From Faces on a Screen to Family: My First Visit to the Philippines

For years, I’ve worked with our team in the Philippines. Zoom, Teams, emails, messages, you name it. They’ve been a huge part of our business, even though we’d never met in person. I always knew they were great: smart, dependable, all-in. But this past week, I finally flew out to meet them. And I have to say, it was incredible. Spending time together in person was better than I could have imagined. These weren’t just the faces on a Zoom screen. They were warm, sharp, kind, funny. Just genuinely good people. And the country itself? Beautiful. Welcoming. Full of energy and heart. I didn’t expect to feel so connected to it, but I did. The Philippines has historically had a strong relationship with the U.S., and of course with our business. After this trip, it means even more to me personally. I’ve trusted this team for years, even when it meant getting past the idea of “offshore” and simply believing in great people. That trust has paid off over and over again. I’m proud of what we’ve built together and deeply grateful for everything they contribute to our business. If you’ve ever hesitated to work with a remote team because of the distance or accent, I get it. I’ve been there. But I can say with complete confidence that distance is not a limitation. For us, it has become a real advantage. To our team in the Philippines, thank you. I’m so glad I finally got to meet you in person. And yes, even with the jeepneys and the Manila traffic, I will be doing it again... often!