Operators Only

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Rameel and I chatted with our friend Benjamin Surman about hiring overseas talent. Ben's the COO at Somewhere.com, one of the leaders in the new wave of overseas talent firms that have popped up in the last few years. We went deep on:
  • His journey from consultant to head of growth to COO 
  • The evolution of Somewhere.com, its recent rebranding, and acquisition under Nick Huber.
  • The growing trend of international hiring and building a global workforce 
  • How to effectively integrate and manage remote teams across different cultures and time zones 
  • The importance of proper legal and compliance considerations when hiring internationally 
  • Tips for operators and founders looking to leverage global talent  
  • The future of executive hiring on a global scale 
  • How to choose the right partner when venturing into international hiring 
Benjamin shares insights on building trust with founders, proving your worth as an operator, and navigating ownership changes. He also discusses the challenges and opportunities of hiring internationally, including cultural differences, legal implications, and the importance of having proper systems in place. Good episode if you're trying to think through the pros and cons of hiring talent outside the US.

For real-time updates on Somewhere and to follow Benjamin’s work more closely, check out the links below:
CHAPTERS:
(00:00:00) Teaser
(00:00:59) About the Episode
(00:02:04) Introduction of Benjamin Thurman
(00:02:39) Rise of overseas hiring in tech
(00:05:53) Benjamin's journey to COO
(00:09:16) Earning trust with founders
(00:10:28) Navigating ownership changes
(00:12:47) Rebranding to Somewhere.com
(00:15:36) International hiring market trends
(00:18:24) Global talent vs outsourcing
(00:21:34) Somewhere's hiring process
(00:24:48) Managing international employees
(00:27:04) Challenges in global hiring
(00:30:10) Hiring executives internationally
(00:33:23) Advice for choosing hiring partners
(00:39:01) Key takeaways and conclusion
(00:40:32) Outro

SOCIAL LINKS:
Website: https://www.operatorsonly.fm/
Twitter_Host : https://twitter.com/andrew__rea
Twitter_Co-Host : https://x.com/ramshe1000
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewrea1996/
LinkedIn_Co-Host : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rameel-sheikh-051246a3/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Operators_Only

PRODUCED BY:
https://aipodcast.ing

What is Operators Only?

Conversations with Startup Operators