Shows
Digital Recruiter Podcast#114- Brian Samson on Scaling Recruiting Firms Through Nearshore Talent
SUMMARY
Brian Samson didn’t plan on building nearshore tech teams across Latin America, he just followed curiosity and opportunity. Starting in a high-pressure staffing bullpen in Chicago, Brian quickly made a name for himself through hustle, whiteboard metrics, and old-school recruiting grit. But what came next set him apart. After stints in internal talent leadership and multiple founder roles, Brian raised $2M, moved to Argentina, and launched a company to help fintech startups build faster through offshore development.
In this episode, Brian shares the entire arc, from being a top-performing account manager with a $90K weekly spread, to be...
2026-01-1652 min
The Nearshore CafeDiscover how nearshore hiring is evolving in 2026In this final episode of 2025, Brian Samson sits down with Ruben Santana, President of Plugg Technologies, to break down how nearshore hiring evolved this year—and what U.S. companies should expect in 2026.They discuss why companies are moving away from traditional offshoring toward nearshore teams in Latin America, focusing on time zone alignment, project delivery speed, English fluency, and long-term retention. Ruben shares real examples of teams built in Mexico, Brazil, and across South America, plus which roles are seeing the strongest demand, including data engineers, data analysts, and Salesforce pr...
2026-01-1026 minThe Nearshore CafeFrom Zero To Onboarded In 14 DaysHow fast can companies build high-performing nearshore teams?In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, Founder of Plugg Technologies, explains how U.S. companies can go from zero to fully onboarded nearshore talent in as little as 14 days.Brian breaks down why nearshoring in Latin America outperforms traditional offshoring, focusing on time zone alignment, communication, cultural fit, and long-term performance. He shares real-world hiring insights from countries like Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia, plus the operational details most teams underestimate—fr...
2026-01-0226 minThe Nearshore CafeNearshoring in 2025: Top 7 FAQs About Hiring LATAM Talent Answered by Brian Samson Thinking about nearshoring? Wondering how it compares to outsourcing, offshoring, or onshoring? In this value-packed episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson — CEO of Plugg Technologies — answers the 7 most frequently asked questions about nearshoring in 2025.From cost savings of 40–70%, to real-time collaboration with Latin American developers, Brian explains how nearshoring can help U.S. companies scale tech teams quickly and affordably without sacrificing quality or culture fit.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The difference between nearshoring, offshoring, outsourcing, and onsho...
2026-01-0214 minThe Nearshore CafeBuilding a Fintech Startup in the Dominican Republic | 🎙 The Nearshore Cafe PodcastIn this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Ricky Michel, founder of Ualett, to talk about building a fintech company from the Dominican Republic—and why the gig worker and rideshare driver economy is still underserved by traditional banks.Ricky shares how Ualettwas founded in 2018, how the team designed a mobile-first, low-friction liquidity experience by spending time directly with drivers, and why trust and empathy are essential when building financial products for independent wo...
2025-12-1826 min
Sideways Rain10. From Founder Fallout to Nearshore Flow with Brian SamsonWhat happens when you walk away from a company you co-founded, right after your first child is born… and then a global pandemic wipes out your pipeline? In this episode of Sideways Rain, Brian Samson talks about leaving a misaligned investor-backed startup, betting on himself with just a couple thousand dollars, and eventually building Plugg — a nearshore staffingfirm connecting U.S. companies with top talent across Latin America while he raises his family in Hawaii. Brian breaks downthe real differences between offshore and nearshore, why “talent pockets”across LATAM matter, and how culture, time zones, and trust...
2025-12-1150 minThe Nearshore CafePlaid for LATAM, Prometeo, Uruguay fintech, real-time payments, open banking, scaling fintech in Latin America.In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Ximena “Xime” Aleman, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Prometeo, one of Latin America’s leading fintech infrastructure companies. Xime shares her unlikely journey from journalism to fintech entrepreneurship, and how her storytelling background became a strategic advantage in building a company that now connects 1,000+ financial institutions across 11 countries.Xime breaks down how Latin America’s financial ecosystem really works—from real-time payment systems like PIX and SPEI, to open banking regulations in Brazil, Chile, and Colombia. She explains why financial...
