Book Launch Event
    An evening for

    America Doesn't Speak European

    A private evening for the European founders, executives, and operators who are serious about America, and tired of the version of it sold in pitch decks. One author. One moderator. One room of people who actually move things.

    Back to the book
    America Doesn't Speak European, Book Launch Event

    Date

    July 22, 2026

    Time

    19:00-21:00

    Location

    Milan

    The Argument

    European companies can succeed in America. The gap is rarely the product.

    Most already bring the craft, quality, and discipline to compete. What changes the outcome is learning how America buys, decides, and trusts. Relationships start differently. Decisions move faster. Credibility is signaled in ways that are not always obvious from the outside.

    The U.S. is not one market. It is fifty. It rewards clarity, confidence, and speed over caution. The companies that do well are the ones that translate their approach without losing what made them strong in the first place.

    At this event, Kamal will walk through the specific patterns that help European companies close that gap. Attendees leave with a clearer sense of what to adjust, what to keep, and how to move with more confidence in the U.S.

    Know-how and perspective

    Speakers

    01AUTHOR
    Kamal Hakim

    Kamal Hakim

    Author. Founder, Group FiftyOne.

    Born and raised in Texas, Kamal has spent his career working and founding businesses throughout the U.S.

    Before consulting, he worked in restaurant franchising, developing restaurants in the U.S. from the ground up. He also led marketing for American brands including Ford, the NBA, and Pizza Hut.

    He founded Group FiftyOne to help Italian and European companies enter the U.S. market, and serves as U.S. Country Representative for SIGEP World. America Doesn't Speak European is his first book.

    02MODERATOR
    Maria Gaia Fusilli

    Maria Gaia Fusilli

    Moderator. Deputy Director, ItalyPost.

    Deputy Director of ItalyPost, where she covers Italian business, leadership, and the country's most ambitious small and mid-cap companies.

    She moderates conversations with founders, executives, and policymakers across Italy's leading economic forums. Her audience is the same one this book was written for, and she is not in the habit of letting an argument go unchallenged.

    Program

    Schedule for the evening

    1. 18:45ends 19:15

      Arrival and welcome

      Registration and a first informal moment of networking with a curated reception.

    2. 19:15ends 19:25

      Opening remarks

      A short framing of the evening, the book, and what the audience can expect to take home.

    3. 19:25ends 20:05

      Author in conversation

      Kamal Hakim and Maria Gaia Fusilli on what European companies routinely get wrong about America, and how to get it right.

    4. 20:05ends 20:25

      Audience Q&A

      Open to guests who want to ask a question. No pressure to speak, and no requirement to participate.

    5. 20:25ends 21:00

      Networking and book signing

      Aperitivo, signed copies, and quieter side conversations with the speakers.

    Location

    Milan.

    The exact venue is shared privately with each guest upon confirmation.

    By invitation, seating is limited

    One evening.
    A clearer path into America.

    Request your seat below. Confirmed guests receive the venue, timing, and a signed copy of the book at the door.

    Request an invitation

    Apply to attend

    Submitting this form does not guarantee admission. Each request is reviewed by our team.