can't thank the Matthew's enough for creating a blueprint for seizing this opportunity while focusing on the talent. 

Since founding We Are Rosie in 2018, I have been on the front lines of connecting a community of incredibly talented independent marketing experts to Fortune 500 brands seeking flexible and remote talent.  This vantage point has offered me a glimpse into the personal stories of how and why our community of thousands of experts opted for independent work in their careers. The stories humanize an otherwise blanket term "freelancer" – some are care taking for loved ones, some have mental health issues that keep them from feeling safe in offices, some are disabled, some have been tokenized. But they are all full human beings who have chosen to do the work they are so passionate about, but in a way that suits their lives. 

The paradigm shift I see puts people-first, and the time to embrace the Human Cloud is now. The Human Cloud is the best first step any leader can take to build the future that puts people first and creates the future of work.”

– Stephanie Nadi Olson - Founder, We Are Rosie

“Freelancing is inevitably completely different from what you think it’s going to be like when you first plan your escape from corporate 9-5. While you can’t truly know until you take the leap, The Human Cloud will at least take you part of the way there, into the stories and experiences of people just like you and me.”

— Petra Manos, CEO of The Quantified Web and podcast panelist at The Freelancer Show

"Informative, entertaining, and enlightening. The gig economy is here and this book spells out why freelancing is our salvation during turbulent times. Take a journey with the Matthews, meet the freelancers they empower, and discover how The Human Cloud creates more opportunities for more entrepreneurs around the world."

— Jacquelyn Adams, Founder and CEO, Ristole, Freelance Writer

“The Future of Work - knowledge workers being able to connect with opportunities at the touch of a button - is already here. Talent is no longer restricted by location, a software developer in Vietnam can be just as effective as a developer in Silicon Valley. Which for organizations, is an enormous opportunity to drive innovative and consistent business results no matter where they're located. So long as they make integrating talent and technology a top operating priority. While leadership teams know this, and are eager to unlock this talent, unfortunately many leaders are unprepared in what's required to embrace the full potential of this talent revolution. Fortunately the Matthew's have the experience required for business leaders to take the human cloud from potential to being realized across an organization. This book is more than just unique insights, it provides tangible steps leaders can start implementing immediately. I can't wait for leaders to read this and bring the human cloud to their organization today!”

— Oscar Rydman, CEO of Pangora, Software Development Freelance Platform

“A must read for anyone looking for more meaning, purpose, and control over their work, and for leaders who want to employ and use talent in groundbreaking ways.  The dual disruptions of automation and independent work are often described as doomsday trends for the workplace.  But they don’t have to be, and the Matthew’s show us in this book how we can embrace the humanizing and connecting possibilities of the human/machine cloud to make a positive impact on our organizations, communities, and society.  Whether you are early in your career or a seasoned executive, you will find yourself in this book, and be both informed and inspired to take action in ways that will put yourself and the world in a better place.”

— Keith Rollag, Dean, F. W. Olin Graduate School of Business, Babson College

“Freelancing is shedding its old (mistaken) personality. This is not just a sipping-sangria-on-beachside "side-hustle" anymore. People are turning to freelancing and remote working fast. Really fast. And freelancing is evolving into a full time business. Yes, BUSINESS. And the key to unlocking this business is the mindset — and this book, The Human Cloud — which tells you everything that you need to know about this booming industry and its enormous potential. Transformation is real, and Matthew takes you on this amazing journey to prove it. How? Because, I am a copywriter too, and I know what it takes to actually work with Fortune 500 companies as a freelancer. Yep! That’s possible ^_^”

— Simran Doshi, Copywriter & Content Writer (simrandoshi.in)

“As a virtual technology consulting firm for the last 20 years we have had a front row seat to the disruptive storm of the human and machine cloud building on the horizon. Before these disruptive trends surprise you when it is too late, read the Matthews book now to prepare yourself to thrive in this new economy.”  

