NBSO Lyon | South East France Podcast - Business Horizons

New Season (2026 Ep. 1): Building High-Performance Systems - Lessons from Olympique Lyonnais

In this opening episode of Season 2 of our 'NBSO Lyon Business Horizons' podcast series, we sit down in Lyon with Rick Cost, (Dutch) Performance Director at Olympique Lyonnais. From his move from the U.S. to one of France’s leading football clubs, Rick shares how high-performance structures are built at the top level of sport — and what this says about OL’s ambition and Lyon’s growing attractiveness as a sports hub. We explore the strengths of the region’s sports ecosystem, where it still needs to grow, and where opportunities lie for international — including Dutch — companies in sport, performance, and innovation. Drawing on his experience in elite clubs (Feijenoord Rotterdam, among others) and Olympic environments, Rick also reflects on what major events like the Winter Games 2030 require behind the scenes, and what it takes to create lasting impact. About NBSO Lyon "Business Horizons" The Business Horizons podcast series explores business opportunities and experiences in South East France. It is an initiative of the Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) in Lyon. As part of the Dutch governmental organization RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency), NBSO Lyon offers free support to Dutch entrepreneurs aiming to establish or expand their business in South East France. For more information about how NBSO Lyon | South East France can support you or to schedule an introductory call, email us at info@nbso-lyon.fr. Stay updated on business developments in South East France – follow us on LinkedIn. Credits Podcast host: Fred Crouzet Podcast coordination: Astrid Laurans and Stefano Oosthof Podcast recording and editing: Supernatifs Lyon

Season Finale (Ep. 5): Leveling Up Global Communications from Lyon

In this season finale of Business Horizons, we sit down in Lyon with Wouter van Vugt, Senior Director of Communications & Community Engagement EMEA at Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe. Wouter shares how global gaming communities are built from Southeast France, why events like EVO Nice highlight the region’s growing role in the industry, and how he leads international teams across cultures. We wrap up the 2025 season with lessons on leadership, creativity, and starting a career in gaming and creative industries. About NBSO Lyon "Business Horizons" The Business Horizons podcast series explores business opportunities and experiences in South East France. It is an initiative of the Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) in Lyon. As part of the Dutch governmental organization RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency), NBSO Lyon offers free support to Dutch entrepreneurs aiming to establish or expand their business in South East France. For more information about how NBSO Lyon | South East France can support you or to schedule an introductory call, email us at info@nbso-lyon.fr. Stay updated on business developments in South East France – follow us on LinkedIn. Credits Podcast host: Fred Crouzet Podcast coordination: Astrid Laurans and Stefano Oosthof Podcast recording and editing: Supernatifs Lyon

Episode 4: Scaling Dutch HealthTech in France

Guest: Anna Garrec, Healthcare Consultant Host: Fred Crouzet - Journalist How can Dutch medtech and e-health solutions successfully cross the French border? In this episode, we speak with Anna Garrec, a dynamic consultant and strategist helping digital health innovations scale internationally. With a background in law, business, and healthcare leadership, Anna shares her hands-on experience bringing Dutch solutions into the complex world of French healthcare. You’ll hear about: 🔹 The first steps to take when entering France 🔹 Regulatory and cultural challenges to prepare for 🔹 How to build trust and partnerships in healthcare 🔹 Future trends and opportunities in medtech Whether you're in health innovation or exploring the French market, this episode is full of practical insight. About NBSO Lyon "Business Horizons" The Business Horizons podcast series explores business opportunities and experiences in South East France. It is an initiative of the Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) in Lyon. As part of the Dutch governmental organization RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency), NBSO Lyon offers free support to Dutch entrepreneurs aiming to establish or expand their business in South East France. For more information about how NBSO Lyon | South East France can support you or to schedule an introductory call, email us at info@nbso-lyon.fr. Stay updated on business developments in South East France – follow us on LinkedIn. Credits Podcast host: Fred Crouzet Podcast coordination: Astrid Laurans and Stefano Oosthof Podcast recording and editing: Supernatifs Lyon

Episode 3: Deep Dive in France’s Top Industrial region

Guest: Damien Giroud, International Project Manager at Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Entreprises What opportunities exist for Dutch entrepreneurs in one of France’s most dynamic regions? In this episode, we talk with Damien Giroud from Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Entreprises — the regional economic agency dedicated to helping international companies grow and innovate locally. We explore how they support entrepreneurs, what makes this region attractive for Dutch businesses, and how to bridge the gap between innovation, industry, and local support networks. From soft landing programs to sector-specific opportunities — tune in for a practical guide to doing business in Southeast France. About NBSO Lyon "Business Horizons" The Business Horizons podcast series explores business opportunities and experiences in South East France. It is an initiative of the Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) in Lyon. As part of the Dutch governmental organization RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency), NBSO Lyon offers free support to Dutch entrepreneurs aiming to establish or expand their business in South East France. For more information about how NBSO Lyon | South East France can support you or to schedule an introductory call, email us at info@nbso-lyon.fr. Stay updated on business developments in South East France – follow us on LinkedIn. Credits Podcast host: Fred Crouzet Podcast coordination: Astrid Laurans and Stefano Oosthof Podcast recording and editing: Supernatifs Lyon

Episode 2: Cross-Cultural Leadership in France with Madelijn Vervoord

Guest: Madelijn Vervoord, Area General Manager at InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu and Honorary Consul for the Netherlands in Lyon Madelijn Vervoord is Area General Manager at the InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu and serves as the Honorary Consul for the Netherlands in Lyon. With extensive international experience in hospitality management and cross-cultural leadership, Madelijn offers valuable insights into navigating business dynamics in France. What are her experiences leading multicultural teams? How does she approach cultural integration and leadership challenges? Join us for an engaging conversation filled with practical advice, inspiring stories, and a deeper understanding of succeeding in the French business environment.   About NBSO Lyon "Business Horizons" The Business Horizons podcast series explores business opportunities and experiences in South East France. It is an initiative of the Netherlands Business Support Office [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nbso-lyon] (NBSO) in Lyon. As part of the Dutch governmental organization RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency), NBSO Lyon offers free support to Dutch entrepreneurs aiming to establish or expand their business in South East France. For more information about how NBSO Lyon | South East France can support you or to schedule an introductory call, email us at info@nbso-lyon.fr. Stay updated on business developments in South East France – follow us on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nbso-lyon]. Credits Podcast host: Fred Crouzet [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredcrouzet/] Podcast coordination: Astrid Laurans [https://www.linkedin.com/in/astridlaurans/] and Stefano Oosthof [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefano-oosthof/] Podcast recording and editing: Supernatifs Lyon [https://supernatifs.com/agence-podcast-lyon/]