BERGAMO, IT. November 7, 2026. Group FiftyOne took part in the Festival dell'Impresa with a panel on a question many European companies are now weighing: what it takes to grow in the United States. The session, Vincere in Europa, convincere in America: la sfida della crescita oltreoceano (Winning in Europe, convincing America: the challenge of growing across the Atlantic), was held in the Sala del Consiglio of the Bergamo Chamber of Commerce.

The panel was organized around the presentation of America Doesn't Speak European, the book by Kamal R. Hakim, founder of Group FiftyOne. Hakim was joined by Stacey Kane, fractional chief marketing officer, and Marco Tamborini, partner at EY and head of its FAAS International Desk. Giulia Betti, journalist at ItalyPost, moderated the discussion.

The format brought together three vantage points on U.S. expansion: market entry, marketing leadership, and international financial advisory. The conversation stayed close to the practical questions a company faces before it commits to the American market.

Much of the discussion centered on the American customer. A company that has earned its reputation in Europe brings real strengths to the United States. The panel examined how those strengths are perceived by American buyers and consumers, and how to express them in terms that matter to that audience. A reputation built in one market does not carry over to another on its own, and the way a company describes itself often needs to change even when the product stays the same.

The speakers also addressed how differences in consumer expectations and business practices shape decisions about entering the market. Those differences affect how a brand is positioned, how it is presented to buyers, and what a company should expect from the early stages of U.S. growth.

These themes run through America Doesn't Speak European. The book starts from a clear position: European companies can succeed in the United States, and the gap is rarely the product. What changes the outcome is understanding how America buys, decides, and extends trust.

"European companies arrive in the United States with real strengths," said Hakim. "The work is explaining them in terms an American customer recognizes."

The session reflected Group FiftyOne's focus on helping European companies prepare for U.S. expansion. For companies evaluating that step, the discussion pointed to the value of testing assumptions early: who their customers will be, what those customers value, and how the company's offering will be understood in the United States. Answering those questions before committing resources gives an entry plan a far stronger foundation.

Group FiftyOne thanks the organizers of the Festival dell'Impresa and the Bergamo Chamber of Commerce for hosting the session, and Stacey Kane, Marco Tamborini and Giulia Betti for their contributions.

America Doesn't Speak European is available now.

About Group FiftyOne

Group FiftyOne helps European companies enter and grow in the United States. Its work covers U.S. Buyer programs, market entry, recruiting, and work visas. The company operates from San Antonio, Texas, with a European liaison office in Milan, Italy.

Media contact: contact@groupfiftyone.com

Reference