In this episode of the Localization Fireside Chat, Robin Ayoub speaks with Brian Samson, Founder of Plugg Technologies, about how nearshoring is reshaping the way companies build and scale global teams.

Brian explains the real differences between nearshoring, offshoring, and outsourcing, and why time zone alignment and collaboration now look more important than pure cost savings. Drawing from more than two decades of experience in staffing, in house recruiting, and entrepreneurship, he shares why Latin America has become a strategic nearshoring region for North American companies.

The conversation also covers founder autonomy versus outside capital, how companies can move talent closer to the core of the business, the role of AI and automation in hiring workflows, and why strong relationships remain central to long term business success.

This episode is ideal for founders, executives, HR leaders, and operators exploring global hiring, remote teams, and nearshoring strategies.

Credits
Host: Robin Ayoub, Founder, Localization Fireside Chat

Connect and watch more
Website: www.L10NFiresideChat.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OoURgc29R31XPGzOWL9iX
Be a guest: https://calendly.com/robin-ayoub/localization-fireside-chat-podcast-recording
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/

Support the show
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Disclaimer
Views are for education and discussion. Apply judgment in your own context.

Tags
#L10NFiresideChat #localization #hiring #recruiting #leadership #ai

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In this bilingual episode of Localization Fireside Chat, Robin Ayoub is joined by Juan Carlos Rovetta, CEO of Kainotera, for a practical conversation on Agentic AI, smart automation, and why humans must remain in control of decision making.

This discussion goes beyond AI hype and focuses on real business use cases, responsible automation, and human-in-the-loop systems. Juan shares how agentic AI can automate complex workflows while knowing when to defer decisions to people.

🎧 This is a bilingual episode in English and Spanish.
Please enable CC for English subtitles.

Guest
Juan Carlos Rovetta
CEO, Kainotera

Host
Robin Ayoub
Founder, Localization Fireside Chat

Credits
Host: Robin Ayoub, Founder, Localization Fireside Chat

Connect and watch more
Website: www.L10NFiresideChat.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OoURgc29R31XPGzOWL9iX
Be a guest: https://calendly.com/robin-ayoub/localization-fireside-chat-podcast-recording
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/

Support the show
Share the episode with a friend. Subscribe on YouTube and Spotify. Leave a short review.

Disclaimer
Views are for education and discussion. Apply judgment in your own context.

Tags
#L10NFiresideChat #localization #hiring #recruiting #leadership #ai

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In this episode, Robin Ayoub sits down with Councillor Dipika Damerla (Ward 7, Mississauga) for a grounded conversation on a topic many cities are facing: Should municipalities raise foreign national flags at City Hall?

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/7zz2h2IAtFc

We explore how this discussion affects unity, division, and how public funds should be prioritized for the people who live in the city. From service delivery and taxation to short term rental rules and e scooter regulation, this episode touches the day to day decisions that shape community life.

What you will learn

• The foreign flag debate in Mississauga
• How municipalities manage cultural requests
• Balancing diversity with neutrality in government
• Where taxpayer funds are best focused
• Airbnb rules and licensing requirements
• E bikes, scooters, and city safety considerations
• How council decisions impact residents directly

A respectful and informative civic conversation with real context instead of noise.

If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with others, leave a rating, and subscribe to the Localization Fireside Chat for more thoughtful dialogue on public policy, leadership, and community topics.

#Mississauga #CityHall #ForeignFlags #LocalizationFiresideChat #DipikaDamerla #PublicService #Canada

Credits
Host: Robin Ayoub, Founder, Localization Fireside Chat

Connect and watch more
Website: www.L10NFiresideChat.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OoURgc29R31XPGzOWL9iX
Be a guest: https://calendly.com/robin-ayoub/localization-fireside-chat-podcast-recording
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/

Support the show
Share the episode with a friend. Subscribe on YouTube and Spotify. Leave a short review.

Disclaimer
Views are for education and discussion. Apply judgment in your own context.

Tags
#L10NFiresideChat #localization #hiring #recruiting #leadership #ai

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In this Localization Fireside Chat, we sit down with Natalia Rivero, CEO de Ecogas, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, resilience, and the power of preparation.

Natalia shares how she became the first woman CEO in an industry historically led by men, what it means to lead a highly regulated energy company in Argentina, and the cultural transformation that Ecogas is experiencing under her leadership.

We talk about work-life balance, being a mother while building an executive career, the importance of education and continuous learning, and how women can prepare, grow, and lead confidently.

