The Secret Sauce – Episode: Architecting a Global Payroll Career with Linda Obertin

Linda Obertin knows. She’s led payroll operations for some of the biggest brands on the planet, navigated high-complexity compliance across multiple countries, and driven transformation that sticks.In this episode, Linda joins Ian O’Callaghan, founder of Olympus Talent, to break down what it really means to architect your career in Global Payroll — with intention, with skill, and with leadership that lasts.We cover:* What a global payroll career looks like in 2025 — and how it’s evolved from a decade ago.* The core technical and soft skills that separate good payroll professionals from great ones.* How to build resilience into global teams and avoid cultural mismatches that destroy retention.* The impact of AI on payroll talent — and the new roles, skills, and mindsets leaders need to embrace.* The best resources for building your career — certifications, mentorship, and pathways that didn’t exist 10 years ago.Plus, Linda shares rapid-fire insights — from the countries she enjoys working with most, to the lessons she wishes she’d learned earlier, to the habits that keep her grounded under pressure.This episode also features Linda’s nomination for Payroll Olympian: ⁠Nadia Camarena, CPP⁠ — a recognised leader making a significant impact in the global payroll community.Resources mentioned in this episode:* Become a Global Subscriber (Complimentary) to PayrollOrg → ⁠Payroll.org/Subscribe⁠ As a PayrollOrg Global Subscriber, you gain access to many of the resources Linda mentions, including Global Payroll eMagazine, the Global Forum (an online community of global payroll professionals), the Global Payroll Skills Matrix, and much more.* Master payroll data insights — from beginner to expert — with PayrollOrg’s Payroll Analytics Series → ⁠Payroll.org/DataSeries⁠* Subscribe to the newly launched CPO Magazine — the dedicated magazine and forum for Chief Payroll Officers and Corporate Payroll Leaders → ⁠CPO.org⁠If you’re serious about a career in payroll — whether you’re just starting out, leading a global function, or scaling teams internationally — this conversation is your roadmap.If this episode resonates with you, don’t keep it to yourself — share it with someone in your network who needs to hear it. Subscribe to The Secret Sauce for more high-impact conversations, like and share to help us reach more payroll and HR leaders, and drop a comment with your thoughts or your own payroll journey.Listen now for: Global Payroll | Leadership | AI in Payroll | Multi-Country Compliance | Career Strategy | Talent Retention#OlympusTalent #PayrollExperts #GlobalPayroll #PayrollOrg #CultureFirstHiring #GlobalHR #ExecutiveSearch #FutureOfWork #HiringDoneRight #RecruitmentStrategy #PayrollLeadership #HRHiring #DeelPartner #TimeToHire #GlobalRecruitment #CultureAdd #PayrollRecruitment #CIPP #CIPD #REC #FinanceLeadership #ITLeadership #FinanceRecruitment #ITRecruitment #TransformationLeadership #HRLeadership #PayrollProfessionals #HRProfessionals #PayrollCommunity #PayrollLeaders Get full access to The Secret Sauce Podcast at thetalentmasterchief.substack.com/subscribe