In this episode of Coffee and Career Chats: Startup Edition, host Adel Hameed sits down with Elizabeth Dominicci-Greer, COO of EPHY, to explore the operational challenges and opportunities of building remote-first teams. With over 15 years of experience in scaling tech startups, Elizabeth shares her lessons on fostering trust, accountability, and resilience in distributed teams.

They discuss the global shift toward remote work and how startups can use it as a competitive advantage to access top talent, optimize operations, and build adaptable teams. Elizabeth breaks down her three-pillar framework—Volume, Velocity, and Quality—and explains why measuring these metrics is critical to operational success.

From hiring practices that prioritize flexibility to creative tactics like “sunglasses day” to build virtual team culture, this episode offers practical, actionable advice for leaders navigating the complexities of remote work.

Tune in to learn:

• Why remote teams require more intentional leadership

• How cultural differences impact collaboration and performance

• Strategies for measuring team performance beyond traditional productivity metrics

If you’re leading a remote or hybrid team—or considering the shift—this episode is packed with insights to help you build a thriving, engaged workforce.

Elizabeth Dominicci-Geer’s Linkedin Profile Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethdominiccigreer/

Articles:

• Remote Work Has Opened the Door to a New Approach to Hiring by Adam Ozimek and Christopher Stanton

https://hbr.org/2022/03/remote-work-has-opened-the-door-to-a-new-approach-to-hiring

• Research: Where Managers and Employees Disagree About Remote Work by Nicholas Bloom, Jose Maria Barrero, Steven Davis, Brent Meyer and Emil Mihaylov

https://hbr.org/2023/01/research-where-managers-and-employees-disagree-about-remote-work

• Survey: Remote Work Isn’t Going Away — and Executives Know It by Nicholas Bloom, Jose Maria Barrero, Steven Davis, Brent Meyer and Emil Mihaylov

https://hbr.org/2023/08/survey-remote-work-isnt-going-away-and-executives-know-it

Book: The Venture Mindset: How to Make Smarter Bets and Achieve Extraordinary Growth by Ilya Strabulaev

In this episode of Coffee and Career Chats: Startup Edition, host Adel Hameed unpacks the “Authenticity Paradox”—the tension between staying true to oneself and adapting in a fast-changing world. Joined by Dr. Jana Habson, founder of Dubai’s MCM Conscious Mental Wellness Center, they explore how authenticity can sometimes conflict with leadership demands, especially in diverse cultural settings.

Dr. Habson examines the impact of collectivistic and individualistic cultures on leadership, offering insights into how these cultural differences shape perceptions of authenticity. Together, they discuss how societal norms and national backgrounds can challenge leaders to rethink what it means to be “authentic” and offer strategies to balance genuine leadership with cultural adaptability.

Whether you’re leading a team or aspiring to start your own venture, this episode provides practical takeaways on maintaining core values while being mindful of cultural dynamics in today’s globalized landscape.

Dr. Jana Habson’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janarahabson/

Links to the two articles:

1. The Authenticity Paradox, by Hermania Ibarra, https://hbr.org/2015/01/the-authenticity-paradox.

2. When Your Good Mentor Goes Bad, by Amy Jen Su and Muriel Maignan Wilkins, https://hbr.org/2010/07/how-to-makeover-your-mentoring
   Music by WaveMaster from ⁠⁠Pixabay

In this episode of Coffee and Career Chat: Startup Edition, host Adel Hameed discusses the essentials of startup leadership. Whether you're scaling your team or navigating the complexities of leading a fast-paced startup, this episode offers actionable insights to help you become a more effective leader.

We explore the LEDA Leadership Framework—Leading with Empathy, Empowering Employees, Decisive Decision-Making, and Adaptability to Change—to highlight the key qualities that define successful startup leaders. Adel also shares her insights from the Action-Based Mastery (ABM) leadership framework, emphasizing the importance of balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

Finally, we discuss practical ways to create a feedback-rich culture in your startup, drawing on insights from Ron Carucci’s Harvard Business Review article, "4 Ways to Get Honest, Critical Feedback from Your Employees." Learn how to ask for pushback, read nonverbal cues, and foster an environment where your team feels safe to speak up.

Tune in for practical tips, personal anecdotes, and expert advice on how to lead with confidence and adaptability in the dynamic world of startups. Don’t miss out—listen now, and level up your leadership skills!

Music by WaveMaster from ⁠Pixabay