How do you build strong remote teams when your colleagues come from completely different cultural backgrounds? In this episode of the Nomad Summit Podcast, we unpack the realities of cross-cultural communication in distributed teams – and why good intentions often go wrong.
Christoph Huebner and Palle Bo are joined by two seasoned experts:
- Renita Kasper, a global talent acquisition leader and remote team builder from Estonia.
- Miguel Piñas, COO and co-founder of Companio, who leads a remote-first team spanning 10+ countries.
Together, they share candid stories from their experience – from awkward email misunderstandings to successful strategies for building cultural intelligence inside companies. Whether you're managing a team or looking to land your next remote job, this episode will help you navigate the hidden cultural dynamics that shape remote work.
Key Takeaways
- Direct vs. indirect communication can make or break remote collaboration.
- Cultural awareness isn't intuitive – it requires structure, training, and ongoing feedback.
- Miscommunications often stem from differing workplace norms, not bad intentions.
- The book The Culture Map by Erin Meyer is a highly recommended resource for teams.
- Hiring for diversity means more than skills – it also requires systems that support inclusion.
- Companies should stop pushing “headquarter culture” onto international teams and co-create values instead.
- Candidates applying for remote roles should research the communication style of the company beforehand.
Relevant Links
- Miguel Piñas on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguelpinas - Renita Kasper on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/renitakasper - Companio
https://companio.co - Book: The Culture Map by Erin Meyer
https://go.nomadsummit.com/book-culture-map - Global Nomad Pass
https://globalnomadpass.com - Unlock a free month of Global Nomad Pass
https://go.nomadsummit.com/gnp-podcast - Nomad Summit
https://nomadsummit.com - The Radio Vagabond (Palle Bo)
https://theradiovagabond.com/link-tree - Episode produced by RadioGuru
https://radioguru.co.uk
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