This edition is brought to you by Athyna

Good morning to all new and old readers! Here is your Saturday edition of Faster Than Normal, exploring the stories, ideas, and frameworks of the world’s most prolific people and companies—and how you can apply them to build businesses, wealth, and the most important asset of all: yourself. 

Today we’ve got a guest post from Bill Kerr the founder and CEO of Athyna, and author of Open Source CEO. I actually became an investor in Athyna recently.

They hire the best sales, marketing, product and engineering talent, all at up to 80% less than hiring locally. Incredible talent, matched with AI-precision, at lightning speed.

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Today, Bill is going to share the best remote company practices he’s observed globally. If you’re a founder, leader, or operator, you’ll enjoy hearing ways you can level up your team.

Cheers,

Alex

P.S. Send me feedback on how we can improve. We want to be worthy of your time. I respond to every email.

Lessons from Studying Incredible CEOs and Founders: The Remote Playbook

G’day, Bill Kerr here.

If you’re dreaming of building the next billion-dollar unicorn from your couch (yes, in your pajamas), you’re in luck! Remote work is here to stay. And some of the world’s top CEOs and founders have not only embraced it, but have also made it their superpower. These leaders show us that running a thriving company remotely isn’t just possible—it’s the future.

Why listen to me? I run a 70 person remote startup, Athyna, that actually helps companies hire the best offshore talent. We don’t only do well hiring but our fully remote team has engagement (culture) scores of 90% on average. We do remote work well.

But we aren’t the only ones. SMBs, startups and enterprises are thriving remotely all around the world. But how do they do it? Let’s break down some lessons from the best in the business.

1. Wiz: Turning Down Google and Scaling Globally

Ever heard of a company turning down $23 billion from Google? That’s exactly what cloud security company Wiz did. Led by Assaf Rappaport, Wiz’s remote-first model was key to their rapid rise. Founded in 2020, the company grew to over 2,500 employees globally, with a $12 billion valuation in just three years, and hold the title of the fastest growing company in history.

Rappaport’s decision to reject Google wasn’t just about ambition; it was about the power of their remote team. By building a remote-first structure, Wiz attracted top talent from across the globe, expanding its reach and capabilities far faster than a traditional setup.

Lesson: Remote-first doesn’t just mean more flexibility—it can also mean more agility. And sometimes, saying “no” to $23 billion is the right move.

2. Deel: The SaaS Darling of Remote Work

When it comes to remote work, Deel might just be the MVP. Founded in 2019, Deel simplifies hiring across borders by handling payroll, taxes, and compliance for companies looking to build global teams. Their business model is so compelling that Deel is on track to become the next Salesforce—a projected $100 billion powerhouse.

What makes Deel’s remote-first approach unique is its ability to build regional hubs. Teams are clustered in different geographies for time zone overlap, but the work remains largely remote. This hybrid model gives them the best of both worlds: in-person collaboration when needed, but freedom to work from anywhere.

In 2022, Deel leaned heavily into hiring in cost-effective regions like Latin America and Southeast Asia, offering companies the ability to tap into talent at up to 80% less cost than in the U.S. and Europe.

Lesson: If your company’s mission is to make remote work possible, you better lead by example. And when you do, you just might end up on the fast track to unicorn status.

Fun Fact:

When speaking to Dan Westgarth, COO of Deel, he told me; “The key benefit is flexibility. I’m able to walk my dog any time of the day, attend a family event, and travel to any location around the world whenever I like.” 

3. Atlassian: Team Anywhere, Literally

Atlassian, the Australian tech giant, was ahead of the curve with their “Team Anywhere” policy, introduced in 2020. With over 10,000 employees spread across the globe, Atlassian’s remote-first approach offers employees the flexibility to work from anywhere, whether that’s home, a co-working space, or even a different country.

What makes Atlassian stand out is their focus on work-life balance and mental health. Their 'Team Anywhere Lab,' staffed with behavioral scientists, has introduced policies like limiting meetings to 50% of the workday, which has resulted in increased productivity and reduced burnout.

