May 5, 2025

Episode 281: Micah Remley – The New Rules of Hybrid Work: How to Lead in a Flexible World

Hybrid work isn’t going away but most companies are still doing it wrong. In this episode of SaaS Fuel, Jeff Mains sits down with Micah Remley, CEO of Robin, a workplace management platform that’s helping companies build smarter, more collaborative hybrid environments.

We dive deep into:

✅ Why hybrid is harder than remote or in-office

✅ The huge disconnect between CEOs and employees

✅ How AI can 2–3x productivity without bloating headcount

✅ Rethinking office space for real collaboration

✅ Why 2–3 days in the office is the sweet spot

✅ Leadership advice for SaaS founders building in today’s fast-moving world

Micah brings battle-tested insights from leading companies like MineralTree and Internap—and shares what’s actually working to keep culture, performance, and innovation alive in a hybrid setup.

Key Takeaways

00:00 – Intro: What studies say about in-office effectiveness

00:58 – Welcome to SaaS Fuel

01:40 – The hybrid work paradox

02:55 – Why hybrid is harder than remote or in-office

05:00 – Guest intro: Micah Remley, CEO of Robin

06:00 – Why Micah is tackling hybrid work

07:10 – The real problem companies face

10:30 – Big misunderstanding between CEOs and employees

12:50 – Expectations vs. reality in hybrid culture

15:45 – Why 2–3 days in the office is optimal

18:00 – The gym analogy: environment matters

22:00 – Designing collaboration-first workspaces

25:00 – The illusion of “being present” at the office

28:00 – SaaS scaling tools from Champion Leadership

30:00 – What Robin actually does (desk booking, analytics, room scheduling)

36:50 – Biggest challenge scaling Robin

42:00 – AI is moving faster than expected

46:00 – 2–3x productivity gains from AI

49:00 – Biggest use cases with AI

52:00 – Dev speed is now faster than sales

57:00 – Micah’s #1 leadership advice

59:30 – What’s next on SaaS Fuel

Tweetable Quotes

🧠 “Hybrid success doesn’t happen by accident. It requires thoughtfulness, consistency, and flexibility.” — Jeff Mains

🏢 “If you’re just showing up to check a box, there’s no value in being in the office.” — Micah Remley

🤖 “AI can 2–3x productivity—without adding headcount. That’s a game changer for scaling SaaS.” — Micah Remley

💡 “Employees define hybrid differently than CEOs. That gap kills momentum unless you bridge it.” — Jeff Mains

🏋️ “It’s like a gym. The environment shapes the outcome. Home workouts rarely get the same results.” — Micah Remley

📈 “Cash always matters. AI is exciting, but fundamentals still win.” — Micah Remley

SaaS Leadership Lessons

Hybrid requires structure, not spontaneity – Success in hybrid work doesn’t come from flexibility alone. It takes clear systems, intentional office days, and consistent leadership.

Employees and CEOs define hybrid work differently – Misalignment in expectations leads to confusion, low morale, and disengagement.

Rethink office design – Office space must support collaboration, not serve as a checkbox. Create environments that invite people to interact meaningfully.

AI boosts productivity without scaling headcount – The right AI tools can make lean teams incredibly efficient and outperform bloated ones.

You need to lead the culture shift – Hybrid models work best when leadership is proactive, transparent, and communicative.

Space utilization needs to be intentional – Tools like Robin help manage real-time office dynamics, ensuring resources match how teams actually work.