"If you're serious about scaling, it's time to look beyond borders—Africa has the talent, the drive, and the innovation the world needs."

– Valerie Bowden

In this episode of Turmeric & Tequila™, host Kristen Olson sits down with Valerie Bowden—founder of CRDLE and a trailblazer in remote talent acquisition from Africa. Valerie shares her journey from solo backpacking across Africa to living in Ethiopia for eight years, and how those experiences led to building a global business that connects companies with top-tier African talent. We explore how ethical hiring, cross-cultural collaboration, and untapped global potential are changing the future of business. Valerie’s mission? Help companies rise above the competition with one smart, conscious move: Choose Africa. Whether you're a startup founder, remote team leader, or impact-driven entrepreneur—this one’s for you. Learn more: crdle.com

Time Stamps:

00:00 – Intro: Meet Valerie Bowden
02:45 – Backpacking Africa & living in Ethiopia
07:20 – Founding CRDLE and the origin of “Choose Africa”
11:40 – The untapped potential of African remote talent
15:55 – Challenges and biases in global hiring
21:00 – Sales optimization tips from CRDLE's strategy
27:30 – Why remote teams thrive with intentional hiring
32:10 – Advice for entrepreneurs ready to scale
36:45 – Building a purpose-led business and family life
40:20 – How to work with Valerie & CRDLE
43:00 – Final thoughts + rapid-fire values round

Valerie Bowden:

Valerie Bowden helps businesses find top-tier remote talent and optimize their sales operations by tapping into talent in Africa.

Valerie has spent years working with businesses across all industries to level up their sales and rise above the competition with one simple action: Choose Africa. Before she launched CRDLE, she backpacked across Africa solo and lived in Ethiopia for 8 years. She now resides in Pittsburgh with her husband and two kids

https://www.instagram.com/crdleafrica

Follow Valerie on LinkedIn: Valerie Bowden

IG: @TurmericTequila

Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila

Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com

Host: Kristen Olson

IG: @Madonnashero

Tik Tok: @Madonnashero

Website: www.KOAlliance.com

WATCH HERE

MORE LIKE THIS:

https://youtu.be/ZCFQSpFoAgI?si=Erg8_2eH8uyEgYZF

https://youtu.be/piCU9JboWuY?si=qLdhFKCGdBzuAeuI

https://youtu.be/9Vs2JDzJJXk?si=dpjV31GDqTroUKWH