Lesson: Flexibility doesn’t just apply to where people work, but how they work. Sometimes, fewer meetings can lead to bigger results.

Fun Fact:

Atlassian’s co-founders, Mike and Scott, hold the record for the most stock still held at IPO in recent history.

4. Zapier: Leading with Remote from Day One

Zapier, founded by Wade Foster, Mike Knoop, and Bryan Helmig in 2011, is a remote-first pioneer. Before remote work was trendy (or a pandemic necessity), they were already tapping into a global talent pool unrestricted by geography. Their secret? Asynchronous communication and transparency.

One of Zapier's standout practices is the “ReadMe” ritual, where employees share personal values, energy triggers, and work preferences. It’s like speed dating but for fostering deep team connections. And it works: Zapier has grown to over 1,000 employees in 42 countries, with an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of over $250 million.

Lesson: Remote work is about creating a system that supports flexibility without sacrificing collaboration. Think outside the cubicle—literally.

Pro Tip:

Zapier is proof that you can build a $250 million company without ever having to fight over who ate your lunch in the office fridge.

5. Coinbase: Going Fully Decentralized

Coinbase, the famous crypto platform, made a bold move in 2020 by becoming a remote-first company under CEO Brian Armstrong’s leadership. They even went so far as to shut down their San Francisco HQ. Why? Because Armstrong believed the future of work was decentralized, much like crypto itself.

Coinbase's Q4 2023 results validated the decision—after two rocky years, they posted a $273 million profit. By embracing a hybrid setup with smaller regional hubs, Coinbase allows its global workforce the flexibility to choose between the office or working from home.

Lesson: Flexibility is a two-way street. Give employees the choice, and you’ll find they can thrive anywhere. Even crypto billionaires agree—no one wants to deal with Bay Area traffic.

What These Leaders Teach Us

Whether it’s Zapier building from the ground up remotely, Coinbase decentralizing their entire operation, or Wiz rejecting a billion-dollar buyout in favor of scaling their remote model, these companies have one thing in common: they understand the power of remote work.

Here’s the takeaway: Remote work isn’t just a trend—it’s a strategy. And if you do it right, the sky’s the limit. With the right processes, tools, and leadership in place, you can tap into a global talent pool, reduce overhead costs, and scale faster than ever before.

Final Thought:

If the CEOs behind $100 billion companies are working remotely, maybe it’s time to rethink that morning commute. And if you are looking for help building out, we can help.

Further Readings

• Remote Work Is Eating The World—A look at how remote work is taken over the technology space, and some of the huge benefits.

• Man of tomorrow: Atlassian’s Work Futurist Dominic Price—An interview with Atlassian’s in-house ‘Work Futurist.’

• Building a remote-first company: Our biggest lessons so far—The learnings Coinbase has made by going fully remote.

• Collection: Hybrid, On-Site, Remote & Why?—A deep dive with a numbers of founders on how they handle the remote/hybrid conversation.

• The Latin American Talent Revolution: Why Top Executives Are Turning South—A look at one of the world’s hottest regions for remote talent, South America.

• Building a Global All-Remote Company: The GitLab Story—A deep dive into the story of one of the remote work OGs.

• Deel, EOR & The Future Of Global Teams—One of the fastest growing startups in recent history and how they are shaping the future of remote.

• How Athyna Makes Remote, Work—One startups rules around how to have incredible culture and engagement, remotely.

• The CEO of Zapier, Wade Foster, talks to SaaStr on management structures and scaling a remote team—The Zapier CEO on how to make work remote.

• How to build a remote team, GitLab—A set of tools and ideas for how to thrive in a remote environment.

• Unlocking Global Talent Goldmines: The Secrets to Success in Emerging Markets—A look at the hottest talent markets globally and how to hire remotely.

That’s all for today, folks. As always, please give me your feedback. Which section is your favourite? What do you want to see more or less of? Other suggestions? Please let me know.

Have a wonderful rest of week, all.

Recommendation Zone

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If you’re in the market for talent, visit their website to explore options and cover all your hiring needs.

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