Building a Remote Company That Prioritizes Connection

The Culture Shift That Saved a 30-Year Business

Overview In this episode, Brandon Sommers shares the real story behind rebuilding a struggling family business during one of its hardest seasons. As market conditions tightened, he realized that the existing “family” culture wasn’t enough to survive—and made the difficult shift toward a high-performance, accountable team. This conversation explores what it actually takes to change culture, make tough decisions, and create a business that can compete when conditions get hard. It’s a candid look at leadership under pressure and what separates teams that grow from those that stall. What we cover * Why “family culture” breaks when things get hard – how a feel-good environment can fall apart under pressure without clear expectations and accountability * Shifting to a performance-driven culture – redefining the team as a group of people committed to winning together, not just getting along * Rebuilding culture during a crisis – what it actually looks like to change expectations, behavior, and standards while the business is still struggling * Using radical transparency to create alignment – sharing the real financial picture to help the team understand what’s at stake and why change is necessary * The moment that resets a team – how high-stakes situations can become defining stories that shape culture moving forward * Letting people opt out instead of forcing them out – how clear standards naturally lead some people to self-select out of the organization * Why mindset beats experience in hiring – looking for coachability, growth, and ownership over just technical skill * Making faster people decisions – why waiting too long to act on misalignment can quietly erode culture * Setting expectations early in the hiring process – being honest upfront about standards so candidates know exactly what they’re signing up for * How culture compounds over time – why high performers raise the bar and attract more people like them * Balancing care with accountability – creating an environment where people feel supported but are still expected to perform * Turning culture into something repeatable – using shared language, stories, and consistent behaviors to scale culture as the business grows * Extending culture into new teams and acquisitions – early lessons on applying the same principles across different groups * A simple lens for alignment – thinking through decisions in terms of what’s best for the individual, the customer, and the company This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hirealigned.substack.com [https://hirealigned.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Building a Remote Company That Prioritizes Connection

Overview What does it take to build a remote company that people genuinely enjoy being part of? In this conversation, Steve Carroll shares how Ruvixx has grown into a fully remote global organization by focusing on respect, kindness, and connection rather than perks or office culture theatrics. He explains how hiring, onboarding, and leadership behavior all shape whether people feel like they belong. This episode offers a practical and human look at what it means to build a company that people actually want to work for. What we cover * Why perks are overrated – foosball tables and office gimmicks matter less than respect and kindness. * Building culture across countries – how shared human values can travel across very different cultural contexts. * Hiring for “vibe” and values – why experience alone is not enough, and how positivity shapes team health. * The cost of a bad culture fit – even high performers may need to leave if they make the team miserable. * Onboarding through people, not just process – introducing new hires to “keepers of the culture” who make the values real. * Freedom and accountability in remote work – giving people flexibility without tracking hours, while still expecting the work to get done. * Why leaders must protect real time off – including a story about requiring a key team member to take a trip to Japan as part of his bonus. * Treating employees like people – seeing work as one part of a meaningful life, not the whole thing. * Connection as a company purpose – why Steve believes organizations can do more than generate revenue; they can bring people together across the world. * Fulfillment as a design choice – building a workplace where people enjoy showing up, contribute meaningfully, and create value together. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hirealigned.substack.com [https://hirealigned.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Managing Humans and AI Agents at the Same Time

Overview As AI agents become part of everyday work, organizations face new questions about ownership, visibility, and how work actually gets done. In this episode, Jacob Crockett sits down with Matt Wyman, CEO and co-founder of Okareo, to explore the parallels between managing people and managing AI agents. Drawing on experience from developer tools, product leadership, and automotive systems, Matt offers a thoughtful framework for thinking about tools, innovation, and alignment in an agent-augmented workplace. What we cover * Matt’s path from engineering to product leadership – How starting as a builder shaped his perspective on tools, systems, and decision-making. * Why AI agents should be treated as tools, not coworkers – The risks of personifying agents and how trust can be misplaced. * Ownership in an agent-driven workplace – Who should own AI agents: the individual employee or the organization? * Lessons from the automotive industry – What mechanics owning their own tools reveals about modern knowledge work. * The boundary between “bringing tools” and “receiving systems” – How companies typically control infrastructure while individuals control contribution tools—and where agents complicate this. * Visibility and accountability with AI agents – Why agent participation in decisions must be transparent, even if humans make the final call. * Innovation, experimentation, and perceived waste – Why effective innovation often looks inefficient and how managers misinterpret it. * Strategic alignment vs. tactical control – The danger of over-managing at the task level and how it creates brittle organizations. * AI and learning depth – How over-reliance on agents can short-circuit understanding, pattern recognition, and long-term growth. * Stretching vs. leaning back – The emerging divide between people who use AI to explore new domains and those who use it to disengage. * What managers must do differently – Setting expectations, creating space to stretch, and making opportunities visible in an AI-augmented team. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hirealigned.substack.com [https://hirealigned.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Why the Most Effective Leaders Lead With Love

