Read the full script of Module 3, Episode 3 of the Global Growth Master Class below. Want to get certified on global expansion? Simply click here to access the complete course today.

In our research, we came across many case studies that provide insights into the diverse geneses of the cultural mindset unique to Interpreneurs. Here is a brief look at some of the interpreneurs who were catalysts for the successful global growth of companies they have been part of. Before we begin, it’s important to note that there is no singular formula for building a cultural mindset, and there are many paths to becoming an Interpreneur.

Abe Smith (Zoom)

Abe Smith, head of international at Zoom is the archetype of an Interpreneur. Shortly after college, he moved half a world away to teach English in a tiny fishing village located in Kyushu, Japan, in the Nagasaki Prefecture, the beginning of his global mindset. He then joined a mentor who was one of the first to sell bagels in Japan, supporting the company to ultimately be acquired by Quaker Oats, the company was a venture where he built his entrepreneurial muscles. He then went on to establish a strong company mindset through leadership roles at Webex, Cisco, Oracle, and Cision, the latter of which he was the CEO of their European operations. All of these layers of the Interpreneur pyramid, as outlined in an earlier video, prepared him to lead international at Zoom as the company rode a rocket ship of growth through the pandemic of the early 2020s.

Katheryn Hymes (Slack)

Prior to Katherine Hymes, former Head of International Product Expansion for Slack, joining the fast-growing software company, she built at expertise at the intersection of language and technology. Early in her career, she was the first non-Chinese intern at Baidu, where she had to navigate an environment completely different than where she grew up and studied in the US. With a difference in language and business culture, she built her interpreneurial muscles, building a foundation for her global career to come.

Elise Rubin (Google)

As the Global Head of Program Management, Internationalization, and Product Launch at Google Nest, Elise Rubin has a wealth of experience navigating the intricacies of international business. Despite her expertise, her youthful appearance and gender have led to challenges in certain cultures where her role does not align with traditional norms. For example, while traveling on business and carrying Google Nest devices to showcase to potential partners, Elise has had to endure lengthy airport security searches and background checks in some countries because her status as a young woman with such devices is not in line with local gender expectations. In contrast, a man in the same situation would often be able to pass through with little to no issue. Additionally, in some countries, like Japan, she has had to adopt the practice of attending meetings with a male colleague, as local business leaders often look to him for answers to questions, despite Elise being more senior. However, Elise's determination, willpower, and communication skills have enabled her to win over skeptical male leaders abroad, who are not used to valuing the opinions of women.

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Israel Bimpe (Zipline)

Rwandan native Israel Bimpe had a passion for connecting global organizations to his country from early in his career. While studying at the University of Rwanda he was the head of the African region for the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation, headquartered in the Netherlands, was a Mandella Washington Fellow at Howard University in the US, and began taking leadership roles for global companies in Rwanda including GLOBHE drones, where he was country manager and Zipline where he leads all Africa Go-to-Market. His ability to bridge different cultures and translate global problems to the local context has helped the companies he has led succeed across Africa.

Troy Malone (Evernote)

As a former General Manager of International Expansion at Evernote, Troy Malone exhibited a strong curiosity and cultural sensitivity. He played a key role in leading international growth efforts in both the APAC and LATAM regions, showcasing his interpreneurial approach. Prior to his career in business, Troy lived abroad as a student at Brigham Young University, where he completed a two-year church mission in Seoul, South Korea. These early international experiences have greatly contributed to his ability to navigate different cultures and business practices, making him a valuable asset for companies seeking to expand globally.

Masami Takahashi (Uber/WeWork)

Masami Takahashi, former head of Japan for both Uber and WeWork, began to understand there was a world beyond his backyard early in life since his father was an international journalist and his family lived on multiple continents during his childhood. He went to university in the United States and had leadership roles at Sony in both France and the San Francisco Bay Area, where he had to build a bridge between the local culture and company culture back in Japan. After getting an MBA at global university INSEAD he became President of Uber Japan and GM/Head of Growth and Chief Strategy Officer for WeWork Japan. Masami’s career trajectory was driven by his passion for his local market, Japan, and his desire to bring the world’s top technology to the country, his efforts were supercharged by his Interpreneurial mindset.

I even experienced this myself…

These are but just a few examples of strong Interpreneurs who made a difference in their organizations. You will see that most of them ventured beyond their home borders to study or work. Not only did this provide them with the cultural mindset that is a hallmark of Interpreneurs, but it also equips them to navigate the difficulties of building a startup within their companies, developing the operational and go-to-market models that succeed in new markets - in a certain sense, building a life abroad has many parallels to building a startup.

Why Interpreneurs are Great Builders:

• Confident in themselves that they can figure things out despite ambiguity

• Operationally-minded as they can have to set up bank accounts, and insurance - often overlooked things in a new country

• Have to build out a new network (community) in a new environment

• Natural curiosity to learn new things

  Pattern recognition ability and ability to find community with people from different cultures despite differences

NOTE: Don't miss out on the next episode! If you want to continue learning about global expansion strategies and dive deeper into the course material, click here to access Module 3, Episode 4 of the Global Growth Master Class.