Episode Details

What does it take to scale a New Zealand technology company into a truly global organisation?

In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Rachael Satherley, Chief People Officer at Serko, to explore the realities of global growth, leadership across cultures, and building organisations that can scale without losing their identity.

Drawing on experience from Expedia Group and now Serko, Rachael shares practical insights from building teams across New Zealand, India, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East. From creating a network of global hubs to navigating different leadership styles and cultural expectations, this conversation offers a candid look at the opportunities and challenges that come with international expansion.

The discussion also explores workforce capability, AI, employee experience design, and why successful growth is ultimately driven by people, leadership, and culture.

What You'll Learn

• How to scale teams across multiple countries while maintaining culture and connection

• The importance of local leadership when expanding into new markets

• How leadership styles differ across New Zealand, India, and the United States

• Why capability building is becoming more important than traditional workforce planning