Remote First Podcast

Azhar Siddiqui

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Marketing
Updated Biweekly

Hosted by Azhar Siddiqui, the co-founder at RepStack. Uncover the secrets of hiring, onboarding and training your Virtual Assistant as we share tips, tricks and success stories. Discover how to unlock massive growth in your Digital Marketing Agency by hiring for these key roles. Our Website: https://repstack.co/Book a quick call here: https://calendly.com/repstack-discovery-call/15min

9h ago

How Andy Audate's Remote Team Closes $40K Deals From Around the World

Andy Audate, founder of GHL Engine and Progreda, joins Athar Siddiqui for episode 5 of the LevelUp speaker series on The Remote First Podcast. They talk about how one training webinar brought in 150 job applications, how Andy's team turned 40 recorded onboarding calls into a 10-step checklist that any team member can run, why a small vision loses you your best people, and why "remote first" no longer means anything now that the playing field has leveled. Andy also shares how his remote team sells $20K to $40K deals on their own, how an accountant from a nine-figure company rebuilt his finances from the Philippines, and why he flies out every year to give back with his team. Both Athar and Andy will be at HighLevel's LevelUp summit in Dallas. Andy will be on stage talking about selling one to many with webinars. Chapters 0:00 Highlights 0:33 Intro 1:28 Welcome to the Remote First Podcast 2:32 Meet Andy Audate and GHL Engine 3:56 Why webinars, and why live 5:11 150 job applications from one training 8:30 Getting new hires up to speed 10:32 340 buyers and a 10-step onboarding 14:55 Confidence comes from a clipboard 16:11 A vision big enough for your team 19:42 Remote first doesn't mean anything today 21:52 The $120K hire vs. the $40K hire 23:28 What I wish I knew about remote teams 25:36 A nine-figure accountant, hired remotely 29:22 Why we give back in the Philippines 33:33 LevelUp 2026 and final words Hire pre-vetted remote talent: https://repstack.co #RemoteFirst #RepStack #HighLevel #GHLEngine #RemoteWork #AgencyGrowth
12h ago

Automation and AI Come Last | Declan O'Reilly, the GHL Wizard

Declan O'Reilly, the GHL Wizard, joins Athar Siddiqui for episode 4 of the LevelUp speaker series on The Remote First Podcast. Declan started out recording GoHighLevel training videos for his own team. Those videos grew into a 42,000 subscriber YouTube channel, a community of 5,000 affiliates and the number one spot as a GoHighLevel affiliate. They talk about turning a team from mercenary to missionary, why he still shows up live for his students every week, how he keeps every training up to date, and why automation and AI should come last, not first. Both Athar and Declan will be at HighLevel's Level Up summit in Dallas, October 26 to 29. Chapters 0:00 Highlights 0:17 Intro 1:12 Welcome to the Remote First Podcast 1:53 Meet Declan O'Reilly, the GHL Wizard 2:39 From mercenary to missionary 3:51 One team, one time zone 4:56 Incentives that keep a team driven 6:55 Becoming the #1 HighLevel affiliate 8:28 The one thing: student results 10:32 Who earns the free clients 12:10 Why he still shows up live 15:06 Keeping trainings up to date 18:05 Workshops and the daily cycle 20:04 A community of 5,000 affiliates 21:44 AI vs. humans 24:18 Automation and AI come last 27:00 The robe and final words Hire pre-vetted remote talent: https://repstack.co #RemoteFirst #RepStack #GoHighLevel #GHLWizard #AIAutomation
1d ago

You Can't Outcompete Someone Who's Obsessed | Yesenia Nelson

Yesenia Nelson, co-founder of 7 Figure Agency and Plumbing HVAC SEO, joins Athar Siddiqui for the second episode of the HighLevel speaker series on The Remote First Podcast. They talk about running two multi-million dollar businesses with her husband Josh, moving a whole company from an office to fully remote, hiring people who are obsessed with what they do, what agency owners really worry about when hiring overseas, and why AI is empowering teams rather than replacing them. Both Athar and Yesenia will be at HighLevel's Level Up summit in Dallas, October 26 to 29. Chapters 0:00 Highlights 0:25 Intro 1:19 Welcome to the Remote First Podcast 2:13 Meet Yesenia Nelson 3:42 Working with family 7:48 From office to remote 11:21 Culture across the globe 15:34 Trust and tracking remote teams 17:29 Hire people who are obsessed 21:05 What agency owners worry about 23:20 Growth paths for global teams 24:59 Why in-person events matter 26:50 English, drive and A players 28:51 AI vs. humans 33:32 AI has to tie to profit 34:28 Level Up Dallas 36:05 Final words Hire pre-vetted remote talent: https://repstack.co #RemoteFirst #RepStack #7FigureAgency #DigitalMarketingAgency #RemoteWork
1d ago

