Global Leadership Lessons from Miguel Adao
What does it really take to succeed as a global business leader in today’s world? This episode of What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All explores powerful global leadership lessons from Miguel Adao, CEO of Voler Systems, and dives into how working across eight countries shaped his approach to leadership, communication, and growth.
Miguel’s story is a masterclass in cultural adaptability. From senior roles at HP, VMware, and Pepsi, to leading teams across continents, he shares what it takes to lead with vision — no matter where you are in the world.
🌍 H2: Global Leadership Lessons from a Cross-Cultural Career
Miguel Adao has built a career that spans the globe. Born in Portugal, now based in Sunnyvale, California, he has lived in eight countries and speaks five languages. That diverse background has deeply informed his leadership style — from reading body language to adjusting communication styles across regions.
“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.”
In this episode, Miguel explains how global leadership lessons influence not just hiring or messaging, but the very core of how businesses grow sustainably across borders.
💡 H2: Key Global Leadership Insights from Miguel Adao
Here are a few of the most impactful global leadership lessons from Miguel Adao discussed in the episode:
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🌐 Adaptability wins. Being able to shift leadership style depending on cultural norms is critical to building effective, inclusive teams.
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🗣️ Communication is everything. Speaking multiple languages is helpful, but listening and emotional intelligence are what truly build trust.
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🚀 Leadership grows with experience. From consumer brands to B2B tech, Miguel’s leadership has evolved with each country, each challenge, and each role.
“Language gets you in the door. But listening gets you the trust.”
Learn more about Miguel’s work at Voler Systems and how they’re leading innovation in wearable tech, medical devices, and IoT systems.
🧭 H2: From Global Experience to CEO Leadership
Since taking on the role of CEO at Voler Systems, Miguel has led the company through double-digit growth — leveraging his global experience in both marketing and engineering.
He shares what it’s like to bring a world-class mindset into a Silicon Valley tech company, why cultural awareness drives innovation, and how leadership evolves with experience.
🔚 H2: What It Takes to Be a Business Owner
As always, we close with our signature question. So we asked Miguel:
What does it take to be a business owner?
“Resilience, curiosity, and the ability to take the hit and keep going. Every. Single. Day.”
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode
🔗 Click here to listen to “Leading Without Borders” with Miguel Adao.
🏷️ Tags:
Global leadership, Miguel Adao, Voler Systems, international leadership, cross-cultural business, CEO podcast, Silicon Valley CEO, business growth, engineering leadership, What It Takes podcast