This conversation is filled with honesty, encouragement, and motivation for leaders, mothers, professionals, and anyone who wants to step into more — regardless of industry.

• Cómo llegó Natalia a convertirse en CEO de Ecogas
• El rol de la mujer en posiciones ejecutivas
• Liderazgo con propósito y escucha activa
• Transformación cultural en compañías grandes
• Agilidad organizacional y gestión en industrias reguladas
• Balance entre carrera, familia, educación y desarrollo personal
• Consejos para mujeres que quieren llegar más lejos

Natalia Rivero
CEO — Ecogas
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalia-rivero-68049b35/

Localization Fireside Chat
Hosted by: Ceci Maldonado (Guest Host)
Produced by: Localization Fireside Chat Team

Credits
Host: Robin Ayoub, Founder, Localization Fireside Chat

Connect and watch more
Website: www.L10NFiresideChat.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OoURgc29R31XPGzOWL9iX
Be a guest: https://calendly.com/robin-ayoub/localization-fireside-chat-podcast-recording
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/

Support the show
Share the episode with a friend. Subscribe on YouTube and Spotify. Leave a short review.

Disclaimer
Views are for education and discussion. Apply judgment in your own context.

Tags
#L10NFiresideChat #localization #hiring #recruiting #leadership #ai

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In this episode of the Localization Fireside Chat, Robin Ayoub talks with Jacob Crocket, Founder of HireAligned, about how hiring is moving beyond resumes and instinct. Jacob explains how AI Guided Culture Assessments help companies understand their real cultural DNA, align talent with teams, and reduce turnover through better fit based hiring.

We dig into why fit first, skills second can improve retention, how culture can be measured through data, and why companies must move away from gut based hiring decisions if they want strong, lasting teams.

A valuable discussion for founders, HR leaders, hiring managers, and anyone who builds teams.

https://youtu.be/44ukXZ_g3LQ

00:00 Intro and welcome
00:27 Episode reach and growth update
01:23 Meet Jacob Crocket
02:14 Data and AI background
03:07 Healthcare AI story and insight
04:28 Startup life and people alignment
05:21 Corporate vs startup culture
06:43 Running a business solo
07:34 Taxes, accounting, and realities
08:52 Why Jacob became a founder
10:44 From healthcare to hiring tech
11:39 Meaning and belonging in work
12:05 Learning agility, curiosity, growth
13:26 Misalignment and friction at work
14:22 When company and employee both feel wrong fit
15:38 Hiring patterns and turnover
17:00 Big org vs startup hiring dynamic
17:57 Mapping culture with AI
18:24 Culture baseline through conversation
19:20 Real values vs wall values
20:11 Measuring cultural behaviors
21:38 Amazon turnover culture example
23:31 AI and healthy skepticism
24:17 Dishes analogy for AI usage
25:36 88 percent retention improvement case
26:48 Hiring by location culture patterns
27:44 Alignment and belonging
28:13 Bias, culture, and fairness
29:36 Alignment vs prejudice
30:56 Data driven bias mitigation
31:47 Women and workplace equity
32:43 CEO culture reality check
34:06 Leadership blind spots
35:01 Gut feeling hires gone wrong
36:00 Resume bloat and AI screening
37:53 Fit first screening approach
38:51 Hiring mindset shift
39:46 Bad interview questions
41:05 Behavioral evidence wins
42:30 Connect with Jacob
42:55 Closing remarks

Jacob Crocket | Founder, HireAligned
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobfcrockett/
Website: https://www.hirealigned.com

Robin Ayoub | Localization Fireside Chat
Podcast: https://localization-fireside-chat.simplecast.com
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalizationFiresideChat
Website: https://www.robinayoub.com

Credits
Host: Robin Ayoub, Founder, Localization Fireside Chat

Connect and watch more
Website: www.L10NFiresideChat.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OoURgc29R31XPGzOWL9iX
Be a guest: https://calendly.com/robin-ayoub/localization-fireside-chat-podcast-recording
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/

Support the show
Share the episode with a friend. Subscribe on YouTube and Spotify. Leave a short review.

Disclaimer
Views are for education and discussion. Apply judgment in your own context.

Tags
#L10NFiresideChat #localization #hiring #recruiting #leadership #ai

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In Episode 134, Robin Ayoub speaks with Sukhi Dhillon Alberga, B.A. (Hons), J.D., the lawyer and founder behind Counselurdocs, a legal tech solution designed to simplify complex legal agreements for startups, founders, and law firms.

