What does it actually take to become someone a global company wants to hire, trust, and keep working with?
In this episode, Palle Bo and Alexandra talk with Josh Gould, Group CEO of thebigword, a global language-services company working with around 15,000 linguists and contractors across more than 80 countries.
Josh shares what he has learned from leading teams while travelling between markets including the UK, US, India, Israel, and China. He explains why a strategy that succeeds in one country can fail badly in another, why global companies need to think locally, and what remote workers need to understand about cultural differences.
The conversation also turns to hiring and managing remote employees. Josh explains why remote work is not suited to everyone, what makes someone trustworthy without constant supervision, and why he wants employees to go beyond simply completing their assigned tasks.
We also discuss AI and translation, the changing role of human linguists, entrepreneurship, and what Josh calls becoming an "irresistible" employee or freelancer.
**Key Takeaways**
- Why successful global companies need to adapt to local cultures and markets
- What employers look for when hiring remote workers
- Why communication, initiative, and reliability matter as much as technical skills
- The difference between managing freelancers and full-time remote employees
- How AI is transforming translation and international communication
**Relevant Links**
- TheBigWord: https://thebigword.com
- Instagram: @thebigwordofficial
- Josh Gould on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuadgould/
- YouTube channel, Exec Craft: https://www.youtube.com/@Exec\_Craft
- Nomad Summit: https://nomadsummit.com
- Episode produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk
