Meet Shannon: building her small business in Germany

Meet Shannon,

an American expat who followed love to Germany—and ended up building a thriving small business in Baden-Württemberg.

Originally from the San Francisco area, Shannon moved to Germany for what was meant to be a temporary chapter. Fourteen years later, she’s still there, raising a family and running her own aesthetics business from the ground up. In this episode, we talk about navigating entrepreneurship abroad, dealing with German bureaucracy, learning the language while building a client base, and adapting to cultural differences without losing yourself.

Shannon shares the reality of starting a business as an expat woman in Germany, the importance of community (especially when friendships come and go), and how she blended her American personality with German culture to create a business that truly works—for her and her clients.

An honest, warm conversation about resilience, identity, and building something of your own far from home.

📍 Location Recommendations (Germany)

• Kazumi (Böblingen) – her go-to sushi spot

• Motorworld Böblingen – where her business is located, plus bars, restaurants, and car lovers’ heaven

• Brazilian Churrasco Restaurant (Stuttgart) – lively atmosphere, music, and all-you-can-eat Brazilian BBQ

🎶 Expat Song

• “I Follow Rivers” – a song that captures the leap of faith that brought her to Germany

Find Shannon: www.californiaglowbeauty.com

Related article: Starting a business in Germany

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Credits:

Intro outro Ice tea, Not the king

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