Most ambitious small business owners who want to grow big know that they need to plan international expansion. Most times, though, they’re not sure where to go, what to do or how to do it – or they have preconceptions (and sometimes prejudices) that direct their thinking towards a specific market or country.

Entrepreneurs who seek independent advice either don’t have such preconceptions or are prepared to have them blown away. They’ve mostly already talked to the normal sources of advice, for example the government department in their country that encourages and supports international trade.

Our Host, Oliver Dowson, often gets asked how he goes about advising these people, and how his approach differs.

In this podcast, he shares a soundclip from an introductory meeting that he  recently had with Sheila, a business founder. She’s originally from the USA but now lives in the UK, where she runs a small, growing and successful business in MedTech, and is really ambitious to take it to the next level. Kindly, she agreed to having part of her first meeting with Oliver recorded for this Grow through International Expansion podcast series.

However, as we’re sure you’ll understand, she’d prefer not to give out her full identity or company name.