Last January we hosted our very first Global and Search meetup in Barcelona, an open conversation about international careers, personal branding and the reality of leading multilingual teams.
Our panelists were from Spain, South Korea and Ukraine. The international audience was quite engaging and we all shared our experiences on working overseas, relocating and finding overseas clients while being remote.
Here are the 5 biggest takeaways from the night:
1. Speaking English is just the starting point
Mastering the art of observing and embracing the culture is essential to shine at your work while living in another country.
Adaptation: Especially when the market is so different, like Hong Kong, you need to start with a completely open mind.
Local Insights: Gathering with locals to understand their customer behaviors and the way they communicate daily.
Read the room: Every culture has its own volume and pace. Learning to balance your natural style with their expectations makes your integration much smoother.
2. Your Linkedin profile = your biggest asset
Personal branding came up constantly, not just as a way to “post content,” but as a necessity for building trust (especially when you don’t have shared contacts or a local reputation).
First impressions: Your LinkedIn profile and articles are your primary presentation. When potential clients search for your name, you need to make sure the quality of your work shows.
Authority building: Analyse and pitch to all the relevant podcasts, newsletters and conferences in your industry.
Authenticity: Find what makes you unique and what the market needs, and you’ll have an explosive combination!
3. International pricing
Most of our panelists admitted to initially underpricing themselves when entering international markets. But they learned something quickly: the higher the price, the more seriously clients often take your work.
Pricing changes depending on market maturity, your specialisation, and whether clients come to you by referral, organically to your website or Linkedin, or you had to find them.
4. About AI in 2026
AI search is evolving so fast, but there is still very little verified data and a lot of noise and overpromises online. The best strategy right now is to continue testing and staying adaptable.
5. People do business with people they like
International careers are built through people. Find your weekly meetups, niche communities, or a hobby you love. Talk to everyone, be kind and speak openly about your goals.
You never know who can lend you a hand when you most need it.
Thank you so much to everyone who came and participated. This was a very needed conversation in an industry that is becoming increasingly global and interconnected.