Mario Oliveros Figueroa has spent his career doing one thing: building sales teams across Latin America. Today he's the Global Director of Latin America at Niyamo, one of the largest payroll services companies in the region. In this conversation, we get into the "sales triangle" of Mexico's three business cities, how sales talent differs from Colombia to Argentina to Brazil, the AI tools changing the game for outbound teams, and what U.S. companies almost always get wrong when they first try to sell into Mexico. You'll walk away with a real map of how commercial Latin America actually works.

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
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🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

Victor Fernandes is a data platform engineer from Fortaleza, Brazil — and his path to get there is unlike anything I've heard before. Seven and a half years automating power plants and steel factories, then a single phone call in 2021 that pulled him into the data world. We talk about what it's like building for U.S. teams from Northeast Brazil, the cultural shock of his first American standup, and how he thinks about AI on production systems. You'll come away with a very different picture of what Brazilian engineering talent actually looks like up close.

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

The H1B conversation is loud, political, and often full of half-truths, so we wanted a clean, practical breakdown from someone who has lived it from the staffing side. We sit down with Robert Richard, Chief Digital Officer at Tier 4 Group and the creator behind the H1B Guy, to talk about what is actually happening inside high-skilled immigration and the labor market right now.

We unpack how H1B hiring works in the real world, including the staffing agency supply chain, why sponsorship became a strategy for filling niche technical roles, and how the USCIS lottery and annual H1B cap create winners and losers. Robert explains the recent shift toward wage-based selection, why selection rates changed as application volumes moved, and what the four wage levels mean for employers trying to hire software engineers, data talent, and other hard-to-find specialists. We also dig into the big picture: India and China’s dominance in H1B and international student pipelines, what the US education and training gap looks like, and why the green card backlog signals a system that needs reform.

Then we zoom out to the business response. When access to US work authorization tightens, companies look to nearshore and offshore delivery, and we break down why Latin America nearshoring can be a strong option: time zone overlap, bilingual communication, and deepening tech talent across markets like Brazil, Mexico, and Costa Rica. We close with what recruiters and staffing leaders need to know about AI in recruiting, from sourcing agents to digital recruiting agents, plus the biggest mistake buyers make when they treat AI like set-it-and-forget-it software.

If you care about recruiting strategy, high-skilled immigration, nearshore talent, and the future of recruitment technology, hit subscribe, share this with a hiring leader, and leave a review. Where do you think the balance should land between protecting local jobs and keeping the innovation pipeline open?

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

In this episode of the Nearshore Cafe Podcast, Brian Samson sits down with Jen from Expatsi to explore what it really looks like to leave the U.S. and build a life abroad. From growing up in Alabama to relocating to Mérida, Mexico, Jen shares how she and her husband “nearshored themselves” by leveraging remote work, lowering their cost of living, and building a business that now helps others move overseas.

They discuss expat life in Mexico, Ecuador, and Belize, compare residency and visa options, break down the realities of healthcare and infrastructure abroad, and explain why more Americans are exploring international living in Latin America and beyond.

Jen also shares how Expatsi helps aspiring expats discover the right country, navigate the relocation process, and connect with trusted experts around the world.

Topics Covered:

• Moving abroad from the U.S.
• Cost of living in Mexico
• Remote work & expat lifestyles
• Ecuador and Belize for expats
• Residency and visa pathways
• Nearshoring yourself
• Building a business abroad
• Digital nomad & retirement trends

Sponsored by Plugg Technologies
https://www.plugg.tech

Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

What does it take to grow an IT staffing firm to $28M in revenue while competing against giants like Tech Systems? For Doug Firestone, the answer was found in the jungles of Costa Rica.

In this episode, Doug shares his transition from a Pennsylvania-based founder to a nearshoring pioneer. We explore the logistical and cultural "must-haves" for setting up shop in Latin America, from choosing the right free trade zones to hiring talent directly from tech hubs like IBM and Amazon. Doug also provides a candid look at his "failures," explaining why a great solution needs an even better go-to-market strategy to survive client pullbacks.

Key Takeaways:

• Why industry verticals (like Blue Cross Blue Shield) drive higher margins than technology niches.
• The "Calculus" of Nearshoring: Evaluating flight ease, education, and geopolitics.
• How to pitch nearshoring to big-name clients like Comcast.

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

How do you handle a land deal with a duffel bag of cash? Brendan Quirk, Founder of LACPA, joins Brian Samson to share the wild, "boots-on-the-ground" reality of doing business in Latin America for over two decades.

What started as a backpacking trip to Patagonia turned into a 20-year career as a financial leader and international consultant. From his early days as a CPA in Mendoza during the 2004 financial crisis to managing multi-country expansions for global firms, Brendan breaks down the logistical hurdles of nearshoring, capital controls, and scaling operations in a region where relationships are the ultimate currency.

In this episode, we sit down at the cafe to discuss:

• The 2004 Argentina Crisis: Lessons from building a business during extreme financial instability.
• The Mendoza Wine Boom: How Brendan became a Financial Director for a luxury winery.
• The "Institutional" Edge: Why Chile is often the most robust entry point for US firms.
• The Brazil Maze: Navigating the administrative complexity of the region's largest market.
• LATAM Loyalty: Why the "community" aspect of Latin American talent is a competitive advantage for tech founders.

Whether you are a CTO looking to hire LATAM engineers or a founder exploring nearshore expansion, this episode offers a masterclass in regional strategy and cultural adaptability.

Connect with Brendan Quirk:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanthomasquirk/
• Website (LACPA): https://www.latinamericacpa.com/

Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast:

• Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

Sponsored by Plugg Technologies: Connecting U.S. companies with vetted software engineers and digital talent across Latin America.

• Visit: https://www.plugg.tech

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

In this episode of the Nearshore Cafe Podcast, hosted by Brian Samson, we sit down with Oleg Baranov, Founder & CEO of FlameTree AI, to break down how AI agents actually work in real-world business environments.

Oleg shares why AI should be treated like a junior team member—not a finished product—and how continuous training, iteration, and feedback are essential to unlocking real value.

They also explore how companies can combine AI with nearshore talent to build scalable, high-performing teams across Latin America.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why AI agents require continuous improvement—not one-time setup
• The biggest misconception companies have about AI adoption
• How AI compares to training and managing human employees
• The role of iteration in building effective AI systems
• How AI + nearshore talent creates a competitive advantage

If you're exploring AI, automation, or nearshore hiring strategies, this episode provides practical insights you can apply today.

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast

In this short clip from The Nearshore Cafe Podcast, Brian Samson discusses why Venezuela may become one of the most exciting high-risk, high-reward talent markets in Latin America.

He explains what the country looked like before the recent political shift, what Venezuelans are experiencing today, and why companies looking to hire globally should keep an eye on the country’s evolving talent landscape.

Watch the full episode:
https://youtu.be/TRlSVqnrzEs

🎧 Host | Brian Samson – Founder of 💻 Plugg Technologies
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

🎙️ Sponsored by Plugg Technologies – Connecting U.S. companies with top-tier software developers across Latin America.
🌐 https://www.plugg.tech

🌎 Follow The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KYcgpmN77fJm6B25469B8
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nearshore-cafe/id1775525954
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-nearshore-cafe
🌐 Website: https://www.nearshorecafepodcast.com
🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/nearshorecafepodcast