Greetings from Fort Worth, Texas! I’m Suzie Coughlin, Area Director with Goodwin Recruiting. Last month, our fully remote, nationwide talent recruiting firm gathered in Orlando for our annual in-person summit. It was a powerful experience in genuine human connection for professionals in a remote working world. 

The days were jam-packed with sessions, meetings, and conversations squeezed into every available minute. The nights were full-on social interactions and networking events – the kind where you bounce from casual conversation to conversation, promising yourself to catch up later and properly with colleagues.  

I gained so many insights at the summit about our company’s vision and goals in the evolving talent recruiting industry – but another huge takeaway transformed my view of community in an increasingly digital world: the importance of human connection.

Fulfilling the missing link: Putting faces with names  

Somewhere in the middle of the summit, I finally met Sarah Rowland-Varner in person, one of my counterparts who is also an Area Director for Goodwin Recruiting. We were in a training class together in 2025, but like so many remote worker relationships, our connection never quite moved past familiarity. We knew each other’s names, but not much more.  

Throughout the three-day summit, we kept running into each other – usually in passing, usually mid-moment. Yet each time it happened, she stopped to say something kind: how much she enjoyed my energy, how glad she was to finally meet me, how nice it was to connect face-to-face. I appreciated it in the moment, but the pace of the conference didn’t leave much room to pause with Sarah and other colleagues.  

Once we were home and the noise quieted, those brief interactions were still with me in a big way. I realized how easy it is, especially in busy, technology-driven environments, to let those moments and meaningful connections slip by because they don’t demand immediate attention. 

Continuing conversations with remote team connections 

A few days later, I called Sarah – partly to say I was sorry we didn’t manage to arrange a proper sit-down at the conference, and partly to tell her that her kindness meant more to me than she probably knew.  

Not long after we spoke on the phone, a handwritten thank-you card from Sarah arrived in my mailbox. In a digital world of instant messages and quick reactions, that small, intentional gesture felt incredibly grounding. It was simple, thoughtful, and completely unexpected. It made my day.  

More than anything, Sarah reminded me of how powerful genuine connection can be, even when the exchange is brief – especially in a remote world, and especially when our default mode is speed, productivity, and surface-level interaction.  

Collaboration with like-minded colleagues is so important in today’s business world, and it is strengthened when we prioritize human interaction. 

Strong human connections work better in all areas of life 

Over the past few months, I’ve started to notice this same lesson showing up in different ways, in non-work areas of my life – small reminders to slow down, be more present in the moment, and let connections happen without rushing past them. I don’t think I’ve fully figured it out yet, but I’m paying closer attention now.  

I’m grateful for moments and realizations like this, not because they’re impressive or dramatic in our working lives or social connections, but because they’re human. Sometimes, the most meaningful takeaways from our busiest days are the quiet ones we almost miss.  

Make workplace culture a priority for your next career move 

The best company cultures are shaped in small moments with people who care how it feels to work together, and with leaders who prioritize a culture of community and shared goals.  

Such cultures create resilience in their people and performance success, excel in innovation, increase employee engagement and mental health, promote professional development – and become organizations where people truly want to work. 

If this resonates with you, we invite you to join Goodwin Recruiting, where a talented workforce and thriving business are rooted in human connection.  

Connect with me to learn more about how we change candidates’ lives and our clients’ business outcomes by connecting top talent with the right opportunities.