2025-12-1131 min
Past Present Phuture: 3 QuestionsEpisode 015: Brian Samson - CEO & Founder of Plugg TechnologiesBrian Samson is the founder of Plugg Technologies, a leadingnearshore firm connecting Latin America talent with U.S. companies.Brian has spent 10 years focused on nearshoring, including living asan expat in Argentina. As a founder, he has grown 3 separatecompanies from $0 to $4m ARR each. Prior, he was a VP of talentfor several SF based tech companies including an IPO and anacquisition. He holds an MBA from UCLA and he and his wife areadvocates for foster care, having adopted a...
2025-12-0926 min
ACMG Digital PodcastLATAM’s Most Trusted In Talent Acquisitions: Founder of Plugg Technologies Brian SamsonAbout Brian Samson:In 2015 founder, Brian Samson, made a bold move. He left San Francisco for Buenos Aires, taking on the challenge of growing a FinTech startup. What started as a small team quickly evolved into a thriving workforce of 85 talented professionals in Argentina. This eye-opening experience revealed a powerful truth: Latin America is home to a wealth of untapped tech talent ready to drive global innovation.This insight led to the creation of Plugg Technologies, a company dedicated to connecting U.S. businesses with the best and brightest...
2025-11-2135 minThe Nearshore CafeInside LATAM’s Fintech Boom: Investing, Wealthtech, and Nearshoring with Agustín GuerraIn this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Agustín Guerra, CEO & Co-Founder of Vangwe, to explore one of the fastest-growing sectors in the region: Latin America’s fintech and wealthtech ecosystem.Agustín shares his global journey from Montevideo to China, Germany, Poland, London, and the Netherlands, and how living across continents shaped his perspective as a fintech founder. He discusses the early days of LATAM fintech, the rise of digital payments, and how countries like Urug...
2025-11-1427 min
Software Development, Finance and AIEntrepreneurship: Lower Barriers in the AI Era (feat. Brian Samson)In this episode of the Snowpal podcast, Krish Palaniappan speaks with Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, about the evolving landscape of remote work, particularly in the context of nearshoring and offshoring. Brian shares insights on the benefits of hiring talent from Latin America, the cultural nuances that affect remote collaboration, and the importance of a rigorous hiring process to mitigate risks associated with international hiring. The conversation delves into the value of talent beyond cost savings and the challenges faced when hiring from different countries. In this conversation, Brian Samson discusses the evolving landscape of hiring processes, the impact of AI...
2025-11-061h 04
The Personal Side of Business PodcastFrom Expat Dream to Global Business: How Brian Samson Built a Nearshore Empire in ArgentinaWhat happens when you leave a comfortable life in San Francisco to chase an international dream?
In this episode, host Jet Bunditwong talks with Brian Samson, an entrepreneur who turned an expat adventure in Argentina into a thriving nearshore tech company. Brian shares how he raised $2 million, built a software team from the ground up, and learned to navigate Argentina’s complex business environment — all while redefining what it means to be a global founder.
🎙️ You’ll learn:
How to build a company abroad (and survive the red tape)
The real difference...
2025-11-0347 minThe Nearshore CafeThe Nearshore Shift: How LATAM Became the Future of Global Staffing | The Nearshore Cafe PodcastGlobal hiring is shifting — fast. In 2025, U.S. companies are moving away from India and Asia, turning instead to Latin America for tech talent, loyalty, and time-zone alignment.In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, Founder of Plugg Technologies, talks with Evan Greenberg, Director of Client Solutions at Plugg, about what’s really driving this transformation.They discuss the massive rise in nearshoring, how AI and data roles are reshaping recruiting, and why Mexico, Brazil, and Arge...
2025-10-3123 minThe Nearshore CafeThe Trump Administration’s H1B Hike Is Pushing Mid-Level Roles Nearshore And Changing Global OutsourcingHost Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, breaks down the Trump administration’s proposed $100K H-1B visa fee and how it’s reshaping the global tech talent market. He explains why this massive policy shift could reduce opportunities for engineers in India and China—and accelerate the nearshoring movement across Latin America.Brian dives into the geopolitical motivations, trade tensions, and economic ripple effects driving this change, from BRICS alliances to U.S. labor shortages. He also highlights how Latin America’s talent pool, time zon...
2025-10-2711 min
Real Estate Pros Show - Powered By Investor FuelHow to Build Cash Flow & Value in Real Estate: Brian Samson's SecretIn this episode of the Real Estate Pros podcast, host Erika interviews Brian Samson, a dynamic entrepreneur and real estate investor based in Hawaii. Brian shares his journey into real estate, the unique opportunities and challenges he faces in the Hawaiian market, and his strategies for generating cash flow. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the market, learning from past mistakes, and balancing business ventures with real estate investments. Brian also discusses his approach to entering new markets and the significance of building connections in the industry. Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can h...
