The International Business Podcast

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The International Business Podcast

If you work across time zones, borders and cultures, this is the show for you. For exclusive content, check Patreon.

Leonardo interviews experts from around the world across various industries, engaging in conversations that uncover their challenges.

27/05/2025

New episode is out!

Strategy, structure, people. This encapsulates the need for a clear strategic direction, an organizational framework to support it, and the right human resources to execute it—each reinforcing the others to drive business success.

Meet Dr. Rebecca Homkes. She is a high-growth strategy specialist and CEO and executive advisor. She is a Lecturer at the London Business School, Faculty at Duke Corporate Executive Education, Advisor and Core Faculty for BCGU (Boston Consulting Group), and a former fellow at the London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance. A best-selling author, global keynote speaker and recognized thought leader, she is also the global Faculty Director of the Active Learning Program with the Young Presidents Organization (YPO).

21/05/2025

New episode is out! Greg Kaiser, a seasoned Manager Development Expert, Advisor, and Author, has significantly impacted and mentored over 1000 managers across diverse business functions.

General Management Executive delivering profitable sales increases and cost reductions with oversight of over 7K personnel and P&L of up to $750M and sales oversight for $4.5B revenues.

23/04/2025

International strategy, how to measure cross-cultural competency in multinational teams, and more.

Keith Jackson is recognized for his strategic foresight, driving progress in complex situations while generating new revenue streams and enhancing competitive advantage. His expertise includes strategic acquisitions, effective partnerships, and business growth. Holding Chartered Director and BS13500 credentials, Keith elevates board governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance within transparent, trusted environments. He trains directors, develops board competence, and has contributed to over 20 boards across SMEs, scale-ups, start-ups, and third-sector organizations.

With more than 30 years of experience and advanced cultural fluency, Keith excels at building resilient international supply chains, forming strategic alliances, and fostering bilateral trade with over 70 countries, with a focus on ASEAN, China, and Japan. As a Chartered Engineer, he champions innovation, fosters organizational learning, and promotes cross-border, multi-disciplinary collaboration.

16/04/2025

In the latest episode of The International Business Podcast, I am glad to feature Aarti Kelshikar, an accomplished intercultural coach, author, and founder of 3A Consulting. With extensive experience across India, Singapore, and the Philippines, Aarti has dedicated her career to helping leaders and organizations thrive in multicultural environments.

As a certified facilitator of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and accredited coach of The International Profiler (TIP), Aarti empowers executives to navigate cultural complexities with confidence. She has worked with global giants like Nestlé, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, and Texas Instruments, delivering impactful workshops and training sessions across South-East Asia and India.

Aarti is also the author of two books:

📖 How India Works: Making Sense of a Complex Corporate Culture (2018)
📖 Fitting In and Standing Out in Asia (2020)

Her work provides practical strategies for leaders managing pan-Asian teams and adapting to diverse corporate cultures.

Beyond her coaching expertise, Aarti contributes to global business research as a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council and serves on advisory boards focused on diversity economics and intercultural education.

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform! And make sure to check the Patreon page as well for exclusive content that is not featured on the standard feed. Link in the comments.

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Starting from now, the show is also accepting sponsorships. If you want to be visible to an international audience across 100+ countries, check the Patreon page for details.

20/03/2025

Today, we delve into the Gulf countries. With the rapid growth in smartphone and internet pe*******on in Saudi Arabia, how can businesses leverage the digital landscape to enhance customer experience and market reach? Why is Dubai a hub for AI? How are Gulf businesses shifting supply chains towards emerging markets in Central Asia? And much more…

We do this with 3 expert guests.

Corina Goetz, Founder of Star-CaT, a renowned expert in Middle Eastern culture and business etiquette. With over 20 years of experience forging relationships with Gulf leaders, Corina shares her insights on navigating the region's complex cultural landscape.

Oksana Didyk, a strategic consultant and researcher specializing in the Gulf's energy, food, agriculture, culture, and logistics sectors. Oksana brings a deep analytical edge, combining academic expertise with hands-on experience to help businesses succeed in the region.

Giorgio Morocica, Head of Business Development at Edugo.AI and founder of "The Founders Club". Giorgio discusses the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in shaping the Gulf's future business landscape.

Tune in to learn how to leverage cultural intelligence, strategic partnerships, and innovative technologies to achieve exceptional commercial success in the Gulf.

11/03/2025

This week on The International Business Podcast, we’re diving deep into the world of beauty and luxury.

What role will technology play in shaping the future of luxury? What are the most significant shifts occurring in the Chinese beauty market? And more! With four amazing guests.

is a seasoned professional in fashion, education, and business. His expertise includes fashion marketing, luxury brand management, and sustainability, with extensive teaching experience across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East.

Agnese Curti is a Brand Marketing Consultant and Co-Active Coach with over a decade of experience in fashion, luxury (formerly at Gucci), and digital industries. She has led impactful media initiatives across Europe and the Middle East, enhancing brand visibility. Recently, she founded Tangle Path, a coaching business focused on the creative industries, helping professionals navigate growth with clarity and impact.

serves as the China Luxury and Beauty Editor at Jing Daily, a New York-based publication. She specializes in analyzing Chinese consumer trends and behaviors, focusing on luxury, fashion, beauty, and WEB3 markets. Her work has been featured in prominent outlets such as South China Morning Post, Campaign Asia, Luxury Daily, and CPP Luxury.

