"That's Not My Job" Does Not Exist in America

About this episode

In this episode of Transatlantic Titans, Petra Weiser tells Manny Schoenhuber what actually happens after the market entry decision is made. Why chaos in the first year is normal, and why the amount of chaos is decided long before anyone lands. Why the first hire should go through a recruiter who knows the DACH market. And why "we want the candidate under X" is the fastest way to lose the talent that would have made the difference. ____________________ 00:00 Welcome to Transatlantic Titans 00:45 From Hanau to the Carolinas 02:10 Why the Carolinas became a hotbed for German companies 03:40 German precision, American agility, and the best of both worlds 04:30 Growing organically from administration into operations 06:00 The sweet spot: privately held companies of 10 to 20 people 07:45 Building a leadership career without a degree 09:20 The school of hard knocks versus the textbook 10:15 What starting up a US subsidiary really looks like 11:40 Leases, growth plans, forecasting and exit strategy 13:10 Who to hire first and why to use a recruiter 15:20 Handling salary sticker shock with headquarters 16:30 Site selection is really state and county selection 18:00 Zoning, neighbors, fire codes and finding the right realtor 19:20 Why detail focused Germans still end up in the wrong building 21:00 When a customer contract drives the timeline 21:45 Sales office to production and the leadership trap 22:40 The leadership trio that keeps a US entity balanced 23:20 How much oversight from the mothership is too much 25:10 Cultural missteps in the meeting room 27:20 Why Europeans study every culture except America’s 30:10 Bad translations and the solutions country 31:15 The most common mistake, unrealistic expectations 34:40 The regulatory surprise that doubled a timeline 37:00 THE CORE FOUR 42:30 RAPID FIRE 43:40 Partnerships, networks and the value of good advisors 45:25 Why "that’s not my job" does not survive here 46:20 American business culture in three words 46:45 Favorite cities and the one skill worth mastering 48:15 Dinner with Coco Chanel 48:55 Life is what you make of it 49:20 How to connect with Petra 50:00 Sabbatical reading, soccer and staying curious ____________________ 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗣𝗘𝗧𝗥𝗔 📧 Email: petra@petraweiser.com 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-weiser-68b8291a6/ 🌐 Website: factoryfloorforward.com 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗬 🎥 YouTube: / @mannyschoenhuber 🌐 Website: https://mannyschoenhuber.com/ 🔗 LinkedIn: / mannyschoenhuber 📸 Instagram: / mannyschoenhuber 📧 Email: manny@masteringmarketentry.com 📖 Get the #1 Best-Selling Book: https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Market-Entry-Europeans-America/dp/1544545533 👍 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘 - if you enjoy this content 🔔 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗘 - for more strategies on how Europeans make it BIG in America ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional legal or financial advice. Please consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific business situation.