International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
Your International OpportunitiesWhat works, and what does not!
A Joint Interactive Session
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
Moderator: Jerry Savin
Co-Presenters: John Lowe and Constantinos Stavropoulos
Your International OpportunitiesJoint Interactive Session
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
Brief Joint Presentation‒ By John Lowe and Constantinos (Costas) Stavropoulos
Interactive discussion‒ They will share their knowledge‒ Please ask your questions as they arise‒ They will provide practical examples‒ We have allocated time for Q&A and discussion throughout
the presentation and at the end‒ John & Costas will stay after the meeting for one-on-one
contacts and lead conversations Moderated by Jerry Savin Jerry
INTRODUCTIONS / PREAMBLE
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
1. Filtering Opportunities
2. Sticking to Basics
3. Doing Your Homework
4. Customizing Your Approach
5. Your Essential Toolkit
6. Some Examples
7. Key Take-Aways
Your International Opportunities
Costas
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
Filtering Opportunities 1
Gateways
Direct Investments
capitalize on incentives
frameworks
Springboards
Strategic Partnerships
take advantage of established
business ties
Footprints
Business Couplings
benefit from strong footholds in
regions
Costas
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
1. Filtering Opportunities
2.Sticking to Basics3. Doing Your Homework
4. Customizing Your Approach
5. Your Essential Toolkit
6. Some Examples
7. Key Take-Aways
Your International Opportunities
John
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
Consulting Basics will still work for you internationally
Stick to your own best practices
Use what works for you
Sticking to the Basics 2
John
Collaboration / Alliance
Industry
Country
Region
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
Sticking to the Basics (cont’d) 2
Research / Understand the Landscape (by regions and countries)
John
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
1. Filtering Opportunities
2. Sticking to Basics
3.Doing Your Homework 4. Customizing Your Approach
5. Your Essential Toolkit
6. Some Examples
7. Key Take-Aways
Your International Opportunities
John
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
Review by Industry Sector:• Central governments may wield
greater influence and in wider fieldsFor example, not just FDA! (Food Drug Administration in USA)
• The specifics can be very granular – by industry and by country– Regional differences in larger counties – Ethnicity impact on markets
Doing Your Homework 3
John
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
1. Filtering Opportunities
2. Sticking to Basics
3. Doing Your Homework
4. Customizing Your Approach5. Your Essential Toolkit
6. Some Examples
7. Key Take-Aways
Your International Opportunities
John
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
Greater focus of establishing a strong personal relationship before doing any business.
You cannot take a short-cut and just go directly to handle business.
In many countries, American directness and impatience is viewed badly.
John
Customizing Your Approach 4
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
1. Filtering Opportunities
2. Sticking to Basics
3. Doing Your Homework
4. Customizing Your Approach
5. Your Essential Toolkit6. Some Examples
7. Key Take-Aways
Your International Opportunities
John & Costas
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
Local Alliances are essential!• Must collaborate locally• Invest the time needed to create a relationship
– Meet in person!• Obtain trusted recommendations – networking & linkage• Work a joint project together on a trial basis
– learn about each other’s style & compatibility– develop mutual trust
• Handshake deal and trust more important than a written legal agreement– Agreement is probably unenforceable anyway! John & Costas
Your Essential Toolkit 5
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
1. Filtering Opportunities
2. Sticking to Basics
3. Doing Your Homework
4. Customizing Your Approach
5. Your Essential Toolkit
6. Some Examples7. Key Take-Aways
Your International Opportunities
Costas
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
A Few Recent Short Stories
Deal Closing in Doha (Qatar)“Will we ‘ever…ever…ever’ start talking business?”
Discussing to Collaborate in Shanghai (China)“When will we agree ‘to-the-point’ on something?”
Business Networking in Seoul (South Korea)“Why do introductions take ‘sooooo’ long???”
Business Linking in Bucharest (Romania) “Do I really have to eat and drink ‘aaaall’ this ???”
Some Examples 6
Costas
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
1. Filtering Opportunities
2. Sticking to Basics
3. Doing Your Homework
4. Customizing Your Approach
5. Your Essential Toolkit
6. Some Examples
7. Key Take-Aways
Your International Opportunities
John & Costas (+Jerry)
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
1. Relationships2. Linkages3. Alliances
Key Take-Aways 7
John & Costas (+Jerry)
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
Build Trustworthy Relationships 7.1
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
Establish “Glocal” Linkages 7.2
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
Honor Local Alliances Equitably 7.3
Don’t be greedy! Share. 100% X $0 = $0
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
Wrap Up
BuildLong Term
TrustworthyRelationships
EstablishStrong
“Glocal”Linkages
HonorLocal
AlliancesEquitably
International Business & Consulting OpportunitiesCo-Presented by John Lowe & Constantinos Stavropoulos
Thank You!
Constantinos Stavropoulos IMC SoCal Membership Chair
Founder, InnoValueE: [email protected]: http://www.innovalue.gr
John LoweIERG California Chapter President
President, Hilltop Global AssociatesE: [email protected] W: http://www.hilltopglobal.com/