2025-10-2424 minThe Nearshore CafeHow Leadership, Culture, and Nearshoring Fuel Business Growth in Latin AmericaHost Brian Samson talks with Denis Champagne, a Fractional CRO and Strength Coach, about how leadership, culture, and adaptability drive nearshore success across Latin America. Denis shares his journey from growing up bilingual in Canada to discovering the depth and resilience of Latin American culture through language, travel, and business.Together, they explore how empathy, communication, and cultural intelligence shape stronger remote teams and meaningful professional relationships. Denis also breaks down the “conquered vs. colonized” mindset, revealing how history influences today’s approach to collaboration, sales, and leadership across borders.🎧 Tu...
2025-10-1624 min
Revenue Remix - Inspiring Visionary LeadersYour First 10 Hires Make or Break You featuring Brian Samson of Plugg TechnologiesStruggling to build your team fast enough to meet revenue goals? You’re not alone — and you might be hiring wrong.This week on Revenue Remix, Summer sits down with Brian Samson — serial founder and nearshoring expert — to unpack how growth-stage companies sabotage their own hiring, why your first 10 employees shape more than culture, and what founders get completely wrong about offshore vs nearshore teams.You’ll learn:* Why waiting to hire a recruiter shrinks your talent pool* How nearshoring can unlock faster go-to-market* What really causes remote hiring failures...
2025-10-1431 min
The KeyHire Small Business PodcastSmart Scaling with Nearshoring (with Brian Samson)Text us your comments or topic ideas for future shows.In this episode of The KeyHire Small Business Podcast, host Corey Harlock sits down with Brian Samson, CEO & Chairman of Plugg Technologies, to explore the power of nearshoring as a strategy for growth-minded business owners. For years, small business leaders have wrestled with the complexities of outsourcing and offshoring—drawn to the promise of cost savings but often burned by the hidden expenses of time zone challenges, communication barriers, and cultural misalignment. Brian, who has built three nearshoring firms from the ground up and served as...
2025-09-2946 min
Irish Goodbye Business PodcastThe Irish Goodbye Business Podcast – Episode 13 - Brian SamsonThe Irish Goodbye Business Podcast – Episode 13 🎙️From Chicago to the world — where deep dish meets global grit — we bring you the story of Brian Samson.Brian’s journey is one of resilience, travel, and vision. He’s built opportunities across Latin America by championing near-shore working models and contract labor innovation, creating real impact for businesses and people alike.This episode is about more than business. It’s about opening doors, bridging cultures, and seeing possibilities where others see limits.Tune in and hear how Brian turned determination into opportunity:👉 [Insert Link to Episo...
2025-08-2239 minThe Nearshore Cafe🚀 $50M Series A Tech Startup Scales Fast with Nearshore Talent | Brian Samson | Plugg.tech🎙️ The Nearshore Cafe Podcast | Hosted by Brian SamsonIn this episode, Brian Samson — founder of Plugg Technologies and host of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast — shares a powerful success story from a booming Series A tech startup based in Atlanta. With over $50 million raised, this company had the resources to hire from anywhere in the world. But instead of battling the fierce 2022 Silicon Valley talent wars, they chose a smarter path: senior full-stack developers from Latin America.💡 Hear how Plugg.tech connected their VP of Engineering with top-tier developers from Brazil and A...
2025-07-0202 minThe Nearshore CafeCan a Business Analyst in Mexico really support a U.S. tech team just as well—or better—than someone in Silicon Valley? 🌎In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson (founder of Plugg Technologies) dives deep with Fernando Soto, a senior Business Analyst working remotely from Guadalajara, Mexico. From humble roots in Tijuana to leading global tech projects, Fernando reveals the real story of life as a nearshore tech professional.📉 Laid off after 16 years at HP.🚀 Reinvented his career through remote work.🌐 Now shaping product success for U.S. companies from Mexico.🎯 What You’ll Learn:• The...
2025-06-1825 minThe Nearshore CafeHow a San Francisco Startup Cut Dev Costs 60% with LATAM Engineers | Nearshoring SuccessWhat happens when a Series B startup in San Francisco realizes they’re paying over $200K per year for a remote engineer—and getting no extra value from being in the Bay Area?They go nearshore. And they win. Big.In this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson (Founder of Plugg Technologies) shares the true story of how one founder turned to LATAM developers to scale faster, cut costs, and build better—without sacrificing time zone alignment, communication, or talent quality.Here’s what yo...
