European Growth Stories

Wyngs
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European Growth Stories explores what it really takes to scale companies across Europe. Hosted by international expansion expert Andrea Vaugan, the podcast brings together founders, growth leaders, and operators to share unfiltered insights on scaling beyond borders. From navigating fragmented markets to building high-performing teams and moving faster in complex environments, each episode dives into the decisions, trade-offs, and mindsets that drive - or block - growth in Europe. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  1. Oct 6

    Nobody in a New Market Knows Who You Are. Your SDRs Won't Fix That - Leslie Tedgui #25

    In this episode of European Growth Stories, Andrea Vaugan welcomes Leslie Tedgui, who spent close to a decade building global B2B marketing teams and brands at CrossKnowledge, MoovOne and CoachHub, where she was most recently VP of Marketing. Leslie takes us inside what it really means to build one global go-to-market strategy across dozens of markets, from Berlin to New York and Tokyo, without losing what makes each region tick. She shares why she leaves campaign decisions to the local marketers who actually know their market, even when their ideas surprise her, how she decides which regions get real budget and which don't, and the story behind launching CoachHub's AI coach across four cities and two time zones in a single, perfectly synced event. Her advice for anyone working on market entry into a new country: be patient, don't be a control freak, and trust the people who actually know the region. Thank you very much to our podcast partner Weglot for the support of European Growth Stories! If you want to translate your website instantly with AI, refine with human edits, and go live in multiple languages. It’s mind-blowingly simple! Check out Weglot! Thank you for listening to European Growth Stories! We’re grateful to all our listeners, guests, and supporters for being part of this journey exploring international growth, market expansion, and European entrepreneurship.If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with your network.Want to continue the conversation or learn more about expanding into new European markets?Connect with Andrea Vaugan on LinkedIn.Discover Wyngs.See you in the next episode of European Growth Stories! Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    Nobody in a New Market Knows Who You Are. Your SDRs Won't Fix That - Leslie Tedgui #25

  2. May 12

    #24 Angeley Mullins - What if the real reason companies don’t scale… isn’t money?

    “Scaling is not a money problem. It’s a time problem.” In this episode of European Growth Stories, Andrea Vaugan welcomes Angeley Mullins, Chief Growth Officer at Ninox, for an in-depth conversation on the realities of scaling across Europe. Together, they discuss one of the key differences between the US and Europe: speed. Angeley explains why time, more than capital, is often the most critical factor in scaling, and why delayed decisions, risk aversion, and fear of failure can slow European companies down. The conversation also explores leadership, psychological safety, founder mindset, product-market fit, and what it takes to build companies that can truly compete internationally. They also look at Ninox’s current growth trajectory, its international expansion priorities, and the strategic choices involved in scaling across markets in today’s AI-driven environment. This episode is supported by Weglot, a tool I’ve been recommending for years to companies expanding internationally. It’s also how I first connected with today’s guest, through one of their acceleration programs, a great example of how the right tools can truly enable international growth. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    #24 Angeley Mullins - What if the real reason companies don’t scale… isn’t money?

  3. Feb 5

    #23 Christian Bergius - How Ecotree Adapted Its French Green Model for the German Market

    When a green business model doesn’t translate across borders, adaptation becomes everything. In this episode of Go-to-Germany Stories, Andrea Vaugan talks with Christian Bergius, Country Director Germany at Ecotree, about adapting their French sustainability model to the German market. Christian shares why EcoTree had to move away from copy-paste expansion, how local ecosystem needs and customer conversations reshaped the offer, and what it takes to build a country operation with limited resources while staying aligned with HQ. 🎧 You’ll learn: Why Germany requires local sustainability projects How market feedback drives real adaptation What to prioritize when opening a new market 👉 A concise, practical take on localization and scaling sustainability in Germany. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    #23 Christian Bergius - How Ecotree Adapted Its French Green Model for the German Market

