Building a Global Network
From: Inc. Magazine, April 2007 | By: Stephanie Clifford

A longtime venture capitalist in what he calls "strange places," John B. Owens has learned how to navigate business landscapes from Turkmenistan to Panama. He knows whom to call to find out what the government's up to, and how to find reputable partner companies in unfamiliar countries. "In my experience in international venues, networking is extremely important," he says. "But networking overseas is not like it is in the United States. You don't call up a company and say, 'Hey, I'm in the neighborhood, can I stop by and ask you everything you know?' You need to spend some time to get to know the people--a minimum of six months." Owens, who now runs a global consultancy at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business in Hanover, New Hampshire, shared his six fundamentals of international networking with senior writer Stephanie Clifford.

1. The U.S. Commercial Service

"Your first stop in a new country should be the local branch of this hugely valuable program run by the U.S. Commerce Department. The Commercial Service maintains offices in our embassies and consulates. They are staffed by extraordinary people who speak English and the local language, understand the levers of power, and know the local players, from bankers to the head of the tax police." 

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