2025-06-1202 minThe Nearshore CafeBuilding a $6M Remote Sales Operation in Colombia 🎙 The Nearshore Cafe PodcastIn this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, chats with Amir Reiter, CEO of CloudTask, about how Medellín, Colombia has become a hidden gem for building high-performing global sales teams.From building his first team in an Airbnb to scaling a $6M+ revenue operation with over 265 contractors, Amir shares how CloudTask evolved from a service agency into a full-blown B2B marketplace for GTM (go-to-market) talent and software.They dive deep into:Why Medellín...
2025-05-2825 minThe Nearshore CafeBuild-Operate-Transfer Explained: The Secret Strategy for Scaling Tech Teams in LATAMIn this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, sits down with Jared Andreassen, executive at Blue Coding, to break down the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model—an emerging strategy reshaping how mid-market and enterprise tech companies scale teams across Latin America.From setting up entire operations in Mexico City and Bogotá to navigating employee severance laws in LATAM, Jared shares tactical insights, real-world stories (including a wild rafting trip in the Dominican Republic), and a sharp perspective on the evolving nature of global tech hir...
2025-05-2123 min
Can We Have a Word?Episode 5 - How To Lead Meaningful Workplace Wellbeing Change In Complex Organisations – with Brian Samson from ESBIn today's episode, Tobba Vigfusdottir is joined by Brian Samson, Head of Health Promotion at ESB, Ireland’s leading energy company. Host Tobba Vigfusdottir sits down with Brian to explore his unique journey from IT into the field of workplace health and wellbeing, and how he’s helping to create open, supportive environments across a complex and diverse organisation.
Brian shares his experience developing proactive health and wellbeing programmes for a workforce of nearly 10,000 employees. The conversation covers approaches to addressing both mental and physical health at work, the challenges of supporting varied roles across multiple sites, and th...
2025-05-1933 minThe Nearshore CafeHow Nearshoring Boosts Tech M&A Valuations | The Nearshore Cafe PodcastIn this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, sits down with Ron Noden, SVP of Tech M&A at Quorum Group, to unpack the real value of nearshoring, how international staffing impacts valuations, and why 60% of tech M&A deals involve two or more countries.From building massive teams in Costa Rica to closing high-growth tech deals across Latin America, Ron shares his journey from retail to running multimillion-dollar software exits. If you're a tech founder, operator...
2025-05-1428 minThe Nearshore Cafe🌎 Where Should You Outsource in 2025?Not all regions are created equal when it comes to building high-performing remote teams.In this new Nearshore Cafe Podcast short, I spoke with global BPO executive Stewart Wolfenson, who broke down how cultural and operational strengths vary across:✅ Philippines – Service-first mindset. Perfect for support and customer care.✅ Dominican Republic – Fast-paced, energetic, and ideal for outbound sales roles.✅ Eastern Europe – Highly technical, adaptive, and excellent for problem-solving and dev-heavy work.🔍 The takeaway?Outsourcing isn...
2025-05-0722 minThe Nearshore CafeTop 7 Nearshoring FAQs Answered: Costs, Benefits, and What to Expect in 2025In this solo episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, tackles the 7 most frequently asked questions about Nearshoring. With over a decade of hands-on experience connecting U.S. companies with top-tier talent in Latin America, Brian offers a direct, insightful breakdown of what businesses need to know in 2025.From understanding the real difference between Nearshoring and Outsourcing, to quantifying cost savings and uncovering overlooked cultural advantages, this episode is packed with valuable guidance for scaling remote teams the right way.Ideal for founders...
2025-04-2916 minThe Nearshore CafeHow to Build High-Performing Nearshore Tech Teams with Latin American DevelopersIn this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Seb Wichmann talks with Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, about scaling remote tech teams by hiring elite Latin American software engineers.Brian shares authentic hiring strategies, from using video job descriptions to running pop-up coding challenges, helping U.S. companies attract and retain top-tier nearshore talent.If you’re a founder, HR leader, or tech recruiter looking to build or grow your nearshore development te...
