In this episode of the Return to People podcast, host Kaleem Clarkson sits down with Jim Kernan, a leader at the intersection of technology, humanity, and modern work. Currently helping drive innovation at Luxonis, Jim brings more than 20 years of experience building and scaling teams across remote and hybrid environments, along with a deep belief that great leadership starts with empathy and trust.

Jim shares what it really takes to lead remote-first teams with intention, moving beyond outdated, in-person management habits and taking responsibility for designing systems that support people wherever they work. He explains why flexibility is no longer a perk but an expectation, how trust outperforms control in distributed teams, and why empathy plays a critical role in retention, engagement, and performance.

From onboarding and manager enablement to redefining accountability in a remote world, this conversation offers practical insights for leaders navigating change. Jim’s perspective makes one thing clear: remote-first success isn’t about tools alone, it’s about how we show up for people.

🎧 Tune in for a thoughtful, human-centered conversation on trust, responsibility, and what leadership must become in the future of work.

Learn more about Jim and Luxonis:

• Jim´s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimkernan/
• Luxonis: https://www.luxonis.com/