Mastering a Global Employer Brand for Remote-First Hiring (Leah Cottham)
Release Date: 03/13/2025
Freedom of Work
Host Leah Cottham sits down with Filip Pesek, Founder and CEO of DonnaPro, to explore what European leadership teaches us about the future of global hiring. Filip shares his journey from door to door sales to building a virtual executive assistant agency that matches top European talent with CEOs and founders worldwide. The conversation dives into the unique European approach to remote work, where planning and collaboration take precedence over instant availability. Filip explains how complex European labor laws actually drive adoption of flexible work models, and why European companies...
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Leah Cottham sits down with Arvi Carkanji, Founder and CEO of Elite Talent, to explore how HR leaders are building technical sales teams globally with speed, precision, and strategic use of AI. Arvi brings firsthand expertise from helping SaaS companies achieve a remarkable 92% retention rate for pre sales and post sales talent placements. His recruiting firm specializes in roles from sales engineers to customer success managers, focusing on the people who directly impact revenue growth and customer retention. The conversation covers the biggest hiring mistakes companies repeatedly make,...
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As we wrap up 2025 on the Freedom of Work podcast, we reflect on the conversations that shaped how we think about building companies in a remote-first world. This season features founders, people leaders, neuroscientists, and operators exploring the real challenges behind remote work, AI at work, people operations, psychological safety, learning and development, and building culture across time zones. A consistent insight emerged: while AI can automate for speed, human connection is still essential for alignment. The companies doing this well are balancing automation with empathy, global scale...
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In this episode, we delve into the findings from our 2025 Global Hiring Report, which is packed with insights from over 300 HR and People leaders across the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Brazil. We explore the real challenges and exciting opportunities companies face when building and managing distributed teams worldwide. Tune in to discover why talent shortages hit larger companies hardest, how Latin America is emerging as a top talent destination (even if leadership teams are still warming up to it), and the steep learning curves small tech companies are navigating in global hiring. We’ll...
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Host Leah Cottham sits down with Hudson Brock, CEO and Founder of AlloHire, to explore what truly sets top talent apart in today's rapidly changing work environment. Hudson shares his framework for identifying A players through three key traits that go far beyond traditional resume screening. The conversation dives into how AI is reshaping recruiting processes while emphasizing why human connection remains essential for emotional career decisions. Hudson introduces the concept of vocational capital and building career equity, explaining how the best talent views work as adding value to...
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Host Leah Cottham sits down with Marissa Goldberg, founder of Remote Work Prep, to explore how AI is reshaping remote team management without replacing human workers. Marissa brings years of experience building AI powered operational solutions for distributed teams and shares practical insights from her journey since 2015. The conversation tackles common misconceptions about remote work productivity and reveals how overwork is actually more prevalent than underwork in remote environments. Marissa breaks down her human centered approach to AI adoption, emphasizing the importance of starting...
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Leah Cottham sits down with Renita Käsper, a global talent acquisition leader with 20 years of experience building multicultural teams across Asia Pacific, Europe, and beyond. Renita shares why cultural intelligence has become essential for remote leaders managing distributed teams and explains the critical difference between hiring globally and actually setting teams up for success. The conversation explores how unintentional systems and processes can silence diverse voices, even when companies have good intentions about building inclusive teams. Renita walks through real examples of...
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Explore how AI is transforming hiring, team building, and leadership—and where human expertise still matters. Katie, a fractional COO and startup founder, shares practical lessons for leaders navigating the AI era. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to use AI as a tool, not a replacement, for tasks like candidate screening and data analysis Why building your processes manually first is essential before automating The rise of fractional leadership and its impact on startups The critical role of emotional intelligence in orchestrating humans and AI How to operate with intention,...
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Host Leah Cottham chats with Gina Schinkel, founder of Driftawave, about how the future of work demands mission-driven leadership and strategic team retreats. From her journey at LinkedIn to launching a company that builds transformational offsites, Gina shares how remote teams can create genuine connection and measurable business results. They break down ROI metrics, debunk common CEO misconceptions about offsites, and explore why trust beats control in building thriving distributed teams. Key topics covered: [00:00] Intro [03:21] Mission Driven Leadership for Remote Teams...
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Find out how a values-driven talent philosophy can transform your hiring process, strengthen culture, and improve retention. You’ll learn why behaviors often matter more than skills, how to align employer branding with candidate experience, and the risks of rushing to fill roles. Plus, practical tips on building inclusive hiring systems, fostering curiosity and trust, and supporting internal mobility - especially in remote and distributed teams. What you’ll learn: How to define and apply a value-led talent philosophy Why behaviors can outweigh skills in long-term success Ways to...
info_outlineEmployer branding is more important than ever - especially in a remote-first world where candidates can work from anywhere. But how do you build a brand that attracts top talent globally? In this episode, Leah Cottham our Host at RemoFirst breaks down what makes a strong employer brand in a distributed workforce, how companies can adapt to the shift from traditional to remote-first branding, and the biggest challenges businesses face when hiring internationally.
We’ll cover:
- What employer branding really means in a remote-first world
- The transition from office-based perks to culture, flexibility, and trust
- Why global hiring requires a new approach to branding and compliance
- The top challenges of global employer branding—and how to overcome them
- Best practices to stand out as a remote-first employer
With real-world examples from companies like GitLab, plus actionable takeaways, this episode is packed with insights for any company looking to build a strong employer brand in a global hiring landscape.
Tune in to learn how to position your company as the best place to work - no matter where your employees are based!