The Global Nutcracker

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Welcome to The Global Nutcracker Podcast, powered by Native Teams, where we crack open the toughest business challenges of scaling worldwide. Here, founders, HR leaders, and innovators share real stories and hard-earned lessons from the frontlines of international growth. We explore the realities of scaling across borders, tackling compliance challenges, cultural hurdles, and everything in between, and uncover how to go global without going nuts.

Episodes

  1. Building engineering teams with gig talent

    16 HR AGO

    Building engineering teams with gig talent

    Engineering teams don’t scale the same way they used to. In this episode of The Global Nutcracker, Skerdi Sino speaks with Krishen Naidoo, founder of Gig Engineer, about building and scaling engineering teams through a gig-based model — across countries, regulations, and very different markets. A grounded conversation about execution, real constraints, and what scaling looks like beyond the headlines.

    9 min
  2. Scaling from one market to many without losing alignment

    29 JAN

    Scaling from one market to many without losing alignment

    Scaling a company is hard. Scaling across markets is a completely different challenge. In this episode of The Global Nutcracker, we sit down with Mark Fairless, CEO of Clearbank, to talk about what really changes when a business moves from operating in one market to operating across many. From expanding beyond the UK into Europe to building teams in different countries, Mark shares how Clearbank approached international scale in a highly regulated industry — and why culture, operating models, and leadership alignment matter more than most founders expect. In this conversation, we cover: - How to scale from one market to multiple markets - The real challenges of global expansion in regulated industries - Why culture becomes harder — and more important — at scale - How to adapt operating models without losing speed or trust - Hiring across fintech and traditional banking backgrounds - How leaders measure culture as a business metric This episode is for founders, CEOs, and operators navigating international growth — especially in fintech, banking, or complex regulatory environments.

    14 min
  3. How to hire International teams compliantly

    23 JAN

    How to hire International teams compliantly

    This episode explores how growing companies can scale international teams without creating legal, financial, or compliance risks. The conversation focuses on real-world challenges founders face when hiring across borders, including contractor versus employee classification, operating without local entities, and navigating different labour laws. Listeners will gain practical insights into structuring global teams, avoiding common compliance mistakes, and making smarter decisions when expanding into new countries.

    11 min
  4. Scaling companies across different cultures

    23 JAN

    Scaling companies across different cultures

    This episode focuses on how founders can scale companies across countries while managing cultural differences, communication styles, and legal complexity. It explores why culture is often harder to scale than processes, how regional differences affect teamwork, and what practical steps leaders can take to build trust and consistency across borders. Listeners will learn how to adapt leadership styles, standardise operations without losing flexibility, and choose the right markets for expansion.

    7 min
  5. Why AI only works if your business is built on trust

    23 JAN

    Why AI only works if your business is built on trust

    Scaling a business that relies on trust is hard.Scaling it with AI is even harder. In this episode, Dusan Randelovic, Founder of Propwise, explains how they are helping buyers in real estate while expanding across markets like Portugal and Brazil, without losing the human side of the business. A conversation about trust, adoption, local markets, and why automation only works when relationships come first.

    10 min
  6. How to scale a small team and integrate people from the outside

    23 JAN

    How to scale a small team and integrate people from the outside

    Scaling a small team sounds simple—until responsibilities grow, routines break, and bringing someone from the outside becomes harder than expected. In this episode, Omar Badawy, Founder of Covelant, shares the real challenges behind scaling early-stage teams, staying organized under pressure, and building global collaboration across countries. A grounded, practical conversation for anyone growing a team while growing a product.

    8 min
  7. Building a super app in emerging markets

    23 JAN

    Building a super app in emerging markets

    In this episode of The Global Nutcracker Podcast, we sit down with Arber Kadia, founder of Patoko, to talk about the realities of building and scaling a super app in underserved markets. Arber shares what happens when you’re forced to operate a business while still building the product, and why localisation, regulation, payments, and retention quickly become make-or-break factors. A grounded, honest conversation for founders and operators navigating growth beyond the usual startup playbook.

    13 min
  8. Beyond crypto: building a blockchain fintech the regulated way

    23 JAN

    Beyond crypto: building a blockchain fintech the regulated way

    Skerdi sits down with Nida Khan, CEO of Nash FintechX, to explore how to build and scale a blockchain fintech by working with regulation, banks, and compliance. From carbon markets to global teams and cross-border payments, this episode dives into the real operational side of fintech.

    8 min
  9. Why effort stops working when you scale: Lessons from building Heroic Rankings

    23 JAN

    Why effort stops working when you scale: Lessons from building Heroic Rankings

    Growing fast feels like success — until the cracks start to show. In this episode, Una, founder of Heroic Rankings, shares what it really takes to scale after rapid growth: building systems, protecting culture, and knowing when to slow down instead of pushing harder. A candid conversation about effort, honesty, and the foundations every founder needs to grow for the long run.

    8 min
  10. Systems before hiring: How not to pay for the same thing three times

    23 JAN

    Systems before hiring: How not to pay for the same thing three times

    In this episode, Skerdi, CMO at Native Teams, talks with Ivan Ivanka, CEO of Markster, and shares why “systems before hiring” became his biggest lesson after operating across multiple countries, paying triple taxes, and managing a fully remote workforce. A sharp, honest conversation for anyone growing beyond borders.

    12 min
  11. How a parenting problem became a global fintech

    23 JAN

    How a parenting problem became a global fintech

    In this episode, Alex, CXO at Native Teams, talks with Louise Hill, co-founder of GoHenry, about how a simple parenting problem turned into a successful fintech. Louise shares the early chaos of kids spending money online without understanding it, the gap she saw in financial education, and how that insight became a mission now serving millions of families. They dive into the founder lessons behind the journey — adapting a product across cultures, making decisions based on “what’s best for the customer,” learning to let go as a leader, and scaling a global team without losing the mission. A sharp, honest conversation for any entrepreneur building something meaningful from a real-life problem.

    13 min
  12. The Global Nutcracker: Trailer

    20/11/2025

    The Global Nutcracker: Trailer

    The Global Nutcracker Podcast, hosted by Alex Mitrevska and Skerdi Sino, where they dive into real stories, real challenges, and the practical solutions that help global teams scale — all without going nuts.

    1 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Welcome to The Global Nutcracker Podcast, powered by Native Teams, where we crack open the toughest business challenges of scaling worldwide. Here, founders, HR leaders, and innovators share real stories and hard-earned lessons from the frontlines of international growth. We explore the realities of scaling across borders, tackling compliance challenges, cultural hurdles, and everything in between, and uncover how to go global without going nuts.

Information

  • Creator
    WRKdefined Podcast Network
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved by WRKdefined
  • Show Website
    The Global Nutcracker