In this lively episode of the Remotely One podcast, hosts Rick Haney and Kaleem Clarkson chat with Sacha Connor, founder of Virtual Work Insider and a seasoned expert in remote work. Get ready for some valuable insights as Sacha takes us through her professional journey, marked by her pioneering role in remote work long before it became mainstream. Her story, deeply influenced by her Philadelphia roots, is one of resilience, innovation, and a commitment to redefining work in a distributed environment.
Sacha's career took off in brand marketing after she graduated from Lehigh University. She worked at various advertising agencies, including the prestigious Goodby Silverstein & Partners in San Francisco. But her desire to get closer to the products she was marketing led her to The Clorox Company in Oakland, California, where she managed iconic brands like Hidden Valley Ranch, Kingsford Charcoal, and Brita Water Filters!
A pivotal moment came when Sacha decided to relocate to Philadelphia after the birth of her first child. Not wanting to leave her role at Clorox, she boldly asked to work remotely from the opposite coast—a groundbreaking idea in 2010, long before remote work was widely accepted. Clorox agreed but with significant caveats. However, despite these limitations, Sacha embraced the challenge and became one of the early pioneers of remote work, navigating the steep learning curve during a time when the tools and technologies we now take for granted were still in their infancy.
As Sacha's remote work experiment at Clorox evolved, she effectively led distributed hybrid teams. Initially, the company viewed her remote work arrangement as a temporary experiment with strict boundaries. Still, Sacha's success eventually paved the way for a broader acceptance of remote work within the company.
Turning 40 became another turning point in Sacha's life. Contemplating the next stage of her career, she decided to establish Virtual Work Insider. Virtual Work Insider offers training programs aimed at developing virtual leadership skills and equipping leaders with the tools they need to manage hybrid, remote, or geographically distributed teams.
They also assist organizations in developing "team working agreements" or "team charters," which are foundational documents that clearly define how teams will operate in a distributed work environment. These agreements cover aspects like meeting times, communication norms, and how to accommodate team members in different time zones, helping to overcome some of the challenges that come with flexible work arrangements.
Sacha’s experiences and insights provide a valuable perspective on the ongoing evolution of work in a post-pandemic world. As companies continue to navigate the complexities of hybrid work, clear communication, effective coordination, and strong leadership skills are becoming more critical than ever. Through Virtual Work Insider, Sacha is helping shape the future of work by providing the tools and training necessary for teams to thrive, no matter where they are located!
Learn more about Sacha:
- Sacha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachaconnor/
- Learn more about Virtual Work Insider’s training programs and speaking engagements: https://virtualworkinsider.com/