We explore how she built the platform, how the Law Society of Ontario innovation approval changed the journey, and how automation can empower business owners to understand contracts clearly while maintaining legal integrity.

Topics covered:
• Legal tech transformation
• Reducing risk and saving time
• Automating shareholder agreements, NDAs, employment contracts, and more
• Legal training for students and junior lawyers
• Why templates are not enough
• Where AI fits and where humans must stay involved

Watch the video version on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Fne6Or7kxqk

Counselurdocs website:
https://counselurdocs.com

Connect with Sukhi on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukhi-dhillon-alberga/

Promo Videos:
Startups and Incubators Video: https://watch.wave.video/O21CIpj5kdzdTOEy
Law Firms Promo Video: https://watch.wave.video/y63JP4M0c89iqzu5

If this episode helped you think differently about legal tech and startups, share it with a founder or lawyer you know. Follow Localization Fireside Chat for more thought provoking conversations.

Credits
Host: Robin Ayoub, Founder, Localization Fireside Chat

Connect and watch more
Website: www.L10NFiresideChat.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OoURgc29R31XPGzOWL9iX
Be a guest: https://calendly.com/robin-ayoub/localization-fireside-chat-podcast-recording
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/

Support the show
Share the episode with a friend. Subscribe on YouTube and Spotify. Leave a short review.

Disclaimer
Views are for education and discussion. Apply judgment in your own context.

Tags
#L10NFiresideChat #localization #hiring #recruiting #leadership #ai

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In Episode 133, Robin Ayoub sits down with Marsha Clark, Champion for Women, Identity and Self Worth. Together they unpack the realities, challenges and victories of women in leadership roles, discussing what confidence really looks like and how power and voice evolve through self awareness and experience.

This episode brings a real, unfiltered exchange that many women will resonate with. Themes include leadership identity, self worth, confidence building, women navigating professional spaces and how to rise with grace and strength.

Listen if you want inspiration, honest perspective and a meaningful leadership conversation.

Credits
Host: Robin Ayoub, Founder, Localization Fireside Chat

Connect and watch more
Website: www.L10NFiresideChat.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OoURgc29R31XPGzOWL9iX
Be a guest: https://calendly.com/robin-ayoub/localization-fireside-chat-podcast-recording
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/

Support the show
Share the episode with a friend. Subscribe on YouTube and Spotify. Leave a short review.

Disclaimer
Views are for education and discussion. Apply judgment in your own context.

Tags
#L10NFiresideChat #localization #hiring #recruiting #leadership #ai

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Localization Fireside Chat, Robin Ayoub sits down with Victor Varnado — a comedian, producer, writer, cartoonist, and founder of Magic Bookifier, an AI-powered writing assistant designed to help creators draft books faster and stay focused.

Victor went from performing stand-up on major shows like Conan and Jimmy Kimmel Live to building tech products and entrepreneurship through Supreme Robot. His creativity blends with technology in a unique way, driving forward tools for writers, students, and neurodivergent thinkers.

We explore:
• Comedy as a communication + creativity superpower
• How Magic Bookifier guides users to draft books faster
• ADHD, cognitive overload and writing workflows
• The future of AI as utility, not novelty
• Ethical use of AI in creative work
• Why AI assists — not replaces — human voice
• How his wife solved a real crime using AI tools
• The bridge between entertainment, tech, and innovation

This episode is inspiring, thought-provoking, and loaded with practical takeaways for creators, writers, and anyone building with AI.

Guest: Victor Varnado
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorvarnado/
Magic Bookifier: https://magicbookifier.com (replace if needed)
Company: Supreme Robot

Host
Robin Ayoub | Localization Fireside Chat
YouTube: @LocalizationFiresideChat
Podcast Platform: https://localization-fireside-chat.simplecast.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/

Credits
Host: Robin Ayoub, Founder, Localization Fireside Chat

Connect and watch more
Website: www.L10NFiresideChat.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OoURgc29R31XPGzOWL9iX
Be a guest: https://calendly.com/robin-ayoub/localization-fireside-chat-podcast-recording
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/

Support the show
Share the episode with a friend. Subscribe on YouTube and Spotify. Leave a short review.

Disclaimer
Views are for education and discussion. Apply judgment in your own context.

Tags
#L10NFiresideChat #localization #hiring #recruiting #leadership #ai

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In Episode 131 of the Localization Fireside Chat, David Smith, founder of ElderBerry.work, joins Robin Ayoub to discuss one of the most overlooked opportunities in hiring today — the power of 45 plus talent and how senior expertise can accelerate business growth faster than traditional hiring models.

