Episode Overview

Title: Why In-Person Still Wins (Even in a Remote World)
Host: Nathan Chan
Date: February 16, 2026
Podcast: The Foundr Podcast

In this solo episode, Nathan Chan reflects on the increasing trend toward remote work and collaboration in a post-Covid world. Drawing from his own recent experiences at Foundr, Nathan makes a passionate case for the unique, irreplaceable value of in-person connections in business—particularly for founders, teams, and anyone building entrepreneurial ventures. He shares personal anecdotes, relevant data, and actionable advice on striking the right balance between remote flexibility and the power of face-to-face interaction.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Shift to Remote Work and Its Shortcomings

• Remote Collaboration as the New Norm

  • Post-Covid, businesses, including Foundr, have adapted to tools like Zoom, Slack, and asynchronous work schedules.
  • Nathan acknowledges the upsides: flexibility, efficiency, and convenience for teams and individuals.

• "What We Are Missing": Human Connection

  • Nathan observes: “Yes, it's easier to work from home, yes, it could be more efficient. But what we are missing sometimes is in-person collaboration to really move things forward, get there faster, build relationships.” (01:11)
  • He highlights that remote work may nurture a degree of selfishness around personal convenience at the expense of team synergy and rapid progress.

2. Case Study: Collaborating with Nick Shackelford

• Who is Nick Shackelford?

  • “He is just an absolute master at paid advertising... one of the best in the world, especially for E Com brands and scaling.” (02:00)
  • Nathan and Nick are building "Foundr Operators" together—a new community/platform to help founders scale their advertising.

• Initial Challenges Working Remotely Across Time Zones

  • Misalignment and time zone difficulties caused productivity stalls.
  • Nathan notes: “Things are stalling. We're bumping into time zone challenges, misalignment. Really hard to get the team across this.” (03:17)

• Breakthrough via In-Person Work

  • Nick flew from LA to Melbourne for four days of direct collaboration.
  • “We got more done in four days together than we had in three, four months remotely. There was so much less restriction, no time crunches or like a super strict agenda, just like solving problems, creating content in real time, building alignment instantly, trust, getting built way faster.” (04:04)
  • The team achieved dramatic gains in output, clarity, and synchronization.

3. Why In-Person Still Wins

• Relationship Building and Deal Making

  • “If you want to do deals, it's so hard to do deals. You got to meet the person in person. If you want to build better relationships with your team members or suppliers, you've got to meet them in person.” (05:09)
  • Nathan stresses that nothing replaces face-to-face interaction for trust and rapport.

• The Science Backs It Up

  • “Research shows that professionals expect up to 36% more revenue and better outcomes from face to face interactions compared to virtual ones. And studies have found that groups working physically together generate 15 to 20% more ideas than teams collaborating only online.” (06:04)
  • He points out that in-person work accelerates problem-solving, creativity, and strategic alignment.

• Limits of Digital Tools

  • Respecting tools like Zoom and Slack as “empowering, they're essential, but they're not a replacement.” (06:31)
  • Nathan highlights the ease of reading body language, immediate feedback, and stronger trust built in real-life settings.

4. Reflections and Commitments for 2026

• Foundr’s Approach

  • While Foundr remains committed to remote work, there will be an intentional increase in regular in-person meetups and collaboration—both with team members and external partners.

• Personal and Organizational Shifts

  • Nathan shares plans:
    • “I'm aiming to do a lot more in person interviews as well and soon I will be doing global tours. So personally I'm doubling down on real relationships. Not just online, but offline too.” (07:11)
  • He encourages listeners not to interpret this shift as a return to rigid in-office schedules, but as a call to leverage the unique energy of in-person meetings for moments that matter.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Irreplaceable Value of In-Person:
  • “We got more done in four days together than we had in three, four months remotely.” — Nathan Chan (04:17)
  • “Humans are wired for connection. We're wired to bond in physical spaces, for proximity, for reading, body language.” — Nathan Chan (06:10)
  • “If you're trying to get a deal done... meet them in person. Have dinner, have lunch, have a coffee. Build things together. It's so much more fun. You'll get way better outcomes.” — Nathan Chan (08:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:11 — Remote work: Pros, cons, and the loss of in-person synergy
• 02:00 — Introduction to Nick Shackelford and their stalled remote collaboration
• 04:04 — The four-day in-person sprint: massive productivity gains
• 05:09 — Why deals and relationships require real-life connection
• 06:04 — Research and statistics: in-person vs virtual outcomes
• 07:11 — Nathan’s commitment: Doubling down on in-person relationships in 2026
• 08:17 — Practical advice: The power of meeting for meals and casual conversations

Takeaways for Listeners

• In-person interactions are vital—especially for breakthrough collaboration, trust-building, and creative alignment.
• Remote tools are helpful, but should complement—not replace—physical gatherings for key activities.
• Being intentional about scheduling face-to-face time can accelerate progress, resolve stalls, and lead to better business outcomes.
• Maintain a flexible work model, but recognize when coming together in person is the best path forward.

“Prioritizing real world networking, guys. Virtual meetings, online collaboration operations will always be a part of how we work. I'm not saying go back to the office five days a week. That's not the point. The point is... build things together.”
— Nathan Chan (08:07)