  4. 12/16/2025

    #22 Special Episode - French Tech Germany Awards 2025

    In this special episode of Go to Germany Stories, host Andrea Vaugan sits down with the French Tech Düsseldorf team and the winners of the French Tech Germany Awards 2025 to explore what it really takes to build, invest, and scale across the Franco-German border. This episode brings together founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders who share their firsthand experience of expanding to Germany — from early market entry to long-term growth. 🎤 Guests in this episode: Adrien Serres & Cyril Catel – French Tech Düsseldorf 🏆 Yun Luo (CEO, ROSi) – Best French-German GreenTech Startup 🏆 Pierre Saudin (CEO, Paire) – Best Breakthrough DeepTech Startup 🏆 David Erhun (Startup Success, XAnge) – Best VC / Investor 🏆 Céline Bayer (CTO, Lemonway) – Best Woman in Tech 💡 Topics covered: ✔️ Expanding a startup to Germany ✔️ Building trust in the German market ✔️ Differences between French and German business cultures ✔️ Scaling teams and operations cross-border ✔️ The role of VCs in European growth ✔️ Why Franco-German cooperation is a strategic advantage This episode is also special for the host: Andrea Vaugan received the Best Woman in Tech Award last year and is proud to return this year to spotlight the next generation of leaders shaping the Franco-German tech ecosystem. 🎧 Subscribe to Go to Germany Stories for more real stories about international expansion, European tech, and cross-border growth. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    #22 Special Episode - French Tech Germany Awards 2025

  5. 12/11/2025

    #21 Besart Shala - Breaking Through Germany’s Banking Fortress: The IbanFirst Story

    How do you win trust and business in one of Europe’s most conservative markets? In this episode of Go to Germany Stories, Andrea Vaugan sits down with Besart Shala, Country Manager for Germany at Ibanfirst, to explore how Ibanfirst has built a strong presence in Germany, now accounting for 10% of the company’s global revenue. We discuss the “sales secret sauce” behind their growth, how to break through the walls of a traditional banking market, and why everything had to happen in German rather than English. From building a local team and culture from scratch to earning trust through personal connections (and even football!), this episode offers an honest, behind-the-scenes look at scaling a fintech across borders. 🎧 You’ll learn: Why trust and proximity are key in Germany’s B2B landscape How to build a local culture that still feels connected to HQ The balance between autonomy, ownership, and alignment Lessons for every startup expanding into conservative markets 👉 Tune in to hear how Ibanfirst turned a tough market into one of its biggest success stories. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    #21 Besart Shala - Breaking Through Germany’s Banking Fortress: The IbanFirst Story

  6. 11/20/2025

    #20 Marek Kraus - Winning in Germany’s HR Tech Market: How Lucca took on the competition

    In this episode of Go-to-Germany Stories, host Andrea Vaugan sits down with Marek Kraus, Country Manager Germany at Lucca, the French HR software company breaking into one of Europe’s toughest markets. Marek shares how Lucca combined rigorous preparation, thoughtful localization, and cultural awareness to build real traction in Germany — from adapting product features to small but telling choices in communication, like whether to say “Du” or “Sie.” They discuss how to build a resilient local team, turn sales enablement into a true growth driver, and strengthen cross-border collaboration between the local and HQ teams. A must-listen for anyone expanding into Germany and looking for practical lessons on focus, differentiation, and cultural authenticity. Marek Kraus has been active in the HR tech industry since 2013 and has held senior positions at companies such as Sage, Lessor (now Infoniqa), Compleet, and Bullhorn. Prior to that, he spent nearly a decade at Microsoft. Today, he is dedicated to driving Lucca’s dynamic growth in Germany – with innovative HR and finance solutions tailored to the evolving needs of modern businesses. Lucca designs user-friendly HR and finance software that simplifies everyday work for employees and HR teams. Founded in 2002 in Paris, the company serves more than 8,700 clients and over one million users across 130 countries. Lucca’s modular solutions cover core HR processes such as leave management, time tracking, and expense reporting — all designed with usability, data security, and local compliance in mind. With its Munich office, Lucca continues to expand its footprint in the German market. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    #20 Marek Kraus - Winning in Germany’s HR Tech Market: How Lucca took on the competition

