Opening offices in 120 countries is ‘not a badge of honor’—pick 30 instead says iconic former tech CEO
Former tech CEO Meg Whitman advised startups against rapid global expansion, stating that being in too many countries can be inefficient. She recalled that while HP operated in 190 countries, a smaller subset generated most of its revenue and profits. Whitman suggested a more focused approach, like the one she implemented at eBay with around 30 countries, is more effective. She also discussed how scaling strategies have evolved, with current challenges in new markets focusing more on regulatory and data privacy issues rather than platform synergies. AI
