Lead on Purpose with James Laughlin Stop Doing Everything Yourself and Start Scaling Properly with Elise Basillie
Jan 13, 2026
Join Elise Balsillie, an executive at Thryv, as she shares her insights on scaling small and medium businesses in a digital world. Discover how Thryv maintains a thriving remote team of 400 across Australia and New Zealand, enhancing flexibility and productivity. Elise emphasizes the power of automation to free up owners' time, allowing them to focus on their passions. She also covers the importance of customer data, AI-driven search visibility, and how to nurture client relationships through effective CRM strategies.
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How Thryv Chose Remote First
- Elise Balsillie described how Thryv surveyed staff after COVID and found 98% wanted to stay fully remote.
- They reinforced culture with annual meetups, local coffee catchups and a weekly Monday video from Elise to keep connection alive.
Remote Increases Client Accessibility
- Remote work let Thryv flex support hours to match small business clients' needs, improving accessibility.
- That flexibility also lets staff shift hours around family commitments while remaining responsive to customers.
Start With One Pain Point
- Start by identifying the single thing that keeps you awake and solve it first before buying tech.
- Prioritize tech investments on the most impactful pain point to simplify running your business.