Picture Credit: Pavel Danilyuk




Once a communication tool, language is now helping scale organizations to success. Entrepreneurs are recognizing how multilingual teams can increase their reach as they move globally. By breaking cultural barriers, multilingualism is proving to be a game-changer. We spoke with leading entrepreneurs who are using language diversity to push their businesses forward. Here's how they are turning multilingualism into an asset.



The Competitive Edge that Multilingualism Offers


Research says that businesses with multilingual teams have access to 30% larger markets. And this has proven true for many companies.



Kirill Bigai, CEO and Founder of Preply highlights how a multilingual workforce helped them:



“At Preply, we've seen firsthand how multilingual skills make collaboration and communication better while driving international expansion. Studies show that companies with multilingual employees are able to reach larger markets. That's why we prioritize bilingual training, ensuring our teams can connect with clients and colleagues seamlessly. Building a multilingual team is the key to unlocking global opportunities. The key is not just hiring multilingual talent but creating a space where continuous language learning is encouraged. The ability to communicate across cultures is a competitive advantage today.”





Building Relationships and Expanding Reach




For entrepreneurs scaling internationally, language is a key tool. The ability to communicate in multiple languages strengthens relationships with customers and clients in diverse regions.



Liviu Tanase, founder and CEO of ZeroBounce, has seen remarkable growth by building a multilingual team:



“Building a team that speaks multiple languages has been one of the smartest moves we've made for global growth. Our team speaks 11 languages, including Romanian, German, Greek, and Hindi. Their diverse backgrounds give us an edge over our competitors. One of our sales managers, for example, played a key role in helping us expand in India because she speaks fluent Hindi. As an immigrant to the U.S. myself, building a multilingual team was something I wanted to do personally. Working with people from around the world allows us to connect with customers on a deeper level and truly understand how we can serve them better. In a world where AI chatbots are everywhere, I'm glad we've kept that human touch through our multilingual team. It's been a key factor to our 40% annual growth.”





A Step Towards Diversity & Inclusion

When companies hire multilingual employees, they create a workplace that welcomes different cultural perspectives and fosters a more inclusive environment. While being an operational advantage, a multilingual workforce also promotes diversity and adds to the goodwill.



Bianca Errigo, Founder of HumanOS and a DEI expert, considers multilingual workforces as a big step to promote inclusivity effortlessly:



“A multilingual team is not just limited to speaking different languages. It's about building a workplace where cultural intelligence and diverse perspectives drive global success. When employees feel valued for both their skills and their identity, they bring their best selves to work. This in turn leads to better collaboration and stronger connections within the team as well as the global marketplace. Entrepreneurs who truly embrace diversity should focus on bringing multilingual people onboard to create an environment where language and culture are assets, not barriers.”





The Future




As businesses are expanding themselves in the global marketplace, the need for multilingual teams will only grow. That said, companies that invest in language training and cultural fluency will have a higher chance of rapid success.





Colin Smith, Co-Founder of Execnow, believes in a future with a multilingual team:



"The future of work is visibly multilingual. As businesses are crossing borders, leaders need to recognize that language is more than just a means of communicating—it's a bridge to innovation and building a strong team spirit. Companies that invest in multilingual training and cross-cultural fluency will gain a strategic edge. Teams with multilingual folks will be more adaptable and globally competitive. In an AI-driven world, the human ability to connect across languages will remain a benefit for companies."



Entrepreneurs worldwide have proven to take a global step, and the message is clear: speaking the language of your customers is not an option—it's the need of the hour.