Overview In this episode, Jacob sits down with Greg Montgomery to explore an often-overlooked leadership skill: love. Together, they unpack why genuine one-on-one connections matter more than scalable systems, how fulfillment differs from fleeting happiness, and what intentional leadership looks like in practice. Greg shares formative experiences—from influential ideas by Stephen R. Covey to lessons from Ed Mylett—that reshaped how he shows up at work and in life. This conversation is especially relevant for leaders who want stronger cultures without losing their humanity. What we cover * Why love belongs in leadership conversations – exploring why care, empathy, and genuine concern aren’t “soft extras,” but foundational to trust, influence, and long-term impact at work. * The limits of scalability in human relationships – why the most meaningful leadership moments can’t be automated, outsourced, or multiplied without loss, and why one-on-one presence still matters. * Love as a verb, not a feeling – unpacking the idea (inspired by Stephen R. Covey) that love is something you do through consistent actions, sacrifice, and attention—not something you passively feel. * Happiness vs. fulfillment – distinguishing between short-term happiness driven by money, success, or status, and the deeper fulfillment that comes from connection, service, and meaning. * Vulnerability as a leadership strength – why openness and emotional honesty build credibility and psychological safety rather than undermining authority. * How intentional one-on-ones actually work – reframing one-on-one meetings as relationship-building time rather than tactical checklists, and why this shift changes team dynamics. * Feeling seen at work – a story of how simple appreciation and acknowledgment from a leader can fundamentally change motivation, loyalty, and confidence. * The business impact of human-centered leadership – why investing in people, culture, and connection ultimately shows up in retention, customer experience, and financial outcomes. * Men, identity, and inner work – discussing why many men struggle with fulfillment despite external success, and the importance of creating space to reflect, reset, and reconnect. * Creating environments for transformation – Greg’s vision for The Shift retreat and why intentional experiences can catalyze lasting personal and professional change. Time-stamped outline * 00:00 – Intro and first-time podcast nerves * 01:14 – Greg’s background and winding career path * 03:30 – Why Jacob associates leadership with love and one-on-one connection * 04:19 – Stephen R. Covey, love as a verb, and early mindset shifts * 06:45 – Ed Mylett, fulfillment, and the role of vulnerability * 09:30 – Building relationships through intentional leadership * 11:55 – A manager who modeled genuine care at work * 14:58 – Gary Vee, Chief Heart Officers, and culture at scale * 18:00 – The Shift Retreat and creating space for transformation * 21:37 – Closing reflections on love-driven leadership This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hirealigned.substack.com [https://hirealigned.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

What Employee Reviews Really Say About Your Company

Overview Employee reviews used to feel like an HR afterthought. Today, they’re shaping how candidates, customers, and even AI systems perceive companies. In this episode, Jacob sits down with Matt Vance, Co-Founder & CEO of Mobrium, to explore how platforms like Glassdoor and Indeed influence culture, retention, and growth. They discuss why transparency is becoming unavoidable—and how leaders can approach employer reputation thoughtfully and ethically. What we cover * The rise of employee reviews – how Glassdoor and similar platforms have quietly gained influence over the last decade * Culture as a public signal – why employee experience now affects candidates, customers, and investors * The “law of self-selecting extremes” – why most reviews skew negative when companies don’t ask for feedback * Transparency in the age of AI – how tools like ChatGPT aggregate reviews and surface hidden issues * When companies truly don’t care – what disengagement on review platforms signals to the outside world * Retention and ROI – how employer reputation can reduce preventable turnover * Building culture intentionally – lessons Matt has applied while growing Mobrium as a startup This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hirealigned.substack.com [https://hirealigned.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]