#43 – Trump, Trade & Transcontinental Growth: Negotiating International Expansion in a Closing America

This week on S4N, Gene breaks down one of the most daring corporate maneuvers in recent memory: Nvidia's bold push into the Chinese tech market under the shadow of U.S. export controls. Through the lens of The Art of War and real-world strategy, Gene returns to our friend from episode 40, Jensen Huang, to explore how Huang played a complex, high-level game – while balancing political risk, regulatory firepower, and a negotiation counterpart unlike any other: Donald Trump. This episode offers a rare look at how high-stakes corporate negotiations unfold when global markets, national policy, and executive leadership intersect. From managing geopolitical constraints to navigating ethically murky territory, Gene examines the real-world challenges business leaders face when the path to growth is anything but straightforward. Whether you're guiding international expansion, negotiating sensitive deals, or making tough strategic calls, this is for you. Remember: negotiation is life. Mentioned in this episode: "With Billions at Risk, Nvidia CEO Buys His Way Out of the Trade Battle", article in the August 11, 2025 edition of The Wall Street Journal by Lingling Wei, Raffaele Huang, and Amrith Ramkumar The West Point Way of Leadership by Larry R. Donnithorne