Many companies invest heavily in global strategy. Far fewer succeed in turning that strategy into sales once they hit real markets, real partners, and real complexity.

In this episode of the Business Beyond Borders podcast, host Cynthia Dearin is joined by Mike Todd, international growth strategist at Dearin & Associates and the execution lead who works with clients when strategy turns into action. Mike has led international sales and execution across multiple regions, and he’s seen first-hand why good strategies fail without clear ownership, systems, and relationships on the ground.

Together, Cynthia and Mike unpack what execution really means in international expansion, including:

Why strategy is just theory until it’s tested in-market
Where global strategies most commonly break once execution begins
Why systems and frameworks matter, but relationships ultimately drive traction
How accountability (or the lack of it) determines whether sales momentum builds or stalls
What separates companies that scale internationally from those that never quite get thereThis conversation is for founders, CEOs, and leadership teams who already have a strategy — and now need to make it work in the real world.

This conversation is for founders, CEOs, and leadership teams who already have a strategy — and now need to make it work in the real world.

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

Podcast Partner
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Chapters

(00:00:00) - Business Beyond Borders: The Real Strategy
(00:00:23) - What is the biggest threat to international trade?
(00:02:50) - Elon Musk: I'm an Optimist and a Pessimist
(00:03:32) - The Importance of International Sales and Execution
(00:07:52) - Back in the days of selling washing machines
(00:13:22) - How Did I Get From Curry's to
(00:16:07) - International Expansion
(00:21:24) - Oak CEO on his time at Ugg
(00:23:33) - Steve Ballentine:
(00:26:52) - Going international: The risk and reward
(00:29:20) - Getting to know a brand's founder
(00:31:08) - How to Build a Business in France
(00:34:03) - The blueprint for international success
(00:35:53) - Levering into the CEO's plans
(00:39:17) - Australia's unique culture and challenges

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

Business Beyond Borders