  7. 10/09/2025

    #19 Philipp Wegmann - Signicat - How to Build an International Go to Market Engine That Scales Beyond Year One

    Welcome back to Go-to-Germany Stories! Season 4 opens with host Andrea Vaugan and Philipp Wegmann, Country Manager Germany at Signicat, exploring what it takes to build a true “growth engine” when entering the German market. Philipp shares first-hand lessons from his journey: how to set the right goals and prove traction early, why sales readiness is essential before scaling, and how regulatory milestones can be turned into compelling events. They also discuss assembling the right team, raising brand awareness in a crowded space, and navigating intercultural differences when Scandinavian and German business cultures meet. A must-listen for anyone preparing to expand into new markets and looking for a blueprint to build sustainable growth from day one. Philipp Wegmann is Country Manager Germany at Signicat, a European leader in digital identity solutions. With more than 15 years of experience in sales, business development, and product management, he has worked across industries from engineering and electronics to digital identity. Before joining Signicat, Philipp headed partnerships at IDnow and held leadership roles at companies including Panasonic and Truma, where he focused on building local teams, establishing brand presence, and driving sustainable growth. Building on this experience, he now leads Signicat’s expansion in Germany and positions the company for long-term success in a highly regulated market. https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-wegmann-0a11ba157/ Signicat is Europe’s leading provider of digital identity solutions. We help businesses establish trust in the digital world - from secure onboarding and authentication to advanced electronic signatures. Our solutions are eIDAS and AML compliant and support more than 35 electronic identity methods. Thousands of organizations across Europe trust Signicat to deliver seamless and secure digital identity experiences. https://www.signicat.com https://wyngs.co Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    #19 Philipp Wegmann - Signicat - How to Build an International Go to Market Engine That Scales Beyond Year One

  8. 11/08/2024

    #18 Eva Katernberg - Eva Worldwide - Why outsourcing translation to a professional will make your team happy

    In this episode, Andrea Vaugan interviews Eva Katernberg, a localization specialist and translator. They discuss the importance of localization and the differences between translation, localization, and transcreation. Eva explains that localization involves not only translating content but also adapting it culturally, including numbers, images, and cultural references. Transcreation, on the other hand, focuses on creative translation, especially for slogans and marketing campaigns. They emphasize the importance of hiring a professional translator who is a native speaker and has cultural expertise. They also discuss the benefits of outsourcing translation work and the potential risks of relying on internal employees who may not have the necessary skills or cultural understanding. #localization #translation #transcreation #culturaladaptation #professionaltranslator #outsourcing Key takeaways - Localization involves not only translation but also cultural adaptation of content. - Transcreation is a form of creative translation, often used for slogans and marketing campaigns. - Hiring a professional translator with cultural expertise is crucial for accurate and effective localization. - Outsourcing translation work to a specialized translator is recommended for quality and consistency. - Relying on internal employees for translation may result in inaccurate and poorly adapted content. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:59 Understanding Localization and Transcreation 07:52 The Importance of Localization for the German Market 11:47 Challenges and Benefits of Professional Translation 23:17 When to Outsource and Risks of Internal Translation 27:45 Final Thoughts and Conclusion Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    #18 Eva Katernberg - Eva Worldwide - Why outsourcing translation to a professional will make your team happy
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About

European Growth Stories explores what it really takes to scale companies across Europe. Hosted by international expansion expert Andrea Vaugan, the podcast brings together founders, growth leaders, and operators to share unfiltered insights on scaling beyond borders. From navigating fragmented markets to building high-performing teams and moving faster in complex environments, each episode dives into the decisions, trade-offs, and mindsets that drive - or block - growth in Europe. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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