Business Beyond Borders

Cynthia Dearin

Business Beyond Borders is a candid podcast for leaders navigating the realities of international growth. Hosted by global expansion strategist Cynthia Dearin, the show features straight-talk conversations with trusted advisors, CEOs of mid-market firms and operators on the ground — unpacking what it really takes to turn global ambition into commercial results. Each episode focuses on what happens when strategy turns into action: Executing in real marketsNavigating regulation, trade policy, and riskBuilding systems, partnerships, and teams across bordersAdapting strategy once it meets realityThe podcast reflects the way Dearin & Associates works in practice — combining clear strategy with disciplined execution, supported by a global advisory network embedded in key markets across Europe, the UK, Asia-Pacific, and beyond. Business Beyond Borders is for CEOs, founders, and senior leaders who know that international success isn’t just about where you expand — it’s about how you execute.

  1. 5d ago

    Episode #74: He Knew Nothing About Manufacturing. Then He Built a Global Snack Brand with Sreenivas Saba

    What does it really take to turn a traditional food product into a global consumer brand? For Sreenivas Saba, Managing Director of Uncle Saba’s, the answer involves a lot more than having a great product. It means teaching yourself an industry from scratch, taking calculated risks, surviving the inevitable highs and lows — and sometimes sending 30 or 40 product samples to the same prospective customer before getting to yes. In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Cynthia Dearin sits down with Sreenivas to unpack the unlikely journey behind Uncle Saba’s: from an idea that can be traced back to a papadum chip he discovered as a teenager at boarding school in the UK, to building a manufacturing operation in Malaysia and taking the brand into international markets including the United States and Australia. Sreenivas shares how, despite having no background in food manufacturing, he used YouTube, Alibaba and conversations with equipment suppliers to teach himself what he needed to know and get the operation off the ground. He also reveals how international expansion began almost from day one. Trade shows generated interest from buyers around the world, while tourists discovering Uncle Saba’s products in Singapore sometimes contacted the company themselves about bringing the brand into new markets. But one of the most revealing stories comes from the US. After a cold email opened the door to a major prospective customer, Sreenivas spent years discussing recipes, pricing and production without getting a deal. Then COVID hit. Rather than retreat, he kept developing the product and shipping new samples — week after week — incorporating every piece of feedback along the way. It’s a powerful lesson in what international growth often looks like behind the scenes: not one dramatic breakthrough, but hundreds of small adjustments and the willingness to keep going when there is no guaranteed reward. Cynthia and Sreenivas also discuss the realities of working with major retailers such as Costco, why COVID became an unexpected inflection point for the business, and how Uncle Saba’s has helped industrialise a traditionally small-scale product while repositioning it for a global audience. In this episode, you’ll discover: How a papadum chip in a UK boarding school planted the seed for Uncle Saba’s Why Sreenivas stepped into the business following a serious accident involving his father How he taught himself food manufacturing using YouTube and Alibaba Why Uncle Saba’s looked internationally almost from the beginning How trade shows and unexpected customer enquiries helped open new export markets Why the US became such an important target market How one cold email led to years of persistence and dozens of product samples What it takes to meet the standards of a retailer like Costco Why COVID became an unexpected opportunity for international expansion How to turn a traditional, culturally rooted food into a product for global consumers Sreenivas’ philosophy is refreshingly simple: you never try, you never know. For founders and business leaders considering international expansion, this conversation is a reminder that there may never be a perfect time to go global. Markets change. Crises happen. Plans fail. Opportunities appear unexpectedly. The businesses that make progress are often the ones willing to listen, adapt and keep trying. Want a clearer path from strategy to results? The conversations on Business Beyond Borders...

    Episode #74: He Knew Nothing About Manufacturing. Then He Built a Global Snack Brand with Sreenivas Saba

  2. Aug 2

    Episode #73: The Global Opportunity Most Tech Founders Ignore with Ria Lu

    The global games industry generates hundreds of billions of dollars every year. But behind the blockbuster titles is an industry where even successful studios can disappear overnight. In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Cynthia Dearin sits down with Ria Lu, CEO of Levert Group, to explore what it really takes to build an international game development business from the Philippines. Before founding Levert Group, Ria spent seven years building another successful studio—only to see it collapse because of cash flow problems, despite having major global clients. Rather than walking away, she used those painful lessons to build a stronger business with international customers, diversified revenue streams, and a clearer strategy for long-term growth. Together, Cynthia and Ria discuss why gaming is one of the hardest industries to succeed in, how outsourcing studios survive in a volatile global market, why creativity and commercial success are often at odds, and what founders must learn about resilience after failure. Whether you're building a tech company, creative business, or expanding internationally, this conversation offers practical lessons on managing risk, recovering from setbacks, and building a business designed to last. In this episode you'll learn: Why successful businesses can still fail because of cash flow The hidden economics behind the global gaming industry Why game development is far riskier than most software businesses How Levert Group rebuilt after losing its first company The realities of running an international outsourcing business The challenge of balancing creativity with commercial success How remote global teams maintain culture and communication Why resilience—not talent—is often the biggest competitive advantage If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build a global creative business, this episode is essential listening. 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 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