We explore why companies are losing knowledge capital, how fractional leaders help founders move faster with better decisions, and why AI cannot replace the judgment, pattern recognition, and intuition that only experience shapes.

This conversation is for founders, hiring managers, HR leaders, and anyone thinking seriously about the future of work and talent strategy.

• 45 plus experience is undervalued and often underutilized
• Fractional leadership reduces risk and increases execution clarity
• AI is powerful for operations, but decisions require human judgment
• Why mentorship and experience reduce expensive hiring mistakes
• Practical ways SMBs can tap into senior talent affordably

00:00 Intro
02:15 Why companies overlook 45 plus experience
06:40 What fractional leadership really solves
11:20 Experience vs speed in early stage growth
15:55 Hiring judgment vs hiring labor
21:10 Future of work and the gray talent economy
27:30 Where AI helps and where it should not lead
33:15 How to engage senior expertise quickly
39:40 David’s mission with ElderBerry.work
45:00 Final thoughts

David Smith
Founder, ElderBerry.work
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-y-smith-03917880/

Robin Ayoub, Localization Fireside Chat
Be a guest: https://calendly.com/robin-ayoub/localization-fireside-chat-podcast-recording
Website: http://www.L10NFiresideChat.com

Credits
Host: Robin Ayoub, Founder, Localization Fireside Chat

Connect and watch more
Website: www.L10NFiresideChat.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OoURgc29R31XPGzOWL9iX
Be a guest: https://calendly.com/robin-ayoub/localization-fireside-chat-podcast-recording
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/

Support the show
Share the episode with a friend. Subscribe on YouTube and Spotify. Leave a short review.

Disclaimer
Views are for education and discussion. Apply judgment in your own context.

Tags
#L10NFiresideChat #localization #hiring #recruiting #leadership #ai

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In Episode 130 of the Localization Fireside Chat, Joshua (Josh) Hill of SuperHired breaks down why so many hiring processes feel broken, even with AI everywhere.

Josh shares lessons from the Army and from leading teams in high pressure environments, then applies them to recruiting, Talent Density, and modern HR.

You will hear why bot versus bot recruiting is killing signal, why your resume has barely evolved since Leonardo da Vinci, and how to think about work as a product so you attract and keep the right people, not just the loudest ones.

What you will learn

Why AI made a broken hiring system even noisier

How bot versus bot recruiting buries real talent and context

Why the classic resume is a 500 year old artifact that needs a redesign

What Talent Density really is, far beyond buzzwords

How to think about work as a product and employees as customers

Where AI belongs in hiring, for analysis and ops, not human judgment

Practical steps for founders, HR and recruiting leaders who want fewer bad hires and more high performing teams

Chapters

00:00 Intro
02:10 Why hiring feels broken in the age of AI
07:05 Bot versus bot recruiting and the resume problem
12:40 Leonardo da Vinci and the 500 year old CV
18:05 Talent Density explained in simple terms
22:30 Work as a product and employees as customers
28:15 Using AI as a tool, not a gatekeeper
34:00 Fixing interviews and discovery on both sides
40:10 Advice for founders, HR and recruiting leaders
44:30 Final takeaways and where to connect

Guest

Joshua (Josh) Hill, Co founder, SuperHired
LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-hill-24b760a6/

Host

Robin Ayoub, Founder, Localization Fireside Chat

Watch more and connect

Website, http://www.L10NFiresideChat.com
Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/show/5OoURgc29R31XPGzOWL9iX
Apple Podcasts, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/localization-fireside-chat/id1688770183
Be a guest, https://calendly.com/robin-ayoub/localization-fireside-chat-podcast-recording
LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/

Disclaimer

Opinions are shared for education and discussion. This is not hiring, legal, or financial advice. Always apply judgment in your own context.

Credits
Host: Robin Ayoub, Founder, Localization Fireside Chat

Connect and watch more
Website: www.L10NFiresideChat.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OoURgc29R31XPGzOWL9iX
Be a guest: https://calendly.com/robin-ayoub/localization-fireside-chat-podcast-recording
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/

Support the show
Share the episode with a friend. Subscribe on YouTube and Spotify. Leave a short review.

Disclaimer
Views are for education and discussion. Apply judgment in your own context.

Tags
#L10NFiresideChat #localization #hiring #recruiting #leadership #ai

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