How to go from Ausländer Employee to Successful Company Owner with Ranjit Venkatesh

01/22/24 • 39 min

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Imagine uprooting your life and moving to a country where you don't speak the language to chase a dream. That's precisely what Ranjit did when he left India for Germany, and his journey is nothing short of remarkable. In our heart-to-heart, Ranjit, a seasoned entrepreneur, walks us through his challenging yet rewarding path from a language novice to a thriving business owner. Tune in as he shares the pivotal moments, from landing a project with Deutsche Telekom to the strategic pivots of establishing his own company.
Navigating the complex world of business in a country that's not your birthplace requires resilience and a strong network, both of which Ranjit has mastered. His anecdotes about ensuring an employee's residency and the strategic shift to a home office are testaments to his adaptability. For all the freelancers and aspiring business owners out there, Ranjit's insights into the power of past colleagues, professional networks, and agencies can be the key to unlocking new levels of success. His tale is a striking example of how embracing change can forge unexpected opportunities.
Beyond the entrepreneurial grind, Ranjit also underscores the importance of continuous personal development. His involvement with Toastmasters shines a light on the profound impact that honing public speaking and leadership skills can have on professional growth. If you're pondering on how to handle the recurring tasks of business ownership or seeking advice, Ranjit's experiences reveal the strength found in community and mentorship. Embark on this episode for a dose of inspiration, practical advice, and a reminder that no one should navigate the intricacies of business, especially in a foreign land, alone.

You can find this episode and all episodes as well as show notes for each at https://thegermanylist.de/the-germany-expat-business-show-podcast/
Starting or running a business in Germany as a foreigner? Already running an online business in Germany as an expat? Wanting to grow your German-based business? Working as a freelancer in Germany? You'll love my guide with over 30 resources for expat business owners in Germany.

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Previous Episode

Cold Calling in Broken German to a 7 Figure Business with Dan Norenberg

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Dan's journey of transforming into an entrepreneurial powerhouse is a real inspiration and a living demonstration of the good old American 'Can Do' spirit.
He shares candid tales of his early days grappling with language barriers and the incredible stroke of luck that led him from the doing research at the U.S. consulate with a bag lunch, to the boardrooms of Siemens.
In this episode Dan shares:

The surprising story of how and why he decided to leave a promising trajectory in Silicon valley and move to Munich (spoiler: it wasn't a relationship!)
His life philosophy and approach to making decisions
Living in a WG with roommates disinclined to speak English
The relatable challenges of navigating German bureaucracy
How he got started with no connections and no German language skills
How he identified a gap in the German market and how he could serve it with the skills he already had
The astonishing story of how he landed his first Fortune 500 client

Dan's story is a masterclass in adaptability and perseverance. His anecdotes about pushing through fear and the humorous realization of operating without proper permits will resonate with anyone who's ever sat dejectedly in the KVR office.
Beyond business stories, Dan also shares a wealth of knowledge on leadership dynamics. With his background in psychology and criminology, he doesn't shy away from getting into the nitty-gritty of executive coaching and the significance of investing in team relationships.
His transition from running a successful company to focusing on improving team interactions within corporations offers an insider perspective on leadership that's both informative and inspiring.

Next Episode

Giving Migrant Entrepreneurs a Boost in Germany's Tech Scene with Laila Zohaib

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Laila is a Startup Coach from Stuttgart, who wants to create a safe space for migrant founders in Germany through the community empowerment project ‘The Migrant Accelerator’. She loves to talk about lived allyship and inclusion for investors and corporates.

She is also the host of The Migrant Accelerator Podcast.

TMA sounds like a fun place to be, it’s full of founders from: Thailand, Uganda, Russia, Palestine, India, Ukraine, Pakistan and even a few Americans!

In our conversation we discussed:

How her bachelor thesis formed the basis of The Migrant Accelerator.
What The Migrant Accelerator is and how it helps
The history of migrant entrepreneurship in Germany
The availability of grants and non-VC sources of funding that aren’t widely known about
The opportunities (and challenges) to founding a startup in Germany
‘Passport privilege’ and the the difference between the terms migrant, immigrant and expat
Balancing motherhood (of a toddler!) and business leadership

The Germany Expat Business Show - How to go from Ausländer Employee to Successful Company Owner with Ranjit Venkatesh

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:03.185

Hi , I'm Eleanor Meyerhofer , a native Californian designer and digital strategist . In October of 1999 , a few years after graduating from design school , I flew from San Francisco to Munich with a fistful of Deutschmarks , a dial-up connection and an extremely vague plan . 20 plus years later , after a 10-year stint at a global agency , freelancing and launching two online businesses ,