2025-04-2232 minThe Nearshore CafeFrom Google Sheets to Scalable SaaS: How PayTrack Transformed Travel & Expense Management in LATAM🎙️ Featuring Pedro Góes, CEO of PayTrack | The Nearshore Cafe PodcastIn this episode, host Brian Samson speaks with Pedro Góes, CEO of PayTrack, a Brazil-based fintech that evolved from startup hustle to enterprise-level execution—growing from 20 to nearly 400 employees, largely without outside investment.Pedro reveals how PayTrack built an all-in-one travel and expense management platform for medium and enterprise companies, combining travel booking, expense tracking, and corporate cards into a single integrated SaaS solution. The company didn’t just survive the...
2025-04-1530 min
Team Lally Hawaii Real Estate PodcastProfessional Cleaning Solutions for Oahu with Brian SamsonThis week on the Team Lally Real Estate Radio Show, we interview Brian Samson of Cleanscape Hawaii. Adrienne and Attilio share positive client feedback on the outstanding service provided by Cleanscape. Brian talks about what sets their cleaning services apart from others on Oahu, the types of clients they commonly work with, whether they’re hiring, and the range of services they offer—including windows, lanais, jalousies, and more. They also offer recurring cleaning options like monthly and bi-weekly services. Bonus: Team Lally listeners can enjoy 20% off their services!We also hear from our Experts We Trust. Duke Kimhan of Hawai...
2025-04-0900 minThe Nearshore CafeIs Nearshoring the Smartest Way to Build a Remote Team in 2025? | Josh Allan Dykstra🌍 With global talent more accessible than ever, many companies are asking: Is nearshoring the key to building scalable, high-performing remote teams in 2025?In this episode of The Nearshore Café Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Josh Allan Dykstra, CEO of Work Revolution, to explore the pros and pitfalls of nearshoring—based on real-life experience hiring across Ecuador, Mexico, Venezuela, Israel, Brazil, and the U.S.Josh shares what worked, what didn’t, and what every founder, startup leader, and hiring manager should know before in...
2025-04-0829 minThe Nearshore CafeCrossing Borders: A World Traveler's Guide to Latin American TalentIn this episode of The Nearshore Café Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Evan Greenberg, Director of Client Solutions at Plug Technologies (PLUGG.tech), to explore what traveling to 47 countries taught him about global culture—and how that experience shapes his approach to building remote tech teams in Latin America.🚀 Whether you're passionate about world travel, hiring international talent, or scaling your engineering team with cost-effective solutions, this episode is packed with value.🎙️ What you’ll hear:Unfiltered travel stories from Venezuela, Peru, Italy...
2025-04-0329 min
Disruptive CEO NationEpisode 286: The Value of LATAM Human Capital with Brian Samson Founder and CEO, Nearshore (LATAM); Oahu, HI, USAAs the complexity and demands of technology continue to rise in our business lives, CEOs need to explore all available avenues of how to identify and attract top talent. This is where nearshoring comes in. Nearshoring is a valuable vehicle to augment existing teams, support rapid scaling, or bring new knowledge into an organization quickly. To learn more about nearshoring we turned to Brian Samson, an entrepreneur who has lived and established multiple companies in Latin America. Because of this he holds unparalleled insight into leveraging untapped talent pools of highly educated individuals in Central a...
2025-03-2626 min
DoGood Insider - Raw Stories from Culture-First CEOs & People LeadersScaling Teams and Building Culture: Lessons in Hiring with Brian SamsonIn this engaging conversation, Seb Wichmann speaks with Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, about the intricacies of hiring and recruitment, particularly focusing on the Latin American market. They explore the evolution of Plugg, the importance of understanding company culture in hiring, and innovative strategies such as video job descriptions and experiential recruitment methods. Brian shares valuable lessons learned from his extensive experience in the field, emphasizing the need for companies to know their identity and to try new approaches in their hiring processes.🚀 ABOUT USWe help SMEs cultivate a positive, ""glowing"" cul...
2025-03-2540 minThe Nearshore CafeCosta Rica's Silicon Valley: Building a Data & AI Company for US Life SciencesIn this episode of The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, host Brian Samson sits down with Arturo Garcia, CEO & Co-Founder of DNAMIC | Databricks Data Solutions, to discuss how Costa Rica has emerged as Latin America’s Silicon Valley for AI & Data Solutions.Arturo shares his journey from medical school to building DNAMIC, a company that grew from a small startup to a million-dollar enterprise in just one year. Learn how the company’s “Work from Happiness” culture promotes productivity and empl...
2025-03-2523 min