Episode 62 - Global Strategy Is Useless Without Execution (Here’s Why) — Mike Todd

Episode #67: Why Women Scale Differently: What the Gaming Industry Taught One Founder About Global Growth with Marla Rausch

What does it take to build a globally respected animation company when you can't rely on marketing, PR, or a big sales machine? In this episode of Business Beyond Borders [https://dearinassociates.com/business-beyond-borders-podcast/], Cynthia Dearin [https://dearinassociates.com/cynthia-dearin-international-strategist/] sits down with Marla Rausch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marladrausch/], Founder and CEO of Animation Vertigo [https://www.animationvertigo.com/], the motion capture and animation studio behind projects for some of the biggest names in film and gaming, including Sony and Activision. Marla shares the remarkable story of how she built a production pipeline connecting teams in the United States and the Philippines, grew a company almost entirely through reputation and referrals, and navigated the challenges of scaling across borders in one of the world's most competitive creative industries. The conversation explores the realities of global growth, leadership, entrepreneurship, and why "going global" may be the wrong goal altogether. In this episode, you'll learn: * How Animation Vertigo won major clients early in its journey * Why reputation and trust became the company's most powerful growth engine * The challenges of building international production teams across cultures and continents * Lessons from more than two decades in the animation and gaming industries * Why women founders may approach scaling differently from their male counterparts * The importance of balancing growth with relationships and long-term sustainability * How Marla evolved from service provider to creator of original intellectual property * Why founders should focus on solving problems rather than chasing international expansion * The mindset shift that helped Marla continue growing after 22 years in business Want a clearer path from strategy to results? The conversations on Business Beyond Borders are grounded in the same framework we use with clients at Dearin & Associates. You can explore it in the Blueprint for International Success — a practical guide to navigating global expansion with clarity, momentum, and commercial discipline. Access the Blueprint here: www.dearinassociates.com/blueprint [http://www.dearinassociates.com/blueprint] Podcast Partner Global growth also means managing global money. OFX supports businesses operating internationally with competitive FX rates, streamlined payments, and better visibility over cross-border cash flow. Learn more or sign up via our partner link: https://app.ofx.com/registration?pid=15337 [https://app.ofx.com/registration?pid=15337]

Episode #66:Why Logistics Makes (or Breaks) Your International Growth with La Chang

Many companies focus on market entry strategy when expanding internationally. But even the best plans can fall apart when the operational realities of moving goods across borders are overlooked. In this episode of the Business Beyond Borders [https://dearinassociates.com/business-beyond-borders-podcast/] podcast, host Cynthia Dearin [https://dearinassociates.com/cynthia-dearin-international-strategist/] is joined by La Chang [https://tgl.co/about-us/], a global logistics expert, to explore the critical but often invisible role logistics plays in international growth. Drawing on deep, real-world experience, La shares what actually happens behind the scenes of global trade—and why so many companies underestimate its complexity. Together, Cynthia and La Chang unpack the operational side of international expansion, including: * Why logistics is often the deciding factor in global success or failure * How “Murphy’s Law” shows up in cross-border operations * The most common mistakes companies make when managing global supply chains * Why unpredictability is the norm—and how to plan for it * The realities of shipping, customs, and regulatory complexity across markets * How strong operational execution becomes a competitive advantage internationally They also discuss what happens when things go wrong—from delayed shipments to unexpected disruptions—and how businesses can build resilience into their global operations rather than reacting when problems arise. This conversation is for founders, CEOs, and leadership teams who are serious about international growth and want to understand what it really takes to operate across borders—not just strategically, but operationally. Want a clearer path from strategy to results? The conversations on Business Beyond Borders are grounded in the same framework we use with clients at Dearin & Associates. You can explore it in the Blueprint for International Success — a practical guide to navigating global expansion with clarity, momentum, and commercial discipline. Access the Blueprint here: www.dearinassociates.com/blueprint [http://www.dearinassociates.com/blueprint] Podcast Partner Global growth also means managing global money. OFX supports businesses operating internationally with competitive FX rates, streamlined payments, and better visibility over cross-border cash flow. Learn more or sign up via our partner link: https://app.ofx.com/registration?pid=15337 [https://app.ofx.com/registration?pid=15337]