    Episode #73: The Global Opportunity Most Tech Founders Ignore with Ria Lu

  3. Jul 26

    Episode #72: The Biggest Mistake Health-Tech Founders Make Before Going Global with Bianca Bowron-Cuthill

    Mental health systems around the world are under enormous pressure. Demand continues to rise, clinicians are stretched, and governments are investing billions—but how do we know whether that investment is actually improving people’s lives? In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Cynthia Dearin speaks with Bianca Bowron-Cuthill, CEO of Innowell, a digital mental health platform built on more than a decade of clinical research from the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre. Bianca shares how Innowell uses measurement-based care to help clinicians track changes in areas such as mood, anxiety, depression, sleep and social connectedness. She also explains how the platform can identify serious risks during an assessment, direct users towards immediate support and alert clinicians when urgent intervention may be required. But turning groundbreaking research into a scalable technology business is far from simple. Bianca discusses the challenge of bringing together academics, clinicians, product teams and commercial leaders—each with different priorities, language and measures of success. She reveals why strong relationships and shared incentives are essential when translating decades of research into technology that people can actually use. She also reflects on stepping into Innowell during a major leadership transition, developing a new growth plan within weeks and managing the pressure of leading what she describes as a “re-startup.” The conversation explores Innowell’s international expansion into Canada, including the complexity of navigating provincial healthcare systems, the importance of measurement-based care and why having trusted local leadership is critical when operating across time zones and jurisdictions. Bianca also shares a warning for companies considering international expansion: enthusiasm is not a substitute for evidence. Before investing heavily in a new market, leaders must validate the problem, understand the customer, test product–market fit and determine whether the opportunity is commercially viable. As Bianca puts it, hope is not a strategy. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why traditional mental healthcare needs better ways to measure patient outcomes How technology can help overstretched clinicians support more people What it takes to turn academic research into a commercially scalable platform Why public healthcare sales cycles are more complex than traditional software sales The realities of entering a new country during your first weeks as CEO Why local expertise and empowered country leaders matter How Australia and Canada differ in their approach to mental healthcare The dangers of expanding internationally before validating demand Why testing, learning and starting small can prevent expensive mistakes How leaders can balance purpose, commercial discipline and global ambition This is an insightful conversation about purpose-driven leadership, healthcare innovation and the practical realities of taking life-changing technology beyond borders. Content note: This episode includes discussion of suicide risk and mental health crisis intervention. 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 expan... Chapters (00:00:00) - A mental health suicide risk alert(00:00:34) - CEO of Innerwell Discusses the Need for Digital Mental Health Platform(00:01:58) - Is mental health a global challenge?(00:03:19) - What kind of things are getting measured in Measurement Based Care?(00:05:37) - Crowdsourcing the Mental Health Technology(00:07:11) - Interworld's mission to save lives by solving the suicide crisis(00:13:42) - Top Executives: The Challenges of Leading a Company(00:17:24) - Working in the international mental health market(00:20:36) - Having just moved to Canada from Australia, what's the experience of(00:26:40) - What's the Challenge of Leading From the Middle?(00:29:00) - Are We Ready to Take Our Business Global?(00:32:26) - Why we should launch in Australia or not(00:36:30) - Bianca on the Mental Health Tech

    Episode #72: The Biggest Mistake Health-Tech Founders Make Before Going Global with Bianca Bowron-Cuthill

