Lisette Sutherland is interviewing people and companies doing great things... remotely! These interviews are packed with stories and tips for those whose busine...
348 - Create Healthy, Happy, and Productive Remote Teams with Kenneth Hellem
How do you build a thriving remote workforce while maintaining a culture of engagement, well-being, and continuous learning? Kenneth Hellem, Chief People Officer at Ultimate Beauty, reveals his approach to leading a fully remote, people-first organization. Kenneth’s work sits at the intersection of operations and people management, and his insights offer practical advice for anyone looking to create happier and more productive remote teams. 🚀 Key Insights and Highlights: - The Role of Head of Remote: Why the position varies by company and how it bridges operations and people management. - Driving Change with Empathy: Kenneth’s experimental approach to implementing remote best practices in communication, tools, and culture—while respecting organizational capacity for change. - Tracking Sentiment and Well-Being: The importance of listening to employee feedback and using sentiment tracking to gauge engagement and satisfaction. - Continuous Development: How to ensure remote employees are developing the skills they need to succeed and thrive in their roles. - Balancing Async and Sync Work: Tips for defining communication norms that enhance efficiency and connection. If you’re navigating the challenges of remote work leadership, this episode offers actionable strategies and inspiration for creating a flexible-first workplace that prioritizes people and performance. 🎧 Tune in to hear Kenneth’s journey, learn how Ultimate Beauty builds a people-first remote culture, and gain actionable strategies for making remote employees happier, healthier, and more engaged. 👉 Download the Head of Remote Quick Start Guide: https://www.collaborationsuperpowers.com/head-of-remote-guide/ 👉 Listen to the full podcast series: https://www.collaborationsuperpowers.com/head-of-remote-podcast/
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347 - Build a Remote-First Legacy with Chase Warrington
What does it take to lead a remote-first organization with 100+ professionals across 35 countries? In this episode, Chase Warrington, Head of Operations at Doist (the creators of Todoist and Twist), shares how he has helped shape a fully remote company that serves over 40 million customers in 19 languages. From building operational infrastructure to fostering a culture of transparency, Chase provides actionable insights for leaders navigating the complexities of flexible-first work. 🚀 Key Insights and Highlights: - The Evolving Role of the Head of Remote: Learn how this role adapts based on a company’s stage of growth and what Chase prioritized when he joined Doist. - Building the Foundations: Chase shares his approach to tools, handbooks, in-person meetups, and connecting team members across time zones. - Transparency in Communication: Why Doist makes information public by default and how this fosters trust and collaboration within a global workforce. - Operational Excellence: As an internal consultant, Chase collaborates with multiple teams to optimize onboarding, compensation, tooling, and processes. - The Soft Skills of Leadership: Receptiveness to feedback, the ability to push forward confidently, and caring deeply about people are the cornerstones of success in this role. 💡 Whether you’re leading a fully distributed team or exploring remote-first practices, this conversation with Chase highlights how strategic operations and a human-first approach can transform an organization. Tune in to hear Chase’s journey, learn how Doist thrives as a remote-first company, and gain inspiration for your own workplace flexibility initiatives. 👉 Download the Head of Remote Quick Start Guide: https://www.collaborationsuperpowers.com/head-of-remote-guide/ 👉 Listen to the full podcast series: https://www.collaborationsuperpowers.com/head-of-remote-podcast/
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346 - Build a Results-Driven Remote Culture with Dajana Berisavlijević Đakonović
How do you scale a remote-first company across 40+ countries while maintaining a results-driven, people-focused culture? In this episode, we dive deep with Dajana Berisavljević Đakonović, the Head of People at Toggl. With over eight years of People Ops experience, Dajana shares the lessons from Toggl’s journey—from growing a fully distributed team to 130+ people to streamlining operations and prioritizing clarity, accountability, and well-being. 🚀 Key Insights and Highlights: - "Relevant Info Lives in Relevant Places": Why documentation is essential and how Toggl ensures it stays organized and accessible. - Managing the Tool Stack: How Toggl tracks and evaluates its tools with an open database and biannual cleanups to avoid tool fatigue. - Results & Accountability First: Learn about Toggl’s unique approach to remote work, emphasizing self-discipline and written communication. - Creating Clarity and Authority: Dajana discusses why having the authority to enforce policies and standards is crucial for remote team alignment. 💡 Whether you’re a Head of Remote, in People Ops, or a leader navigating remote work challenges, Dajana’s no-fluff approach offers actionable strategies for building a transparent and effective remote culture. Listen now to discover how Toggl champions asynchronous collaboration, simplifies complexity, and ensures team engagement—without sacrificing results. 👉 Download the Head of Remote Quick Start Guide: https://www.collaborationsuperpowers.com/head-of-remote-guide/ 👉 Listen to the full podcast series: https://www.collaborationsuperpowers.com/head-of-remote-podcast/
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345 - The Future of Work Starts Here: Exploring the Head of Remote Role
Welcome to the first episode of the Head of Remote podcast! In this series, we’ll explore one of the most transformative roles in the modern workplace: the Head of Remote. Remote work is more than a trend—it’s a permanent shift in how we collaborate and connect. But to make it work, organizations need dedicated leadership to guide the cultural, operational, and behavioral changes that come with flexibility. That’s where the Head of Remote comes in. In this episode, host Lisette Sutherland sets the stage for what’s to come, diving into the purpose of this series and why the Head of Remote role is crucial for thriving in a flexible-first world. You’ll hear insights from remote work pioneers like Nadia Vatalidis, Kenneth Hellem, and Laurel Farrer, who share their definitions of the role, key responsibilities, and the essential skills required for success. Tune in to kick off this journey and discover why the future of work starts here. 👉 Download the Head of Remote Quick Start Guide: https://www.collaborationsuperpowers.com/head-of-remote-guide/ 👉 Listen to the full podcast series: https://www.collaborationsuperpowers.com/head-of-remote-podcast/
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343 - From The Archives: What Does Your Virtual Office Look Like?
Understanding what we need to be productive isn't just about optimizing output; it's about crafting a lifestyle that aligns with our values and interests. By identifying the specific conditions under which we thrive—be it the silence of an early morning, the dynamic buzz of a café, or the structured environment of an office—we can achieve our best work and live our best lives. This self-knowledge is a foundation for building routines, choosing workspaces, and selecting tools that resonate with our personal and professional goals. For more stories of remote teams doing great things, visit https://www.collaborationsuperpowers.com.
Lisette Sutherland is interviewing people and companies doing great things... remotely! These interviews are packed with stories and tips for those whose business models depend upon successfully bridging distance to accomplish knowledge work.
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