Automation Shouldn't Replace Humans | Chris Dillon

Chris Dillon wrote HighLevel's official WhatsApp course, has spoken for HighLevel in India and the Philippines, and is back on stage at Level Up in Dallas (October 26-29). On The Remote First Podcast, Athar Siddiqui sits down with Chris to talk about what 20 years as a football referee taught him about people, why automation should support humans rather than replace them, the detail most people miss in Alex Hormozi's speed-to-lead story, and why you should sell the outcome, not the software. The Remote First Podcast is RepStack's LevelUp Speaker Series: conversations with the people speaking at Level Up about culture, building teams, client relationships and honest sales. Chapters 0:00 Highlights 0:24 Intro 1:20 Welcome to the Remote First Podcast 2:41 Chris Dillon, HighLevel & WhatsApp 4:58 A lifelong QPR fan 7:51 What refereeing taught Chris about people 10:47 Leads are real people 12:32 You're one conversation away 14:26 Business is person to person 16:11 Automation should support humans 17:21 The London Underground lesson 19:54 Be detached from the outcome 23:15 The 5 or 10 minute train 23:47 The flaw in the speed-to-lead story 26:28 Chris's book: No One Gives a Sh*t About Your Business 29:03 What hospitals get right 31:29 Open the floodgates 32:55 Airport toilets & honest feedback 34:58 Desire paths 36:29 GaryVee's wine shop 37:48 Where attention lives: WhatsApp 39:34 Sell the outcome, not HighLevel 40:47 Believe in your product 41:51 Chris's Level Up Dallas talk 44:22 Networking without the sales pitch 46:44 Three days of sales pitches 48:28 Ethical sales & the 5 W's 51:56 Final words ABOUT THE GUEST Chris Dillon: author of HighLevel's official WhatsApp course, of Marketing Autopilots, and author of "No One Gives a Sh*t About Your Business". ABOUT REPSTACK RepStack (Inc. 5000, 2025 and 2026) builds remote teams for agencies. https://repstack.co #RemoteFirstPodcast #RepStack #HighLevel #GoHighLevel #WhatsAppMarketing #LevelUp2026 #AtharSiddiqui #ChrisDillon #SalesTips #AgencyGrowth
2d ago

Don't Scale Chaos, Scale Clarity | Lisa Catto, The Business Catalyst

Lisa Catto, CEO of The Business Catalyst and known as the Queen of Automations, joins Athar Siddiqui for the HighLevel Speaker Series on The Remote First Podcast. Lisa's first tech business in the mid 1990s put brands inside computer games: Coca-Cola over the Olympic stadium, Adidas stripes in FIFA and Gran Turismo, and a role-playing game for Unilever's Peperami. She retired to the south of France in her mid-30s, came back in 2011, trained on Infusionsoft and moved to HighLevel in 2022. She walks through her ideal customer journey: three phases (prospecting, conversion, fulfilment), nine steps and 54 checkpoints, and why "prescription without diagnosis is malpractice". Her advice: start simple, build in Lego blocks, and fix the broken sales process before you push new leads into it. On team and culture: a team of seven, a daily 9 a.m. drop-in so she is never the bottleneck, two hours of training every Monday, and a hiring process built on Geoff Smart's book "Who" that tests how people think, not which software they know. Athar shares why the number one reason new hires leave RepStack in the first 90 days is overwhelm, and how clarity fixes it. Both Lisa and Athar will be at the HighLevel Summit in Dallas, October 26 to 29. Chapters 0:00 Highlight: fix the broken sales process first 0:28 Intro 0:38 Welcome to the Remote First Podcast 1:34 Putting brands inside 90s video games 3:17 Retiring in her mid-30s, then automation 4:25 Digital marketing before the internet 5:58 The Lara Croft pitch Adidas turned down 7:31 What The Business Catalyst does 8:24 Be a specialist, not a generalist 9:52 The ideal customer journey: 54 checkpoints 13:33 Prescription without diagnosis is malpractice 15:14 Don't scale chaos, scale clarity 16:50 Corporate brands vs small business: know the outcome 17:43 Snapshots, Lego blocks and documentation 18:50 Start simple: fix the broken sales process first 20:05 Why new hires quit in the first 90 days 21:06 Hiring for how people think, not skills 22:34 The "Who" hiring method and AI in applications 24:34 Daily drop-ins: culture is a routine 26:24 Training the team so she can step back 28:13 An autonomous team with clear rules 29:02 American vs British clients 31:10 Thanks, and see you in Dallas Hire pre-vetted remote talent: https://repstack.co #RemoteFirst #RepStack #HighLevel #LisaCatto #Automation #CustomerJourney #AgencyGrowth
Jun 22

