Zillow CEO Says Remote Work Policy Expanded Hiring to All 50 States

Zillow CEO Jeremy Wacksman said the company's remote-first work policy has expanded its hiring reach to all 50 states. Wacksman, who became CEO in August 2024, described the approach on the Fortune Leadership Next podcast in 2025. He said the program, known internally as CloudHQ, produced stronger demand for Zillow positions.

Before the pandemic, Zillow maintained a traditional in-office culture. The company later shifted to remote work, allowing employees to work from home except during scheduled in-person retreats or town halls. Wacksman said the change enabled recruitment across the entire country rather than limiting hires to a small number of states.

Zillow has adjusted internal systems to track performance and collaboration under the new model. The company also organizes periodic in-person gatherings so employees can meet and work together on specific projects. Wacksman noted that remote work can make it harder for colleagues to form personal connections, which the company addresses through these scheduled events.

"For us, we see huge benefits in recruiting. We now have employees in all 50 states, whereas before we had them only in a handful," Wacksman said.