Expanding a business globally is like stepping into a vibrant, unfamiliar world filled with opportunity—and a few hidden traps. I remember when my friend Sarah, an HR manager, was tasked with opening her company’s first office in Japan. She thought it would be a breeze—after all, the company had a solid playbook from its U.S. operations. But within weeks, she was grappling with cultural nuances she hadn’t anticipated, from rigid workplace hierarchies to unspoken expectations around gift-giving. Her story isn’t unique. Cultural barriers can make or break a company’s global ambitions, but with the right approach, they’re not insurmountable. This…