Download the Expatriate white paper

“Fake it till you make it.”

Most German executives hear this mantra within days of landing in the United States—during meetings, trainings, or casual coffee breaks. It reflects a distinctively American confidence in the power of self-presentation.

After 500 coaching sessions with German leaders posted in the U.S., one pattern stands out: success rarely falters at the making it; the real strain lies in the faking it. What’s often billed as harmless cultural adaptation can clash head-on with deeply ingrained German leadership instincts, and the price tag is steep:

• €4 million in average cost per failed assignment
• 33 % unofficial failure rate
• Careers stalling mid-trajectory
• Families under pressure

This white paper explores why even top-tier German talent can struggle in the American arena—and how a new generation of leaders is bridging the gap by blending German rigor with U.S. polish. Welcome to a candid look at Germans doing business in the United States.