I sat down with Karsten Aichholz to talk about how he built a business in Thailand that still runs without him. We get into what he learned about hiring in Bangkok, why he hires for challenge and fit instead of shiny resumes, how he adds a team sit‑in during interviews, and the simple Elvis Test he uses to check written English. He also shares why he moved his team fully remote in 2016 and how that helped people stay.

We also talk about his content work, from Thailand Starter Kit to Expat Den, and how a long health insurance spreadsheet turned into a useful guide for thousands of expats. If you are building in Thailand or hiring across cultures, there are a lot of practical ideas in here.

This episode is NOT sponsored.

Get in Touch with Karsten Aichholz:
https://www.karsten.me/
https://www.expatden.com/
https://www.safeandnotsorry.com/

Doing business in Thailand? 🇹🇭
Connect with experienced leaders, consultants, coaches, and advisors based in Thailand. Access talent quickly, without the cost (and risk) of a full-time hire.

👉 Visit: https://fractiond.io/

00:00 Building a Business in Thailand

03:06 Navigating Thai Bureaucracy

08:49 Transitioning to Expat Resources

14:40 Hiring and Retention Insights

18:13 Cultural Adaptation in Hiring

27:19 Rebranding and Expanding Beyond Thailand

30:30 Conclusion