Welcome back to Freedom of Work, the podcast by RemoFirst where we explore the evolving world of global hiring and what it means for modern HR and People leaders.

In this episode, Leah is joined by Fernando, one of RemoFirst's Senior Account Executives, who spends his days speaking with HR and People teams around the world. As the first point of contact for many companies navigating the complexities of international hiring, Fernando shares real-world insights from the frontlines.

Together, they dive into the biggest questions HR leaders are asking in 2025—from compliance vs. speed, to what really matters when choosing an Employer of Record (EOR) partner.

🔍 We explore:

• What HR teams are prioritizing in 2025

• Regional trends like US vs. EU buying behavior

• Common misconceptions about EORs—benefits, visas, legalities

• Real stories of companies avoiding (or hitting) compliance pitfalls

• The smartest questions top HR leaders are asking today

Plus, stick around for a fun rapid-fire round where Fernando reveals his favorite hiring region, the most surprising request he's received, and his #1 tip for HR leaders going global.

Whether you're building a remote team or scaling across borders, this episode is your inside look at what really drives smart global hiring.

🎧 Tune in now, and don't forget to subscribe, share, and visit RemoFirst.com for more tools to support your global hiring journey.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is more than a standalone initiative—it's a strategic lever for driving innovation, alignment, and growth in remote-first and global organizations. In this episode of the Freedom of Work podcast, host Leah Cottham is joined by Anthony Vaughan, from Boundless and the E1B2 Collective podcast, to dive deep into how leaders can weave DEI into the very DNA of their business.

Leah and Anthony unpack why traditional DEI efforts often fall short when treated as separate from core business priorities, how global companies must localize DEI efforts to meet regional and cultural needs, and the essential role of leadership vulnerability, hiring manager training, and psychological safety in fostering inclusive remote teams.

• The myth that DEI is purely about race, gender, and checkboxes.
• Why DEI must connect to revenue, product innovation, and team alignment.
• How remote leaders can spot and prevent exclusion in distributed teams.
• The importance of region-specific benefits and benchmarking for global workforces.
• Practical steps for embedding DEI into leadership, recruitment, and daily operations.

Whether you're an HR leader, executive, or founder of a remote or distributed team, this episode offers actionable insights to evolve DEI from a nice-to-have initiative into a business-critical function.

We explore how innovative recognition and feedback practices can truly drive employee engagement. Joined by Mike from iVendi, we dive into the importance of making engagement programs personal, meaningful, and ongoing—rather than just another checkbox exercise.

Mike shares insights on the Extra Mile Awards, a unique recognition program that celebrates employees for going above and beyond. We also discuss how iVendi uses feedback forums and surveys to create real, actionable change, ensuring that employees feel heard and valued every step of the way.

If you're an HR leader looking to revolutionize your approach to employee engagement, this episode is packed with practical strategies and fresh ideas you can start implementing right away!

There's more to global benefits than just checking boxes. Leah, our Host of the Freedom of Work podcast, sat down with Ashley, a People Partner who focuses on creating global benefits packages for remote start-ups.

In this episode, we explore the strategy of creating worldwide perks that genuinely resonate with diverse cultures and produce tangible business results.

We'll question common assumptions about global benefits and reveal how intentional benefit design can unlock unexpected levels of employee engagement and positively impact your company's well-being. Prepare to understand the "why" behind truly effective global and local benefits.

Tune in!

HR is no longer just about policies and paperwork - it's transforming into a strategic, people-first function. In this episode, Leah chats with Jag, a PeopleOps Leader and Founder with over a decade of experience scaling high-growth startups and the founder of HLSTK LABS. We explore the evolution from traditional HR to People Ops, the key drivers of this shift (remote work, employee expectations, automation), and how People Ops can shape company culture and business growth.

• The difference between HR and People Ops
• How automation and AI are reshaping People Ops
• The future of work and how businesses can stay ahead

Jag shares insights on why People Ops is critical for business success and how HR professionals can adapt and thrive in this changing landscape.

Tune in for a deep dive into the future of People Operations!

Employer 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!

Introducing the Freedom of Work Podcast!

Freedom of Work is for HR and people teams, founders, or anyone looking to better prepare for the future of work. You'll find engaging discussions with experts and leaders on navigating the day-to-day experience of global hiring, what the future of work may look like, and how flexible work is changing the game. We'll dive deep into various topics around remote and hybrid work, global expansion, hiring trends, and more.

This podcast is hosted and presented by RemoFirst.com, a full-service Employer of Record solution that manages every aspect of a company's global employment needs.