Scaling internationally demands more than a great product. Shaan Kundomal shares the real-world lessons behind building resilient, adaptable, and trusted global businesses.
Published: October 21, 2024 at 09:00
Author: Shaan Kundomal
Summary (TL;DR)
Shaan Kundomal draws on his experience building global companies to outline what it really takes to succeed across international markets. From understanding regulatory nuances to building local teams and adapting to changing conditions, the path to sustainable global growth requires insight, flexibility, and long-term trust. Vision and capital matter—but execution, cultural fluency, and resilience make the difference.
Main article
Expanding a business on a global scale is a milestone many entrepreneurs dream of—but few achieve successfully. With years of cross-border experience spanning finance, energy, and digital innovation, Shaan Kundomal shares key lessons learned from founding, growing, and scaling global enterprises.
For Shaan, building a global business begins not with capital or connections, but with clarity of vision and deep market understanding. “It’s not enough to have a strong product,” he says. “You must understand how each market thinks, regulates, and operates—because no two countries are alike when it comes to business.”
A cornerstone of his approach is cultural and regulatory intelligence. Entrepreneurs entering foreign markets must invest time in learning local laws, customer behavior, market maturity, and legal frameworks. Skipping this step, Shaan warns, often leads to costly misjudgments and reputational risk. “What works in Dubai may not resonate in Berlin or Jakarta. The key is to localize without losing your core identity.”
Another vital pillar of global success is adaptability. Economic shifts, political change, currency volatility, and regulatory updates can all alter a company’s trajectory. Shaan stresses the importance of building resilient operations, creating contingency plans, and preparing leadership teams to pivot quickly when needed. “Global businesses don’t thrive by staying rigid. They grow by staying alert, flexible, and humble.”
Shaan also emphasizes the long-term value of building local teams and empowering regional leadership. Rather than trying to centralize control, he encourages entrepreneurs to trust on-the-ground expertise and build internal frameworks that support decentralized decision-making. “A global business isn’t one big machine—it’s a network of agile, aligned units that respond to their markets in real-time.”
Trust, integrity, and consistency, according to Shaan, are non-negotiables. “You can scale operations, but you can’t scale trust unless you’re consistent—in quality, delivery, and leadership behavior. Integrity is your strongest currency across borders.”
Finally, he highlights the importance of strategic patience. Entering new markets often requires more time and relationship-building than anticipated. Success, in Shaan’s view, is not about rapid conquest but sustainable growth driven by insight, respect, and discipline.
In an era where borders are increasingly digital but business remains deeply human, Shaan Kundomal’s global leadership journey offers a roadmap for entrepreneurs ready to think bigger. The playbook for building a global business is not a one-size-fits-all approach—it’s a blend of insight, adaptability, and execution tailored to the realities of each market.
Quote: “You can scale operations, but you can’t scale trust unless you’re consistent—in quality, delivery, and leadership behavior.” – Shaan Kundomal
Tags: Global Business Strategy International Expansion Cross-Border Leadership Market Adaptability Trust in Business Business Culture Awareness
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when expanding globally?
A: Underestimating cultural and regulatory differences. Success in one country doesn’t guarantee success elsewhere.
Q: How important is it to have local leadership in global markets?
A: Very. Empowering local teams enables faster decisions and more relevant customer engagement.
Q: What makes a global business resilient?
A: Agility, contingency planning, strong governance, and the ability to adapt strategy based on market realities.
Q: Can trust be built quickly in new markets?
A: Not usually. Trust takes time and is earned through consistent quality, integrity, and reliability.
Key Takeaways
• Entering international markets requires deep research into laws, customs, and consumer behavior
• Adaptability and contingency planning are essential for managing global uncertainty
• Local leadership and decentralized decision-making foster speed and cultural alignment
• Trust, consistency, and integrity are vital to long-term credibility in foreign markets
• Sustainable global growth depends on strategic patience—not shortcuts or one-size-fits-all models