— Larry English, President of Centric Consulting and author of Office Optional: How to Build a Connected Culture with Virtual Teams

"Where do I start? This book was refreshing, yet realistic. I found myself saying "YES, that's it!" more than once (not ideal when reading in public places!). Then quickly acknowledging the work ahead of us, as the implications on benefits, healthcare in particular, and personal financial discipline are very real. The future of in work can't be just for the already successful or we all lose out. There's real work to be done yet. And the Matthews provide a clear roadmap for where we're going and what we need to do to get there. 

I think we'll all be able to relate to the people in this book. Having spent most of my career in employee experience and HR I've had a front-row seat to the career journeys of many employees. In my experience, we're all one re-org or strategic pivot away from the tables turning beneath us. More than once I've seen an employee wake to up to realize her ideas are bigger than the job title on her email signature, and that sometimes the 9-5 job lacks the autonomy to scale impact on our own terms.

Thank you Matthews for the motivation to start taking action and 'transforming' my own work today!" 

— Katherine Brune, Owner and Principal Consultant, WorkSprout LLC, Former Employee Well-Being & Benefits Director, SunTrust

“When we wrote Agile Talent, way back in 2015, there wasn’t much available on the freelance revolution. Hell, we didn’t even know quite what to call freelancers: gigsters, independent professionals, contract staff, non-regular employees, alternative workers? Well, things have changed mightily. Freelancing is an accepted and quickly growing part of the global workforce, and providing a career alternative for millions of individuals from Saigon to San Jose. Want to know more about where this trend – and the intersection with AI, ML, and robotics (aka the “machine cloud”)? Head to the nearest bookseller (brick and mortar or virtual) and buy the new book by Matthew Mottola and Matthew Coatney: The Human Cloud: How Today’s Changemakers use Artificial Intelligence and the Freelance Economy to Transform Work. Its smart, readable, explains the impact and opportunities created by these two mega-disruptors, and was written for “changemakers” like you.”

— Jon Younger, Agile Talent Collaborative

"Now that distributed teams are the new normal it is time to get serious about how remote work changes project delivery risk and team efficiency. The Human Cloud lays out the case for using data analytics and AI to make remote workers more efficient while delivering higher quality - this is the next leap forward in making digital workers happier and more productive."

— Chris Keene, CEO, Gigster

"The Human Cloud is an insightful summary of the many changes the world of work is currently going through. The Matthews show us compelling stories of people who took their careers in their own hands and companies who started profiting from agile working models. "The Human Cloud" is a great story – as a book and in real life.”

— Przemek Berendt, CEO, Talent Alpha, an award-winning platform that helps to measure, manage and share IT Talent

“Students and marketing leaders alike need to understand the implications of an increasingly freelanced and automated world, and how this world will fundamentally transform how they navigate their careers and how they engage with customers. While other books teach you how to be a freelancer, The Human Cloud teaches you how the models driving the freelance economy will effect every one of us, whether a freelancer, a full time employee, or a large company executive. Also while most books teach you the technical science behind artificial intelligence, or the supposed ‘jobless’ implications, the authors show us how both automation and freelance models converge to create new and increased opportunity for every one of us. A highly readable book that makes complex challenges clear, simple, and tangible.”

 — Michael R. Solomon, Ph.D. Professor of Marketing, Saint Joseph’s University

“Estimates were that, by 2027, 50% of the workforce would be remote. With the global pandemic, those statistics have likely been blown to smithereens. For many, and voluntarily or not, freelancing and remote work has become an overnight reality. This will be stressful for many and, from someone who’s been a full-time freelancer since 2011, my advice would be to embrace advice or assistance to eases this transition: ‘The Human Cloud: How Today’s Changemakers Use Artificial Intelligence and the Freelance Economy to Transform Work’ will help. Packed with useful tips and information, it will not only help you to explore and understand how the entire employment landscape is changing, but also how to best prepare, position, and market yourself for the future. Read, absorb, and implement. You won’t regret it.” 

— Russ Crowley, Microsoft Word Consultant, www.russcrowley.co