How do you foster connection and collaboration in a remote-first world?

In this episode of the Distributed podcast, host Jack Hannah sits down with Nick Cash, Senior Vice President & Head of Technology at Jam City, to explore the unique challenges and opportunities of leading a hybrid team across the globe. Nick shares insights into Jam City’s hub-and-spoke organizational structure, the importance of reducing friction in communication, and the value of synchronous collaboration. He also discusses strategies for empowering engineers, fostering connections across teams, and building a culture of trust and innovation in a remote-first environment.

Highlights:

Jam City’s hybrid approach to remote-first work and global team dynamics
Reducing friction with clear processes and effective communication tools
The importance of synchronous collaboration for solving complex problems
Building connections through programs like Jam City University
How fostering team relationships leads to better project outcomes

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) – Kicking Things Off With Nick Cash

(04:44) – Optimizing Product Lifecycle and Team Agility

(08:35) – Integrating Processes with Flexibility

(12:34) – Fostering Occasional Team Interactions

(14:40) – Balancing Mentorship and Independence

(19:06) – Effective Team Communication Boosts Productivity

(22:44) – Fostering Success at Jam City

(25:44) – Leveraging Curiosity for Networking Success

(27:17) – Jam City's Global Talent Strategy

(32:23) – Exploring Meetings vs. Problem-Solving Calls

(34:37) – Comparing In-Person and Virtual Collaboration Perceptions

Where to connect further:

Connect with Nick Cash on LinkedIn

More about Jam City

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Connect with Jack Hannah

Building global teams, connections, and culture with Nick Cash from Jam City