From Diplomat to CCO: Mastering International GTM Expansion | Andrea Maurieres S6:E4

Welcome to Season 6 of the Force & Friction Podcast, where we break down what really moves the needle in GTM, RevOps, AI, partnerships, and SaaS growth. Today, we're exploring international market expansion and building revenue teams across continents with Andrea Maurieres.

Her origin story begins with an incredible opportunity: convincing US tech companies to open offices in France while stationed in New York during the city's transformation into a tech hub. 

This diplomatic background gave her a unique perspective on international business development, but the transition to tech executive required strategic reinvention through an MBA and hands-on experience across diverse markets.

We explore her 80-20 framework for international expansion, why you should start with "playground" markets, the critical importance of local presence versus remote operations, and her insights on building revenue teams across different company stages and cultural contexts.

Here are the core areas we discuss in today's episode:

1: The Diplomat's Advantage: From Embassies to Startups

2: The 80-20 International Expansion Framework

3. Playground Markets: The Strategic Advantage of Starting Small

4. Stage-Appropriate Strategies: Why One Size Doesn't Fit All

5. The Future of Sales: Human Touch in an AI World

Final Thoughts:

Andrea leaves us with powerful insights about the intersection of international expansion and female leadership.

"Too often, I'm the only woman in the room, and the higher we get, the more lonely we are. And I see something now, so I'm 40, I have a family. And I see a lot of women, stepping down, at my age... a product would be good if it's diverse, and it needs to be built by a diverse team. And a diverse team is gender, is age, is racial."

Her final message emphasizes that international expansion success requires diverse perspectives and that supporting female leadership isn't just about equality, it's about building better products and strategies through diverse thinking.

International expansion isn't just about scaling revenue—it's about building global capabilities while maintaining local relevance. As Andrea demonstrates, success comes from combining systematic frameworks with cultural humility, starting small to learn big, and recognizing that the skills needed for international success often come from unexpected backgrounds. 

The future belongs to leaders who can navigate complexity with both strategic thinking and cultural intelligence, whether they started in embassies or startups.

Learn more at www.forceandfrictionpodcast.com