#009: In this episode of DevEx Unpacked, Cloudsmith’s Chief Strategy Officer Alan Carson chats with Kerry Boden, HR Manager and the force behind scaling Cloudsmith during its explosive growth.

Kerry shares her journey from linguistics to HR leadership, her experience joining a 35-person startup, and how she helped grow the company to nearly 90 employees across four continents.

Learn how Cloudsmith balances rapid hiring with culture fit, how remote onboarding can actually outperform in-office programs, and the secret sauce behind keeping employees connected, even when they’re thousands of miles apart.

From the magic of offsites and Slack culture to the emotional impact of "Cheers for Peers" and the dangers of remote burnout, Kerry gives an honest, practical look into how to build, and maintain, a thriving culture in a high-growth, remote-first environment.

Whether you're an HR professional, a startup founder, or just someone fascinated by how culture scales, this episode offers valuable insights on setting high hiring standards, prioritising wellbeing, and using tools and rituals to build lasting employee connection in the modern world of work.

• (00:00) - From Language Degrees to HR Leadership: Kerry’s Unlikely Path
• (03:51) - Joining Cloudsmith: Building HR from the Ground Up
• (07:19) - Scaling Fast: From 35 to 88 Employees in 12 Months
• (11:04) - Creating Culture in a Remote-First Company
• (14:22) - The Power of Offsites: Recharging the Collaboration Battery
• (18:09) - Internal Communication That Builds Customer Success
• (20:46) - Building Culture Across Borders and Time Zones
• (22:39) - Weekly Rituals That Keep the Company Connected
• (26:00) - Cheers for Peers: Recognition That Drives Culture
• (28:08) - Scaling HR: Tools, Teamwork, and Hiring at Speed
• (36:10) - Fighting Burnout in a Remote-First Startup
• (41:20) - Hiring High Standards: Why Great People Make a Great Company
• (44:28) - Final Advice for Remote HR Leaders