From 17 Failures to Leading 70 Remote Staff: Fame’s Unconventional Growth Story

What does it really take to lead 70 people remotely, fail 17 times, and still show up every day curious and driven? In this episode of The Secret Life of Great Leaders, host Michael Bunting sits down with Tom Hunt, who also happens to run the fully remote podcast agency behind this very show, Fame, to share his insights on authentic leadership, personal growth, embracing the “I know nothing” mindset, and balancing his addiction to growth with new fatherhood.

What does it really take to lead 70 people remotely, fail 17 times, and still show up every day curious and driven?

In this episode of The Secret Life of Great Leaders, host Michael Bunting sits down with Tom Hunt, who also happens to run the fully remote podcast agency behind this very show, Fame, to share his insights on authentic leadership, personal growth, embracing the “I know nothing” mindset, and balancing his addiction to growth with new fatherhood.

What You’ll Learn:

How to implement effective remote leadership rituals through structured weekly and monthly check-ins
The "Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose" framework for building engaged remote teams
Why conscious leaders must balance expertise with maintaining a beginner's mind
How to recognise and regulate leadership patterns that unwittingly disempower teams
Why presence and preparation are fundamental to effective remote leadership
How to create accountability systems that support genuine learning and growth

Tom Hunt is the Founder and CEO of Fame, a B2B podcast agency with a fully remote team of over 70 people across the globe. Before that, he tried and failed at 17 businesses, a journey that shaped his approach to trust, autonomy, and human-first leadership in the digital age. He’s also the host of Confessions of a B2B Entrepreneur and an active angel investor with a sharp eye for systems and a deep respect for people.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] Intro
[01:08] The “I Know Nothing” Philosophy
[03:00] Autonomy, Mastery, Purpose
[05:47] Remote Leadership Routines
[08:59] Meddling vs. Empowering
[17:22] Action Bias: A Double-Edged Sword
[23:51] Failing Forward 17 Times
[27:18] The Deep Reason Behind His Growth Drive
[32:36] From Values to Virtues
[40:34] Advice to His Younger Self

Episode Resources:

Tom Hunt on LinkedIn
Fame Website and LinkedIn
Confessions of a B2B Entrepreneur Podcast
Michael Bunting on LinkedIn
TripleGoal Website and LinkedIn

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