Venturing Abroad

Denise Peck: How to Lead in Silicon Valley

We’re closing out our first season with a Silicon Valley trailblazer: Denise Peck.  With over 30 years of experience in Silicon Valley, from Sun Microsystems before its IPO to her tenure as a Vice President at Cisco, Denise has navigated some of the most transformative eras in tech. Whether scaling global operations or representing Cisco in her birthplace of Shanghai during the World Expo, her journey is a masterclass in cross-cultural leadership. A few takeaways that stayed with us: 1. Curiosity as a Career Throughline: Denise shares how growing up in a Chinese-American household and studying in France shaped her "puzzle piece" approach, observing cultures with humility before drawing conclusions. 2. The Power of the Non-Linear Path: Your career doesn’t need a straight line. Denise built a diverse portfolio across marketing, IR, and operations by saying "yes" to roles outside her expertise and focusing on the value she could provide. 3. Calculated Risks & Integrity: A standout story on the courage required to escalate a decision when it’s the right thing for the company, even when it involves personal professional risk. 4. Listen Before You Lead: Whether navigating hierarchies in China or building global teams, success depends on understanding local context and adapting your leadership style accordingly. For anyone thinking about building an international career, or simply curious about the evolution of Silicon Valley and global tech, this episode is for you. A big thank you to Denise for sharing your journey!  Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite [https://www.audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite] for more information.

Unify or Lose: Michael Jackson's take on Europe's tech ecosystem

“Europe will not have a vibrant ecosystem unless the markets are unified.” In the latest episode of Venturing Abroad, we sat down with Michael Jackson, an American entrepreneur and investor based in France, who is one of the most outspoken voices in European tech. With decades of experience investing across Europe and the US, he doesn’t sugarcoat his convictions throughout this conversation: Europe produces exceptional founders and world-class science, but systematically fails to turn that into globally dominant companies. In this candid and contrarian conversation, Michael argues why Europe continues to underperform on the global tech stage and what steps Europe should take as a collective to change this. Five of Michael’s key arguments from the conversation 👇 1. Unify capital markets across Europe or accept being a follower Europe cannot build global tech leaders without unified, deep capital markets. Fragmentation caps ambition before companies even reach scale. 2. Stop confusing science volume with commercial success Europe has incredible IP. However, commercialization, not research output, determines outcomes. Talent alone is not enough. 3. Be global from day one Building for a single European market is a dead end. The most successful European tech stories were never country-specific. They were global by design. 4. Europe is sitting on a goldmine of university IP and failing to commercialize it Less than a fraction of European university research ever becomes a real business. Fixing university tech transfer is one fast way European tech champions can emerge. 5. Let private markets do their job Venture capital cannot thrive as a subsidized economic development tool. Without real exits, DPI, and competitive pressure, the ecosystem stagnates. Michael’s transatlantic observations are thought-provoking and underscore ideas that could accelerate and strengthen Europe’s position in the global tech ecosystem.  We share Michael’s conviction that Europe’s university researchers need stronger support in building the right foundations for company creation, commercializing IP, and the know-how of raising capital. This belief sits at the heart of daphni’s Blue Fellowship, where we work with researchers to help turn breakthrough science into globally ambitious companies. Thank you for joining us, Michael! Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite [https://www.audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite] for more information.

Leo Liu: Breaking Into Silicon Valley & Leading Innovation in Asia

“In Silicon Valley, anything can happen. Just because you're the giant today doesn't mean you'll be the giant tomorrow.” Today, we sit down with Leo Liu, an entrepreneur, investor, and tech leader whose life and career have crossed 16 cities, multiple continents, and more than 10 industries.  From Taiwan to Singapore, Vancouver, Silicon Valley, Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong, Leo has built a world-spanning perspective shaped by early independence, unconventional decisions, and a deep curiosity for people and cultures. At just 10 years old, Leo made the life-altering decision to move abroad alone: the first of many bold jumps that shaped his “owner mindset,” sharpened his ability to navigate ambiguity, and ultimately prepared him for leadership roles at companies like WebEx, Cisco, Tesla, and Dentsu. In this conversation, Leo pulls back the curtain on: * Breaking into the California / Silicon Valley culture  * Best approach to closing deals in China * Why Tesla’s “dig the hole first” philosophy works * What Western observers misunderstand China’s tech ecosystem  * Why making friends is the key to international entrepreneurship success This candid conversation is full of lessons and practical frameworks for anyone scaling across borders, from early founders to global investors to leaders navigating complex cultural and geopolitical environments. Thank you Leo for sharing your incredible story with us! Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite [https://www.audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite] for more information.

Ines Gafsi: How One Founder Is Driving Impact Across Asia’s Tech Ecosystem

“Cultural intelligence is a competitive advantage… listening more and adapting your communication style and understanding to the local etiquette can really open doors.” In this episode of venturing abroad, we are traveling from Normandy to Hong Kong, as we follow the incredible journey of entrepreneur Ines Gafsi. Driven by her passions and instincts from a young age, Ines’ interest in languages and world cultures drove her to study and work abroad.   After a stint in Canada and London, she made her way to Hong Kong, where she has played an integral role in paving the way for women in entrepreneurship. Co-founding Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide, she shares how she built one of Asia’s leading communities for female founders. Today, Ines is bringing that same purpose-driven energy to Blissmi: a preventive health and longevity platform for employers. Powered by real biometric data, medical science, and AI, Blissmi helps companies support their teams with personalized, proactive health insights. What began with her own experience navigating motherhood is now reshaping how workforces understand and manage their well-being, shifting care from reactive to preventive. In our conversation, Ines details: * Business communication nuances in Asia  * How to raise funds in Hong Kong * The power of personal branding  * The tech landscape of APAC * Creating impact by filling gaps Her key advice for entrepreneurs? Dream Big. Thank you for joining, Ines! Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite [https://www.audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite] for more information.

Chris O’Brien: From Silicon Valley to France’s Startup Revolution

“We said okay, let's pack our suitcases, go to France for three years… and 11 years later, we are still in France.” In this episode of Venturing Abroad, we have the pleasure of talking with Chris O’Brien. An American journalist based in France, Chris is the founder of The French Tech Journal and one of the key voices covering France’s tech scene. After years of reporting on Web 2.0 and the rise of social media in Silicon Valley, Chris found himself building a new life and a new career in France. From navigating French bureaucracy to chronicling La French Tech’s incredible growth, his journey offers both humor and wisdom about adapting, learning, and thriving in two different countries. In our conversation, Chris shares:  * How timing, curiosity, and adaptability can shape a career * His observations on the evolution of French tech ecosystem * Misconceptions about Silicon Valley and La French Tech * Cultural shocks of moving from California to Toulouse * Journalism in the age of AI and more Thank you for sharing with us your France-US experience, Chris! Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite [https://www.audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite] for more information.