In this episode of Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes, Jamie Seeker sits down with Miguel Adao, CEO of Voler Systems, to explore what it means to be a truly global leader. With a career that’s taken him across eight countries, five languages, and leadership roles at Pepsi, HP, VMware, and more, Miguel shares how cultural intelligence has shaped his leadership philosophy and career path.
Now based in Sunnyvale, California, Miguel leads Voler Systems with a unique mix of engineering expertise, marketing savvy, and global perspective. He dives into the lessons he’s learned working with teams across the world, how to build trust across time zones, and the human side of scaling a tech company.
Whether you’re growing a startup or managing a team that spans continents, this conversation is full of takeaways on connection, adaptability, and leadership without borders.
🧠 Key Takeaways:
- Cultural adaptability is a leadership superpower. Living and working in diverse environments taught Miguel to listen first, communicate clearly, and lead with empathy.
- Leadership doesn’t look the same everywhere. Miguel explains how expectations vary — and why self-awareness and flexibility are crucial.
- Language matters — but so does intent. Speaking five languages has helped Miguel connect, but he says tone and body language often speak louder than words.
- Trust is built differently across cultures. From hierarchical to collaborative dynamics, Miguel shares how to tune in and meet teams where they are.
- Leading a tech company today requires a mix of global awareness, humility, and curiosity.
💬 Memorable Quotes:
“You don’t lead the same way in Tokyo as you do in Toronto — and that’s not a challenge, that’s the gift of global leadership.”
“Language gets you in the door. But listening gets you the trust.”
“Every country I’ve lived in has taught me something about patience, people, and the pace of business.”
“Leadership without borders is about being comfortable with what you don’t know — and hungry to learn it.”
“What does it take to be a business owner? Resilience, curiosity, and the ability to take the hit and keep going. Every. Single. Day.”
🔖 Suggested Tags / Topics:
- Global leadership
- Cross-cultural business
- Tech leadership
- CEO interviews
- Startup growth
- International business
- Business communication
- Voler Systems
- Silicon Valley CEOs
- Engineering innovation
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.