  4. Jul 14

    Episode #71: The Generational Clash at Work: What Leaders Are Getting Wrong

    Everyone says there's a talent shortage. But what if the real problem isn't skills at all? In this special panel episode, Cynthia Dearin and Gerald Garcia bring together leaders from healthcare, hospitality, aviation, logistics, and technology to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing businesses today: managing four generations in the same workplace. From Gen Z's changing expectations to AI-powered recruitment, remote work, employee loyalty, and the future of leadership, the panel explores why organizations are struggling to attract, develop, and retain great people—and what successful leaders are doing differently. Whether you're leading a global team, hiring across cultures, or preparing your organization for the future of work, this conversation offers practical insights into building workplaces where every generation can thrive. In this episode, we discuss: Why the talent shortage is really a philosophical gap Are university degrees becoming less relevant? Should AI be making hiring decisions? Remote work: productivity boost or culture killer? Is employee loyalty becoming a thing of the past? Why younger generations approach careers differently Building strong company culture across generations and cultures How AI is changing leadership, customer service, and business operations The timeless leadership principles that still matter If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Business Beyond Borders for conversations with global business leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts on international growth, leadership, and cross-border business. Chapters (00:00:00) - Business Beyond Borders: The Gen-X Clash(00:02:29) - Is university degree becoming irrelevant?(00:05:31) - Have We Lost Touch With Human Selection Process?(00:07:56) - Does Remote Work Strengthen Companies?(00:12:36) - The end of long term loyalty among employees(00:14:53) - Andy and Rod on the New Generation(00:21:14) - Marianne, would you say beyond generation of a generational clash(00:24:04) - What's the Culture of Your Company(00:25:27) - Top Executives: The Impact of AI on Business(00:31:20) - Generation 1(00:33:56) - Good Management: Adapting to the Generation(00:36:44) - A panel discussion on the Paris Agreement

    Episode #71: The Generational Clash at Work: What Leaders Are Getting Wrong

  5. Jun 30

    Episode #70: She Grew Up Packing Soap Boxes. Now She's Taking a Filipino Brand Global with Mishal Arnaiz

    What does it take to transform a family manufacturing business into an international brand? In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Cynthia Dearin sits down with Mishal Arnaiz, second-generation leader at Universal Skin Cosmeceuticals, a Philippine manufacturer producing skincare and personal care products for brands around the world. Mishal shares the remarkable story of growing up inside her mother's factory, watching a single parent build a business from the ground up with little guidance but relentless determination. Today, she's leading the company's next phase of growth—expanding into global markets while modernizing the business without losing the values that made it successful. They discuss why international expansion isn't about rushing into new countries, but carefully testing markets, listening to customers, and making decisions based on evidence rather than assumptions. Mishal also shares how purpose-driven product innovation—from charitable initiatives to custom manufacturing for overseas clients—has become a competitive advantage. If you're building a manufacturing business, preparing for international growth, or navigating the challenges of a second-generation family enterprise, this episode offers practical lessons on leadership, resilience, and scaling across borders. In this episode, we discuss: How a single mother built a manufacturing company from scratch Growing up inside the family business—and choosing to stay The realities of succeeding as a second-generation leader Why testing markets beats guessing when expanding internationally Building export relationships through product innovation Creating purpose-driven products that strengthen your brand How listening to customers shapes global growth Mishal's vision for taking a Philippine manufacturer onto the world stage 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 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 Chapters (00:00:00) - Business Beyond Borders(00:01:11) - How My Mom Started Her Business(00:03:30) - How I joined the business(00:06:48) - Setting up a manufacturing plant in India(00:08:01) - How My Mother and I Ran the Business Together(00:11:54) - What Surprises People About ASEAN Manufacturing?(00:15:14) - Exporting cosmetic products in the Philippines(00:17:36) - Philly Personal Care(00:21:09) - Having an international business in the Philippines(00:23:28) - What's your, what's your vision for universal skin cosme(00:25:31) - What Is Your Advice For Female Founders On The Journey(00:26:54) - Michelle on The Ellen Interview

    Episode #70: She Grew Up Packing Soap Boxes. Now She's Taking a Filipino Brand Global with Mishal Arnaiz

  6. Jun 23

    Episode #69: She Hated Maths as a Child. Now She’s Expanding an Education Empire Across Southeast Asia with Varongsri (Dr.Ying) Poothakool

