Building a Life and Business in the U.S.
- Sophie Boutelegier
- Jun 10
- 3 min read
My Perspective on Growth and Resilience
Translation of a Dutch article originally published in Feeling (June 2025)
A Leap of Faith Across the Ocean
When I had the opportunity ten years ago to build a new life in the United States, I seized it. And even in 2025, I have never regretted that decision. We originally moved to the U.S. for my husband’s job. But for me too, the move turned out to be a great opportunity. In Belgium, I had worked for years in the technology sector, but I dreamed of building an independent career. In Silicon Valley, I founded Expandify, through which I help B2B tech companies with their growth strategy.
The Power of Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a high-tech hub in California, home to companies such as Meta, Apple, and Nvidia. The region is known for its innovative and optimistic spirit, and the original drive of the American Dream still resonates here. No dream or plan is too big to pursue. When someone presents an ambitious, innovative idea, it quickly turns into action.
This liberal and open-minded way of thinking not only stimulates entrepreneurship but has also helped America grow at a remarkable pace into today’s global authority in high tech and innovation. That unique position, however, could come under pressure as research and education budgets are being reduced. Nowhere else are business and science so tightly intertwined.
Silicon Valley itself was born around Stanford University. William Hewlett and David Packard founded HP in a small garage in Palo Alto, officially the birthplace of this tech paradise. Professors and researchers, in turn, share their expertise and advise startups. Although that relationship is no longer as one-to-one as it once was, the exchange between academia and business remains strong.
Change and Uncertainty in the U.S. Economy
For companies looking to expand to the United States, much has changed in recent months. In everyday life, you hardly notice it: store shelves are well stocked, cafés and restaurant patios are full, and business events are bustling. Yet behind all that activity lies a sense of concern about the current economic climate. The uncertainty makes it difficult to take strategic decisions, which affects not only global trade but also the local economy.
America is an incredibly resilient country. This will be all right.
Take California, for example, a state closely connected with both China and Mexico because of its location. When trade tariffs rise, the impact on local companies and consumers is significant, and the cost of living is likely to increase.
Migration also plays a crucial role in California’s economy. Unlike in Europe, undocumented immigrants, or people without legal papers, make up a substantial part of the workforce, about 4.5 percent of all workers. If labor migrants were to disappear, sectors such as agriculture could grind to a halt.
Tourism and Local Life
Tourism is also feeling the effects. America’s world-famous national parks normally attract millions of visitors each year, but current uncertainties are prompting more tourists to choose other destinations. That is unfortunate, because the beauty of these parks has not changed. The U.S. remains a stunning country, filled with remarkable people and breathtaking natural landscapes.
A Country of Possibility
The current trade tensions are not good news for the global economy. Still, I am convinced that this uncertainty will not last another four years and that stability will return.
The United States remains a land of opportunity, even in turbulent times. And that is precisely what still makes it worthwhile for me to live, work, and build a business here.
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