The Hidden Costs of going Global: w/Masha Sutherlin x RemoFirst

From immigrating to the U.S. at 15 to scaling operations in 40+ countries, Masha Sutherlin has lived the complexities of global work—and now she’s solving them. In this episode, Masha joins us to unpack what it really takes to build people-first systems that scale across borders, currencies, and cultures.We open with Masha’s personal story and the operational lessons forged through her leadership at Deel and now the Global Director of Business Operations & People @ RemoFirst—a fast-growing HR tech company enabling global hiring in 185+ countries. She shares what "Freedom of Work" actually means in practice, and why understanding the why behind operations is the ultimate growth unlock.From there, we go macro:How do you balance legal compliance with cohesive culture?What makes a remote leader great in 2025—and what habits hold them back?Why are companies abandoning gig work for full-time global talent?What defines equity when benefits span 10+ countries?What mistakes cost companies millions when hiring abroad—and how to avoid them?Finally, we look ahead:What does the global workforce look like in 2030? And how is RemoFirst betting on that future right now?Whether you’re scaling a startup, rethinking remote operations, or guiding global people strategy—this episode will leave you with fresh questions, bold insights, and a clearer path forward.Lear more about RemoFirst here - https://www.remofirst.com/