Zillow CEO doubles down on remote-work model: ‘There is talent everywhere in this country’
Zillow CEO Jeremy Wacksman is maintaining a remote-first work model, emphasizing that talent exists across the entire country. The company's 'CloudHQ' initiative has expanded its workforce to all 50 states and increased job demand, despite challenges in team bonding. Zillow balances remote work with intentional in-person gatherings to foster collaboration and culture.
- ▪Zillow's remote-first model, called 'CloudHQ,' has enabled hiring across all 50 states, compared to only a few states before.
- ▪Unlike companies such as Amazon, Meta, and Apple, Zillow has fully embraced remote work since shifting from its pre-pandemic in-office culture.
- ▪The company addresses remote work challenges through organized in-person events focused on collaboration, skill-building, and team bonding.
- ▪CEO Jeremy Wacksman works remotely except during company retreats or town halls, reflecting the company’s deep commitment to remote operations.
- ▪Zillow has restructured its cultural norms and performance systems to align with its remote-first approach, making intentional use of in-person time.
- ▪Being remote-first has required Zillow to improve data-driven systems for measuring performance and collaboration while acknowledging downsides like reduced daily social interaction.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
While some business leaders are leaning hard on return-to-office mandates, Zillow’s CEO is taking the opposite approach and seeking talent wherever they are based.Recommended Video CEO Jeremy Wacksman, who has led the company since August 2024, said the decision to cultivate a remote-first workforce—an effort the company calls “CloudHQ”—has led to stronger demand for its jobs across the board. “For us, we see huge benefits in recruiting. We now have employees in all 50 states, whereas before we had them only in a handful,” Wacksman said on the Fortune Leadership Next podcast in 2025. “There is talent everywhere in this country.” The real-estate company’s remote-first efforts stand apart in corporate America, where many large companies are forcing workers back to the office.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Fortune.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Fortune