Episode #65: Why Global Strategy Fails in the Real World – Gerald Garcia

Many companies invest heavily in global strategy and market research before expanding internationally. But even the best strategy can fail if the people responsible for executing it aren’t set up to succeed. In this episode of the Business Beyond Borders [https://dearinassociates.com/business-beyond-borders-podcast/] podcast, host Cynthia Dearin [https://dearinassociates.com/cynthia-dearin-international-strategist/] is joined by Gerald Garcia [https://dearinassociates.com/our-team-international-business-consultants/gerald-garcia/], workforce strategy lead at Dearin & Associates, to explore why international growth is so often limited not by opportunity - but by leadership, talent, and culture. Drawing on decades of experience building and managing cross-border teams, Gerald explains why global expansion succeeds or fails on the strength of the people behind it. Together, Cynthia and Gerald unpack the human side of international growth, including: * Why global expansion strategies fail when the team isn’t designed to deliver them * The importance of local talent and on-the-ground experience in new markets * How cultural differences shape leadership, communication, and performance management * Why emotional connection and trust are essential to building effective global teams * The changing workforce landscape after COVID and the rise of hybrid, remote, and distributed teams * Practical models mid-sized companies can use to build international teams without massive overhead They also discuss common mistakes companies make when entering new markets - from assuming domestic success will translate internationally to overlooking local pricing, talent dynamics, and cultural expectations. This conversation is for founders, CEOs, and leadership teams who understand that international growth isn’t just about strategy or market opportunity - it’s about building the right team to execute it. Want a clearer path from strategy to results? The conversations on Business Beyond Borders are grounded in the same framework we use with clients at Dearin & Associates. You can explore it in the Blueprint for International Success — a practical guide to navigating global expansion with clarity, momentum, and commercial discipline. Access the Blueprint here: www.dearinassociates.com/blueprint [http://www.dearinassociates.com/blueprint] Podcast Partner Global growth also means managing global money. OFX supports businesses operating internationally with competitive FX rates, streamlined payments, and better visibility over cross-border cash flow. Learn more or sign up via our partner link: https://app.ofx.com/registration?pid=15337 [https://app.ofx.com/registration?pid=15337]

Episode 64 - Europe’s Trade Rules Are Changing and Most CEOs Aren’t Ready - Kathryn Read

Europe is often described as a single market of 450 million consumers. In reality, it is one of the most complex, politically dynamic, and highly regulated regions in the world. In this episode of Business Beyond Borders [https://dearinassociates.com/business-beyond-borders-podcast/], Cynthia Dearin speaks with D&A Senior Advisor, Kathryn Read [https://dearinassociates.com/our-team-international-business-consultants/kathryn-read/] about what has fundamentally changed in Europe and what global executives are still getting wrong. From Brexit and the war in Ukraine to tightening regulatory regimes and shifting geopolitical alliances, Europe is no longer the predictable environment many companies once relied upon. Political risk has moved from the margins to the boardroom. Kathryn brings deep expertise in European policy, trade dynamics, and regulatory systems, unpacking: * Why “Europe” is not one market — and never really was * How Brexit reshaped UK–EU commercial relationships * The impact of the war in Ukraine on trade, energy, and political stability * The rise of economic security, sanctions, and strategic autonomy * What increasing regulation means for non-European companies * How to think about compliance not as a cost, but as a competitive advantage * Why geopolitical literacy is now a core executive skill For companies expanding into Europe — or already operating there — this conversation is a masterclass in understanding the political and regulatory forces shaping commercial success. Because today, international business strategy can’t sit apart from geopolitics. It has to anticipate it. Want a clearer path from strategy to results? The conversations on Business Beyond Borders are grounded in the same framework we use with clients at Dearin & Associates. You can explore it in the Blueprint for International Success — a practical guide to navigating global expansion with clarity, momentum, and commercial discipline. Access the Blueprint here: www.dearinassociates.com/blueprint [http://www.dearinassociates.com/blueprint] Podcast Partner Global growth also means managing global money. OFX supports businesses operating internationally with competitive FX rates, streamlined payments, and better visibility over cross-border cash flow. Learn more or sign up via our partner link: https://app.ofx.com/registration?pid=15337 [https://app.ofx.com/registration?pid=15337]

Episode 63 - Why Smart CEOs Get Brand Wrong Internationally — Kelly-ann Maxwell

We talk a lot about strategy, compliance, and execution in international expansion. But one of the biggest make-or-break factors in global growth is often overlooked: how your brand shows up in a new market. In this episode of the Business Beyond Borders [https://dearinassociates.com/business-beyond-borders-podcast/] podcast, host Cynthia Dearin is joined by Kelly-ann Maxwell [https://dearinassociates.com/our-team-international-business-consultants/kelly-ann-maxwell/], Brand and Marketing Strategist at Dearin & Associates. With a background spanning journalism, creative agencies in the UK, and brand strategy in New Zealand, Kelly-ann brings a sharp perspective on how language, positioning, and clarity determine whether a company gains traction abroad — or gets ignored. Together, Cynthia and Kelly-ann unpack what brand really means in an international context, including: * Why brand is far more than a logo or visual identity * The critical difference between brand identity and brand strategy * How unclear positioning stalls international expansion before it starts * Why language, narrative, and messaging must translate — not just linguistically, but culturally * The risks of cutting marketing too early when entering new markets * How strong brand systems support operational scale and commercial growth This conversation is for founders, CEOs, and leadership teams who are preparing to enter new markets — and want to ensure their brand works as hard internationally as it does at home. Want a clearer path from strategy to results? The conversations on Business Beyond Borders are grounded in the same framework we use with clients at Dearin & Associates. You can explore it in the Blueprint for International Success — a practical guide to navigating global expansion with clarity, momentum, and commercial discipline. Access the Blueprint here: www.dearinassociates.com/blueprint [http://www.dearinassociates.com/blueprint] Podcast Partner Global growth also means managing global money. OFX supports businesses operating internationally with competitive FX rates, streamlined payments, and better visibility over cross-border cash flow. Learn more or sign up via our partner link: https://app.ofx.com/registration?pid=15337 [https://app.ofx.com/registration?pid=15337]