In this episode, Matthias Oertzen sits down with Dennis Wagner, CEO of Bestar Steel Group, to explore how he built a thriving U.S. business from scratch and what European leaders need to understand when entering the American market. Dennis’s journey began with an internship in Detroit, where he first encountered U.S. industry dynamics. One early defining moment: he copied the entire Thomas Register and took it back to Germany, using it as the foundation to build Bestar’s U.S. operations one customer at a time. His story is a testament to resourcefulness, determination, and a willingness to start from zero. But this conversation goes far beyond company expansion. We discuss the mindset required to succeed in the U.S. A mindset Dennis summarizes through his core motto: “Ask questions, be curious, and don’t be judgmental when coming to the States.” We also explore the uniquely American “Just do it” attitude and how the U.S. business environment rewards speed, initiative, and entrepreneurial action. Entering the U.S. market means embracing cultural differences, accepting that every company—no matter how big in Europe—starts as a startup, and finding the right local people to build with. We’ll dive into: ✅ How Dennis built Bestar’s U.S. business from the ground up✅ Why curiosity and cultural openness are essential for German companies in America✅ The “Just do it” mindset and the U.S. dynamic that encourages reinvention✅ Why success requires adapting, selling, and starting fresh—no matter your size in Europe✅ The advantages of living between cultures and blending German precision with American momentum If you want to understand what it really takes to be successful as a European company in the United States and how mindset, culture, and action shape transatlantic business, this episode is full of insights you won’t want to miss. #Podcast #Westbound #Westboundpodcast #internationalrecruitment #executivesearch #professionalrecruitment #OERTZENGroup #BESTARSteelGroup #DennisWagner #GermanAmericanCommunity Sign up for our new Westbound Podcast Newsletter here: https://share.hsforms.com/17KfE38axSU6lgZmZiVzY4w8nkmq Stay tuned for more podcast episodes here: https://westbound-podcast.castos.com/ Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@westboundpodcast If you are enjoying the podcast, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review! New episodes will drop monthly on the most popular podcast channels as well as a full video recording on YouTube. Show Notes: BESTAR Steel Group - Website: https://www.bestar-steel.com/ BESTAR Steel Group- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bestarsteel Dennis Wagner – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denniswagner/

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related