1. US Business Training Program
How to master local business practices
and the “business relationship toolbox”
TEACHER : SYLVIA GALLUSSER, SYLVIA.GALLUSSER@GMAIL.COM
MAY 2016 – SAN FRANCISCO
2. © Sylvia Gallusser, Gallusser Consulting
Educational goal of the US Business Training
Program
Introduce executives and entrepreneurs with European background to US business practices: the
format can be adapted to small (~5 participants), mid-size (~20), and big groups (~50)
Provide them with the complete “business relationship toolbox”:
anybody’s contact info!
business emails
introductions
business meetings
phone calls
conference calls
networking event
elevator pitch
business identity
(title, business cards, online profile)
3. © Sylvia Gallusser, Gallusser Consulting
US Business Training Program curriculum
MODULE 1: BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT,
BUSINESS PRACTICES & ONLINE BUSINESS
PROFILE (3hrs)
Introduction to the Silicon Valley
business environment
Secrets of Silicon Valley: the “how can I
help you?” culture
Cultural specificities Silicon Valley vs.
East Coast vs. Europe
What are “business practices”?
How to develop a business relationship
and leverage the “business relationship
toolbox”
Lessons on finding your mentor
How to boost your online business
profile
MODULE 3: BUSINESS MEETINGS & VIRTUAL
MEETINGS (2hrs)
Too many unproductive meetings!
How to prepare and conduct a meeting
How to ace a business meeting
Introduction and self-introduction
Body language: how to detect signs of
boredom or genuine interest
How to conduct a phone call
How to conduct a web conference
Virtual meetings tools
MODULE 4: NETWORKING & SOCIAL MEDIA
(3hrs)
Business networking strategy
Business networking etiquette: how to
behave during a networking event
Focus on two specific pitching formats:
elevator pitch, networking event
How to create and develop an online
presence on social media to foster your
business existence (LinkedIn, Twitter,
Facebook and more)
Social media etiquette
How to contact any person you want to
talk to: emailing, social media,
introductions, networking…
MODULE 2 : BUSINESS EMAILS &
INTRODUCTIONS (2hrs)
Work habits and email routine
Email profiling: what kind of emailer are
you? What about your recipient?
How to write an effective business email
Specificities of “cold emailing”
How to make an introduction and
connect people
Strategic introduction vs. “use-my-
name” introduction
Better no recommendation than a poor
one!
How to write a thank you note
The 24-hr rule
Useful email tracking tools
4. © Sylvia Gallusser, Gallusser Consulting
Sylvia Gallusser
After several years of project management for the account of French tech companies
(SFR, CANAL+, vente-privée.com, M6 Web, Orange) as a business consultant for
ACCENTURE and KALANE Consulting, Sylvia joined UBIFRANCE (renamed BUSINESS
FRANCE) in San Francisco.
As Head of “Information, Technology and Communication” for UBIFRANCE North
America, she was in charge of a tri-national (French/American/Canadian) team composed
of business development professionals, engineers and lawyers based in San Francisco,
New York, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. UBIFRANCE North-American technology
team is particularly focused on the needs of hi-tech, high-growth companies. Key projects
include French Tech Tour Canada (an intensive week of B2B meetings and pitching
events) and ubi i/o (the 10-week Silicon Valley accelerator program for highly promising
French tech companies).
Sylvia graduated from HEC Paris (2003). She arrived in California in 2005, where she has
developed a special interest in the Silicon Valley ecosystem and local business practices.
She works with tech startups and is in close contact with several French business and
engineering schools eager to develop an international program. She partners with these
grad schools by teaching business practices, coaching students along the delivery of their
entrepreneur project, providing feedback and assessment during graduation jury
sessions, and introducing them to the most relevant contacts based on their project.
Teacher profile
