The Collaboration Superpowers Podcast

In this special bonus episode of the Head of Remote podcast, we explore what it means to build workplaces where neurodivergent professionals can truly thrive, especially in remote and hybrid environments. Our guests are Robin Bassie, founder of Galileo IT Services, a social enterprise providing IT training and job placements for neurodivergent talent, and Simone Luurs, founder of IMPROVE and an ex...

In the final episode of the Head of Remote podcast series, Lisette Sutherland reflects on the insights shared by our expert guests and ties together the key themes of the series. From Peter Miscovich's perspective on the evolution of leadership to Kenneth Hellem's call for a paradigm shift in workplace culture, this episode highlights the transformative power of the Head of Remote role. As we wrap...

How does the workplace evolve to meet the demands of hybrid and distributed workforces? Peter Miscovich, global executive management consultant, future of work strategist, and co-author of The Workplace You Need Now, shares his visionary insights into how leadership, real estate, and technology are redefining the future of work. 🚀 Key Insights and Highlights: - The Evolution of Leadership: Peter...

How can a Head of Remote act as the organizational glue that holds strategy, people, and processes together? Laurel Farrer, former Head of TeamOps at GitLab and internationally renowned thought leader, explains how this pivotal role shapes the future of work. 🚀 Key Insights and Highlights: - The Head of Remote as Chief of Staff: Laurel describes how this role operates at the intersection of strat...

How do you build a culture that thrives in a remote-first environment? Madison Crane, Head of Remote at The Remote Company, shares her approach to ensuring that distributed teams stay engaged, motivated, and aligned. 🚀 Key Insights and Highlights: - Championing Remote-First Culture: Madison describes her role as the advocate for remote work within her company, ensuring that policies, practices, a...

How do organizations create effective systems for remote work while maintaining strong connections? Wayne Turmel, co-founder of The Remote Leadership Institute and co-author of The Long-Distance Leader and The Long-Distance Teammate, shares his decades of experience helping teams communicate, connect, and thrive in dispersed workplaces. 🚀 Key Insights and Highlights: - The Head of Remote as a Dip...

What does it take to create a thriving remote work culture? Chris Dyer, bestselling author, speaker, and company culture expert, shares his wealth of experience in transforming organizations through exceptional leadership and innovative practices. With his signature 7 Pillar Strategy, Chris has helped countless companies unlock productivity, performance, and profits while fostering exceptional wor...

How does one build a workplace that balances culture, efficiency, and innovation in a remote-first world? Meet Joanne Barnett, a trailblazer in Future of Work strategies, as she shares her experiences driving exceptional culture, employee experience, and operational excellence in remote-first businesses. With her award-winning expertise, Joanne has helped organizations design sustainable, people-c...

What happens when a traditional industry embraces modern work practices? Join Grayson Harris, Flexible Work and Engagement Partner, as he shares his journey from designing wind and solar farms to pioneering flexible work strategies in his company. Inspired by his own experiences as a digital nomad, Grayson transitioned into a Head of Remote role, bringing fresh ideas and structured approaches to d...

How do you lead a fully remote team while championing work-life integration and visible teamwork? Rowena Hennigan, Head of Remote at Nosana.io and founder of RoRemote, shares her journey as a remote work advocate, educator, and changemaker. With over 25 years of experience and a deep passion for the socioeconomic benefits of remote work, Rowena reveals how she helps organizations create impactful...

How do you build thriving teams and create intentional connections in a rapidly scaling remote-first environment? Nadia Vatalidis, Interim Director of Talent Acquisition at Camunda and former VP of People at Remote.com, takes us behind the scenes of scaling teams from 70 to over 1,000 employees while maintaining culture, connection, and operational excellence. Her insights shine a light on the evo...

What does it take to drive organizational success as a Head of Product Excellence in a flexible-first environment? Valentina Thörner shares how she navigates the intersection of HR, operations, and leadership to optimize processes, empower teams, and create a culture of seamless collaboration at SCALAR. Her unique approach to remote work combines strategic insight with a human touch, offering inva...

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 crea...

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 provi...

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 prio...

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 fl...

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-knowle...

In this episode, we're returning to our conversation with Darren Murph, the Head of Remote at GitLab, originally recorded in July 2021. As we navigate the shifting landscapes of remote work in March 2024, Darren's insights on fostering company culture from a distance have only become more salient. This revisit highlights Darren's valuable strategies for cultivating a strong, unified company cultur...

In this episode of the Collaboration Superpowers podcast, we hosted esteemed guests David Horowitz, Esther Derby, and Diana Larsen. The conversation dived into the essence of conducting a successful remote agile retrospective, highlighting the importance of clear goals, structured feedback, and the engagement of all team members. Our guests shared common pitfalls in organizing retrospectives, such...

In this episode, we explore the transformative impact of intentional teamwork in remote and hybrid environments. We discuss how deliberate collaboration, clear communication, and a shared vision can create a cohesive, productive team.   Learn how teams that collaborate with purpose and strategy can overcome the challenges of distance, utilize diverse strengths, and achieve extraordinary results. L...

DOM PRICE is the head of R&D and work futurist at Atlassian. Originally from Manchester, now living in Sydney, Australia, Dom spends half his time on the road between the US, Europe, and Australia. We discuss what Atlassian struggles with and how they share and scale knowledge throughout their organization. We also discuss how they manage communication with teams having different backgrounds, cult...

In a traditional office, overhearing incidental conversations can lead to serendipitous learning and fast problem-solving. But how can we simulate this beneficial aspect of office culture in an online environment? Here are actionable tips to help you recreate the magic of overhearing, even when your team is spread across different locations. For more stories of remote teams doing great things, vis...

Overworking can stem from various factors, including the desire to accommodate different time zones or the absence of physical cues signaling the end of the workday. This constant "on" mode can lead to burnout and decreased productivity. Recognizing the signs and implementing strategies to maintain a healthy work-life balance is essential. For more stories of remote teams doing great things, visit...

Karin Hurt and David Dye are CEO and President of Let's Grow Leaders and are known for their practical tools and leadership development programs. They are about to release their newest book, Powerful Phrases For Dealing With Workplace Conflict, which aims to help employees and managers create better communication practices. This all leads to building meaningful relationships so that we can get wor...

STEFAN ROLOFF is an Agile Coach who plans and facilitates hybrid PI Planning sessions across multiple time zones. In this interview, we delve into the complex landscape of Scaled Agile and Program Increment (PI) Planning. Stefan shares his insights on synchronizing agile teams globally, outlining actionable steps for overcoming time-zone barriers and fostering effective collaboration. For more sto...