Behind the Book: Why I Wrote Borderless Business
Image Credit: 4 Questions When Expanding a Business Internationally – AllBusiness.com
I did not set out to become an international business expert. I set out to solve real-world problems, and the journey took me around the world.
My career began in domestic sales with U.S. Steel, a solid foundation in business fundamentals. But it was in the dynamic, often unpredictable world of global trade that I found my calling. Over the years, I negotiated the purchase of precision aircraft components from Japan and South Korea, navigated complex military and commercial contracts for helicopters and defense systems across Southeast Asia, South America, and Europe, and managed the cultural, regulatory, and financial variables that make international business both challenging and deeply rewarding.
I’ve sat across the table from government officials in Bogotá, engineers in Tokyo, and procurement officers in Seoul. I’ve worked with high-stakes contracts involving millions of dollars—and seen firsthand what works (and what fails) when companies attempt to “go global” without doing their homework.
Those experiences—and the lessons that came with them—are what shaped this book.
My goal is not to deliver abstract theory, but to share a practitioner’s guide to global market success. From my time in subcontract management at Fluor Engineers and C.F. Braun Co., to contract manufacturing at U.S. Borax, and eventually leading international procurement and sales efforts at Hughes Helicopters, McDonnell Douglas, and The Boeing Company, I’ve seen the entire life cycle of international business transactions: from sourcing and negotiation to delivery and compliance.
This book brings together the strategic frameworks, real-world case insights, and practical tools that I wish someone had given me when I started. It’s the culmination of over three decades of hands-on experience, supported by academic research and field-tested business acumen.
I hold a doctorate in business administration, a master’s in public administration, and a bachelor’s in political science. I’ve conducted graduate work in international business, U.S. government contracting, and law. My research has been published in peer-reviewed marketing journals, and I was honored with the Emerald Literati Network’s Outstanding Paper Award in 2010. I’ve also taught university courses in marketing and international business, equipping the next generation of global entrepreneurs.
But at the heart of it, I’m a practitioner. Someone who’s been in the trenches of global deal-making, who has had to read the fine print, interpret the cultural signals, and deliver results. Because I know how much opportunity exists out there, and I want to help you seize it confidently.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, just starting to explore international markets, or a seasoned executive expanding global operations, this book is for you.
The world has changed—and so has the marketplace. Today’s entrepreneurs are no longer bound by geography, and opportunities now span continents, cultures, and currencies. But with these new possibilities come new challenges. Let’s meet them together!
Closing Call-to-Action
Borderless business is no longer the future—it is today’s operating reality. Stay ahead by tracking these shifts with each issue of Hopkins Trade Monitor. Connect with me at drraymondhopkins.com for more insights into international business expansion.