Manon Hu is the founder of Astrolabel, a brand consulting and management agency focused on enhancing the presence of luxury brands in China. Additionally, she serves as a Senior Partner at , a leading data and AI-driven company specializing in strategic insights for the luxury market.

05/03/2025

🌎 Managing the highs and lows of expat life? Our latest episode is a must-listen.

We dive deep into:

- Unexpected reverse culture shocks expats face when returning home

- Top skills for expats to thrive amidst career shifts in 2025 and beyond

And more. With guests:

Esteban Polidura, Certified Life Coach & Mental Health First Aider, shares his culturally sensitive approach to supporting expats through life transitions. He helps expats understand and manage their emotions during life transitions, support them in achieving their goals, and motivate them along the way.

Nino Fincher, Rapid Therapy expert, shares the most important things to know about reverse culture shock. She moves people out of a stuck state into momentum by identifying the exact root of the problem and fixing it, as well as getting clients clear on their purpose using the Purpose Factor system.

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If you work across time zones, borders, and cultures, The International Business Podcast is the show for you

26/02/2025

In our latest episode, we dive into the future of international education with two leading experts: Susan Fang and Rickson Khaw.

Susan (Co-founder of OxBridge Holdings, Inc.) shares her insights from over 23 years of leadership in East Asian education consultancy, highlighting the importance of cultural understanding and sustainable returns on investment.

Rickson Khaw, CEO of Uni Enrol, discusses democratizing education and bridging opportunity gaps through innovative platforms.

Key Questions We Explore:
➡️ How are geopolitical trends influencing study abroad choices?
➡️ What are the emerging trends in international education?
➡️ How can businesses and educators adapt to these changes?

18/02/2025

Cracking Japan: A Foreign Executive's Guide to Japanese Business Culture

Thinking of doing business in Japan? This video is your essential guide to navigating Japanese business culture! Join Leonardo Marra from The International Business Podcast as he distills insights from experts like Tom Roberts, Jason Durkee, and Jeff O'Dea, revealing how foreign executives can thrive in Japan.

Discover the 4 key challenges expats face (silence in meetings, language delays, unstructured presentations, and cautious decision-making) and learn how to overcome them. We'll explore the importance of "reading the air," building consensus, and adapting your communication style.

Plus, get practical tips for planning multicultural meetings and communicating effectively with your Japanese colleagues. Whether you're a seasoned leader or new to the Japanese market, this video will equip you with the knowledge and strategies you need to succeed.

15/02/2025

Expanding to new markets and doing business in developing countries is complex, time-consuming, and costly. Why should foreign companies expand to Latin America, and especially Colombia?

This and more in the episode "127 The LATAM advantage nearshoring and expansion" with Joseph Novitzki

13/02/2025

Lilly and I survived a 2-hour live-streaming session. We used DeepSeek to analyze the fashion market in real-time, focusing on choosing the perfect@istitutomarangoni campus locations across Europe.

Most of the data from DeepSeek AI (and .ai) was correct, but human intervention was necessary to identify and correct micro-mistakes in real-time. We look forward to sharing our weekly comparisons of these AI platforms!

Looking at the laptops... who was using DeepSeek and who was using Perplexity?

12/02/2025

New podcast episode is out! AI has emerged as a pivotal element within numerous organizations due to its ability to transform business operations and drive growth. Today we travel around the world to discuss AI. We’re going to Canada, Portugal, China, and Brazil. See below for details on each guest.

What is the AI revolution? How can AI improve operational eﬃciency? What industries are most vulnerable to AI automation? And more. With guests:

J.B. Richard⁠, a tech and AI expert. He founded CoFoMo, an IT consulting group that grew to over 2000 consultants by 2003. He also led Hureca, a human resources consulting firm. In 2018, he became an AI scientist at Techstars and co-founded Alexi, an AI legal tech company. Since 2021, Richard has consulted for MCN, PSP Investment, and Desjardins. In 2023, he established⁠ Mirabilis.ai⁠ as CEO, aiming to democratize AI.

⁠Emily Hilton⁠, Co-Founder of⁠ PACO Services⁠, aids Portuguese entrepreneurs and expatriates in optimizing their time using AI and automation. Her firm offers on-demand support, allowing clients to delegate tasks. Hilton's background includes a swimwear brand, which inspired her to launch PACO to provide cost-effective startup support. She is also interested in AI's transformative role in the future of work.

⁠Stéphane Monsallier⁠, an AI expert and speaker, aims to empower knowledge workers with AI tools, believing AI will augment human capabilities. With a Master’s in AI, he founded⁠ System in Motion⁠ in Shanghai in 2004, a technology consulting firm. He mentors tech startups and focuses on Generative AI, delivering keynote speeches and advising on technological innovation.

⁠Marcus Scharra⁠, a computer engineer with a master’s in Information Security and AI, has founded six tech companies, including MT4 Technology, which developed ⁠senhasegura⁠, a leader in Privileged Access Management (PAM) operating in over 60 countries. His work is widely published, and his companies have received awards for driving innovation in cybersecurity.

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