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

Want to be part of the conversation? Subscribe and join us each week as we explore the future of remote work and the digital nomad lifestyle.