Cultivating Connections: My Insights Into Operating Business Across Borders and Throughout Time.

My journey has been an odyssey across continents, a narrative that intertwines my roots in England with my exploits as a Global Growth Officer and Global Business Executive.?

Many of you already know, my name is Stephen Rose, and have most likely met me or came across me because of my professional roles. As my titles entail, I have become an expert in managing teams, executing for purpose, and developing both analytical and strategic implementations for industries around the globe. I still make myself available to hold these positions and get the correct solutions created and made for companies still today.

However, now that I’m retired from my company days at PwC, and branching out as an independent, I began reflecting on my resume and skills. While yes, I am an expert and can stand out among many resumes I would send to possible employers, I have always believed that just being able to do the job description is not the only reason you would want to work with me. Instead, I believe I have created a legacy where my roles incorporate some of the values and skills I myself have incorporated into each of my roles. These are lessons and values I’ve learned and developed within my jobs, but also from my upbringing. I believe these are a reflection of who I truly am and why anyone would want me on their team.?

My ventures in entrepreneurial pursuits and lessons and experiences I’ve gleaned were cultivated from diverse cultures and international business landscapes throughout my career.?

Within these next articles I hope to share them with you so you have a better understanding of what I believe Cultivating Connections truly means in today’s Business World.?

This article however will give you a brief narrative of who I am and understand the topics I believe I have a voice on and want to help you understand better for your own career.?

So without further ado….?

Born and bred in the heart of England, my innate curiosity fueled my desire to explore beyond the familiar confines of my homeland. As a child I heard stories and saw how both my mother and father both lived very global lives and that shaped my mindset from the beginning.?

For one, my father was a merchant mariner during World War II, serving in the Mediterranean then traveling the world and living in places including the USA, Japan, Singapore in the 50s and 60s, as well as working in India, the Middle East and Turkey. In many ways continuing the legacy of his father who had laid the oil pipeline to support the D-Day invasion in June1944.?

While my mother was born in Alexandria, Egypt prior to WWII, she then escaped back to England as the Germans advanced across north Africa. Having been bombed in the Blitz she was then evacuated, via an Atlantic Convoy, to Baltimore MD to sit out the end of the war. In the 1960s she joined Thomas Cook Travel in Spain, as they trail blazed the package holiday concept.?

So, even though I grew up attending schools in England, I grew up with a global perspective passed down from parents and grandparents. It is their stories that grew in me an understanding that cultures and people can and should be understood because there is something you can learn from each person you encounter.??

Beginning my career in the dynamic streets of London, I honed my skills in financial services with D&B (Dun and Bradstreet) and Moody’s, where I started as an analyst, then branch manager, then training manager (rolling out desktop automation), onto Ireland Operations Manager and progressing to P&L roles as a Business Unit Leader and turnaround agent, brining in bleeding-edge technology to save and grow the business.

When I joined IBM EMEA, I was known as an international product manager in the nascent Internet Division. This had me working in various countries across Europe (UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Finland) to develop a smart phone and then moving to the USA to prototype an internet search engine and data apps for the embryonic smart device market. It was here that I led the acquisition and slicing of market and news data, and then the International product definition and initial sales efforts across EMEA and even into Asia, i.e. outbound from the USA. Thereby, creating a work atmosphere where I had to and became known as someone who could make connections and understandings between people miles away from one another around the globe.?

Because of this role, IBM had me doing non-stop travel across Europe and Asia while driving product enhancements/requirements back to head office in NYC.

They did this, because not only was I good at the roles in which my job would have required of me,? but because I was the man who applied my ability to adapt and connect to other cultures; no matter location, language, and so on.

I was then recruited by my client, Enron, to drive international business development for their start-up Financial Settlement Matrix (FSMx), taking US-developed solutions into the European and Asia markets.

Once leaving Enron and eventually finding my way to PwC I was again chosen to go from the towering skyline of New York City to the bustling markets of Hong Kong. My professional journey spanned the globe countless times and allowed? my industry and global experience to roles covering strategic clients for firms I worked for. It is also where my mantra became to grow our business with the client and importantly, helping the client to grow their end-clients.?

Each destination enriched me with invaluable insights into varying markets, regulations, tax regimes, cultures and consumer behaviors. As a Global Business Development Executive, I immersed myself in the intricate tapestry of international commerce, adeptly navigating cultural nuances and strategic complexities. All of which I hope to illuminate in upcoming articles and share with you the many lessons I learned during my career journey.

The takeaway is that throughout my career, multinationals (such as Moody’s IBM, Enron, PwC) have entrusted me to take products and services developed in one country and to expand across the other continents of the world/and then expand across global markets.?

And, now that I have digressed from my (last 20)? years at PwC, I have found myself at the helm of developing my personal brand and expanding into new entrepreneurial endeavors.?

I hope to share with you the wisdom and passion I garnered from my extensive global sojourn.?

My aim is clear: empower budding entrepreneurs and businesses with the amalgamation of my experiences—blending English professionalism with a global mindset.

My approach to business resonates with a holistic philosophy—a fusion of astute strategy, cross-cultural empathy, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity. I firmly believe that it's about embodying integrity, authenticity, and delivering tangible value to my audience.

In an era characterized by digital connectivity, storytelling, and authenticity, I am leveraging my diverse experiences to forge meaningful connections with stakeholders.?

My transition from a corporate executive to a torchbearer of personal endeavors embodies the boundless possibilities awaiting those willing to embrace change, leverage their unique experiences, and embark on a journey of self-discovery and entrepreneurial pursuit. All of which I have been passionate about since I was a child exploring the towns in Catalonia.

To bring this entry piece to an end, my journey encapsulates more than a mere traversal of geographical boundaries—it embodies the transformative power of diverse experiences, the unwavering pursuit of excellence, and the fusion of cultural intelligence with business acumen. I, Stephen Rose, an Englishman on a global expedition, endeavor to illuminate the path for aspiring business leaders, advocating for a mindset that transcends borders and embraces the world as a canvas for endless opportunities.

I hope you join me in reading my upcoming articles. Look forward to my newest series (Expat series) where I’ll be interviewing various clients and personal contacts who have significantly contributed to my global journey to date.