Remote work is not a shortcut - Featuring Ahmed Salahuddin

In this episode of The Remote-First Podcast, Yawar sits down with Salahuddin, a high-performing media buyer at RepStack, to talk about his journey from Pakistan to the UAE, his decision to return home for family, and how he found RepStack through Instagram. Salahuddin opens up about the reality of remote work, from adjusting to night shifts and working with US clients to navigating performance expectations, time tracking, AI adoption, and professional growth. He also shares what makes remote work different from traditional office environments, why integrity matters more than ever, and how working with the right client can completely change your career trajectory. This episode is a grounded, honest look at what it really takes to succeed in a remote-first environment. It is not about shortcuts. It is about professionalism, consistency, adaptability, and being honest with yourself, your CV, your interviews, and your work. In this episode, we discuss: Finding RepStack Remote Meet Salahuddin Early Life and Education Digital Ads Spark Agency Career Path UAE Move and Return Adjusting to Remote Nights Work Setup and Culture US Client Work Differences Professionalism and Integrity Transparency and No Toxicity Hiring and Learning Mindset Learning GHL Fast Time Tracking Debate Remote Work Lifestyle Home Boundaries Media Buyer Toolstack AI In The Workflow Remote Work Myths Five Year Vision RepStack Growth Stories Integrity And Shoutouts Advice For New Hires Closing Thoughts 00:00 Finding RepStack Remote 01:08 Meet Salahuddin 01:21 Early Life and Education 02:52 Digital Ads Spark 03:15 Agency Career Path 03:48 UAE Move and Return 06:39 Adjusting to Remote Nights 07:56 Work Setup and Culture 09:43 US Client Work Differences 10:10 Professionalism and Integrity 11:55 Transparency and No Toxicity 13:21 Hiring and Learning Mindset 14:42 Learning GHL Fast 15:36 Time Tracking Debate 17:56 Remote Work Lifestyle “Be honest to yourself. Be honest to your CV. Be honest when you are interviewed.” 🔗 Connect with RepStack: 📍 www.linkedin.com/company/repstackco 📍 / repstackco 📍 www.facebook.com/repstackco 📍 www.tiktok.com/@repstackco
Apr 15

$50M Remote Business Blueprint

Discover how to build, scale, and sustain a multi-million dollar remote business in today’s digital-first world. In this episode, we dive deep into the strategies, mindset, and systems behind building a $50M remote business. Our guest shares real insights on scaling operations, leading global teams, and navigating the challenges of remote entrepreneurship. From early struggles to massive growth, this conversation breaks down what it truly takes to succeed at a high level. 🚀 What You’ll Learn: How to build and scale a remote business from scratch Key systems behind a $50M operation Hiring and managing global teams effectively The mindset required for long-term success Mistakes to avoid when scaling fast 🔗 Connect with RepStack: 📍 / repstackco 📍 / repstackco 📍 / repstackco 📍 / repstackco
Apr 4

Breaking the Remote Work Myth - Featuring Mamoona Khalid

RepStack associate Mamoona shares her real journey of shifting from a traditional job to working remotely and how it completely changed her perspective. From improving communication skills to working with international clients, this episode breaks the biggest myths around remote work and proves that growth doesn’t depend on an office. If you think working from home limits your career, this conversation might change your mind. In this episode, you’ll learn: • The truth about remote work vs office jobs • How to grow your skills while working from home • What it’s like working with international clients • How to stay disciplined and productive remotely • The real pros and challenges of remote work The Chapters are Welcome to Remote First Mamoona’s Background Joining RepStack Leveling Up English Why She Left Sales Remote Work Myths Two Clients Two Roles Daily Routine and Gym Work Life Boundaries Family Support Shift Remote Pros and Challenges Learning from US Clients Meetings and Communication Culture and Team Dreams Content Themes and Systems Career Growth Remote Five Year Career Goals CRM Work Breakdown Why Join RepStack Rep Camp and RSA Wrap Up and Final Thoughts 00:00 Welcome to Remote First 00:32 Mamoona’s Background 00:47 Finding RepStack 01:50 Leveling Up English 02:28 Why She Left Sales 03:40 Remote Work Myths 04:23 Two Clients Two Roles 05:04 Daily Routine and Gym 05:51 Work Home Boundaries 06:41 Family Support Shift 07:31 Remote Pros and Challenges 08:44 Learning from US Clients 09:36 Meetings and Communication 11:05 Dream Team Meetup 11:37 Client Work Systems 12:36 Career Growth Remote 14:04 Five Year Career Goals 15:15 CRM Role Breakdown 15:34 Why Join RepStack 17:13 Rep Camp and Culture 18:10 RSA vs Client Work 18:41 Wrap Up and Goodbye 19:16 The Hidden Cons

Hosted by Azhar Siddiqui, the co-founder at RepStack. Uncover the secrets of hiring, onboarding and training your Virtual Assistant as we share tips, tricks and success stories. Discover how to unlock massive growth in your Digital Marketing Agency by hiring for these key roles. Our Website: https://repstack.co/Book a quick call here: https://calendly.com/repstack-discovery-call/15min

Creator

Azhar Siddiqui
Years Active

2021 - 2026
Episodes

83
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 Remote First Podcast
Show Website

Remote First Podcast