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Running Remote Reflections: What I Learned (And Didn't)

Still tasting salsa... and cognitive dissonance.

I've been back from the Running Remote conference for a week now, and I'm still processing the experience. Rather than give you the standard "everything was amazing" conference recap, I wanted to share some candid takeaways that might surprise you.
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The conference was energetic, inspiring…and weirdly disjointed. Below is the honest highlight reel, equal parts optimism and “uh‑oh.”

1. The remote movement isn’t one movement
   ​I expected a clearer drumbeat from a remote‑work conference. Instead, we got:
   • “Hybrid is the future.”
   • “No—remote is the future.”
   • “People are the future.”
   • “Actually, AI will replace our people next week”
   Remote skeptics may lack facts, but they own message discipline. If we want policy‑makers, media, and fence‑sitting CEOs to take us seriously, we need a sharper narrative—fast.​
   ​
2. People Leaders and marketers understand the assignment
   ​Panels featuring HR, TA, and brand pros were electric. Hebba Youssef triggered spontaneous applause; others dropped quotable mic‑drops. Why? They spoke the universal language of outcomes: retention, engagement, employer brand ROI.
   This reflects exactly what we're seeing at Remotivated: the most forward-thinking People and Marketing leaders are championing remote culture while some executives are still catching up.
   ​
3. Some founders missed the room
   ​Too many stepped on stage armed with “AI‑first” decks for a “people‑first” audience. One even pitched renaming the conference Running AI (cue crickets).
   Note to builders: tech is the servant of culture, not the other way around.
   ​
4. Austin remains undefeated
   ​Driverless cars, brisket for breakfast, and the taco stand ever. If you left town uninspired, you skipped lunch.
   ​
5. A tale of two badges
   ​Attending with my fiancée (an EVP of Marketing at a remote company) created an interesting experiment. As we visited vendor booths, it was fascinating to see how quickly each representative would identify which of us was their "target buyer" — often completely ignoring the other person. It reminded me of car salesmen who would talk only to me when my fiancée was the actual buyer.

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​TL;DR for fellow remote advocates

1. Unify the story. Fragmented messages slow policy progress.
2. Lead with People Ops + Marketing. They translate vision into credibility.
3. Tech ≠ culture. Tools amplify values; they don’t supply them.
4. Keep Austin weird—and delicious.
5. Seek better rooms. Let’s curate spaces that push the craft forward.

Employee Value Proposition (EVP): The Definitive Guide for 2025 What exactly is an EVP, and why should you care? Learn how you can harness its power to transform your employer brand. Read more

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Working remotely—but never alone,

Jim