    Many entrepreneurs launch businesses because they spot a market opportunity. Dr. Varongsri “Ying” Poothakool started hers because of a life-changing teacher. As a young child, Dr. Ying disliked mathematics. Everything changed when she met a teacher who used games, toys, and creativity to make maths fun. That experience inspired a lifelong mission: helping children develop confidence, enjoyment, and success in mathematics. Today, Dr. Ying is the founder of Math-Talent, an education company operating across Thailand, Laos, and the Philippines, with ambitions to expand further throughout Southeast Asia. Along the way, she has developed a unique visual-learning methodology designed to transform how children experience maths. In this episode, Dr. Ying shares the deeply personal story behind the business, including the extraordinary moment when her father mortgaged his only home to help her pursue her dream. She also discusses the realities of international expansion, adapting educational models across cultures, building franchise systems, and the lessons she has learned from scaling an education business across borders. In this episode, we discuss: How one inspirational teacher transformed Dr. Ying’s relationship with mathematics Why making learning fun can unlock extraordinary results for students The powerful role her father played in launching Math-Talent Building a successful education business from a personal mission Expanding from Thailand into Laos and the Philippines The challenges of adapting educational programs for different markets Why choosing the right partner is critical for international growth Creating scalable systems, teacher training, and quality control Lessons from more than a decade of entrepreneurship Why understanding your customers is essential to successful expansion 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 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 Chapters (00:00:00) - Meet Dr. Ying(00:00:45) - How my dad supported my Math passion(00:06:05) - Starting a Maths Center in Thailand(00:08:14) - Elephant Fitness opens in Laos(00:08:50) - How to start a Math school in the Philippines(00:11:15) - Thailand's Math Talent Centers(00:12:06) - How to teach maths on the Online platform(00:14:09) - The style of teaching Math in the world(00:16:36) - A message from the founders of Math Talent

    Episode #69: She Hated Maths as a Child. Now She’s Expanding an Education Empire Across Southeast Asia with Varongsri (Dr.Ying) Poothakool

  7. Jun 16

    Episode #68: Why Smart Money Chooses Cities Before It Chooses Companies with Jason de Sousa

    When businesses expand internationally, most attention goes to entrepreneurs, products, and markets. But behind every successful expansion lies something far less visible: infrastructure. In this episode of Business Beyond Borders, Cynthia Dearin sits down with Jason de Sousa, founder of Ideia Partners, to explore the systems that make economic growth possible. Drawing on decades of experience in infrastructure investment, urban development, and cross-border capital flows across Australia and Asia, Jason explains why connectivity, transport networks, housing, and government policy matter just as much as business strategy. Together, they discuss what makes cities economically successful, why investors value stability above almost everything else, how governments can unintentionally destroy investment confidence, and what companies need to understand before entering new markets. This conversation offers a fascinating perspective on global expansion from someone who works behind the scenes shaping the environments where businesses grow. In This Episode - Why infrastructure is the foundation of economic growth - The connection between transport, productivity, and thriving cities - What Tokyo can teach the rest of the world about long-term planning - How housing shortages and poor infrastructure create economic bottlenecks - Why stable government policy is essential for attracting investment - The role of foreign capital in building major infrastructure projects - How cultural misunderstandings derail international deals - Why investors need more than money to succeed overseas - Lessons from working with Japanese and Asian investors entering global markets - What businesses should evaluate before expanding into a new city or country 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 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

    Episode #68: Why Smart Money Chooses Cities Before It Chooses Companies with Jason de Sousa

  8. Jun 9

    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, Cynthia Dearin sits down with Marla Rausch, Founder and CEO of Animation Vertigo, 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 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 Chapters (00:00:00) - Marla Rauch on Becoming an International Icon(00:00:44) - Working with Sony, Activision(00:03:04) - Filmmaking's Crazy Story(00:06:11) - Filipinos vs Americans: Working in the Philippines(00:09:43) - Marla on telling her staff what she thinks(00:11:49) - The Vision of Animation Vertigo(00:16:13) - The Making of Animations in the Philippines(00:23:56) - Fooled by International Payments(00:24:51) - I Had to Fire a Friend(00:27:48) - Have You Changed As a CEO?(00:31:28) - How To Manage a Full-Time Job With Kids(00:37:43) - The challenges of women scaling a company(00:40:37) - Going Global: The Hard Way(00:42:22) - Vertigo

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

Business Beyond Borders is a candid podcast for leaders navigating the realities of international growth. Hosted by global expansion strategist Cynthia Dearin, the show features straight-talk conversations with trusted advisors, CEOs of mid-market firms and operators on the ground — unpacking what it really takes to turn global ambition into commercial results. Each episode focuses on what happens when strategy turns into action: Executing in real marketsNavigating regulation, trade policy, and riskBuilding systems, partnerships, and teams across bordersAdapting strategy once it meets realityThe podcast reflects the way Dearin & Associates works in practice — combining clear strategy with disciplined execution, supported by a global advisory network embedded in key markets across Europe, the UK, Asia-Pacific, and beyond. Business Beyond Borders is for CEOs, founders, and senior leaders who know that international success isn’t just about where you expand — it’s about how you execute.

Information

  • Creator
    Cynthia Dearin
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Cynthia Dearin
  • Show Website
    Business Beyond Borders