South to South: France-Focused Consultancy Looks to Link Up Dynamic Regions of U.S. and Europe

Editor’s note: Global Atlanta is proud to announce Connexion South as the 2025 sponsor of our France Channel. The Atlanta-based consultancy helps facilitate environmentally responsible cross-border collaboration between southern Europe and the Americas. Founders Brian Tolleson, Karim Lesina and Billy Linville explain Connexion South’s interest in promoting connections between France and the U.S. South and their broader regions. The below is a sponsored Q&A.

Global Atlanta: Please tell us about your organization and its role in Atlanta’s global landscape.  

Brian Tolleson: Connexion South is a startup venture, born out of our established social and community impact consulting firm, Lexicon Strategies. Our founding team of Billy Linville, Karim Lesina and Brian Tolleson comprises seasoned entrepreneurs who have launched and exited multiple successful companies in the past, and we’re thrilled to root our U.S. headquarters in Atlanta.  

Atlanta is rapidly positioning itself as the economic and cultural epicenter of the American South with a truly global footprint. In addition to homegrown legacy powerhouses like Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines and Mailchimp headquartered here, according to the Metro Atlanta Chamber, over 3,000 international companies now operate in the metro area. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—recognized as the world’s busiest—further cements this city’s role as a global hub.  

Historically, you needed 20,000 employees and skyscrapers in New York, São Paulo or Paris to do global business. Today, the digital economy has dramatically lowered the barriers to entry, enabling billion-dollar companies to be run from a laptop. This technology-driven shift levels the playing field for regions like the American South and Southern Europe—traditionally overlooked in the global economy—to scale up quickly and attract new foreign investment. Real-time translation technology, showcased at this year’s CES, is on track to become far more seamless by 2026, thanks to small AI models designed for specialized tasks. As these tools mature, language and infrastructure barriers will continue to shrink, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for businesses and communities worldwide. Connexion South aims to serve as a bridge, helping these communities and companies connect to this new borderless marketplace. 

Global Atlanta: Why is it important to foster more discussion around doing business in or with France? 

Billy Linville: It’s vital to clarify that our scope extends beyond just France or Atlanta—we’re focused on Southern Europe overall, as well as the entire American South, Central America and South America. However, our European base of operations is in Sofia Antipolis, often called the “Silicon Valley of France.” This tech park is an extraordinary ecosystem for innovation in areas like clean tech, biotech and aerospace. It’s also a global model for how to blend technology development with environmental stewardship (buildings cannot exceed the height of surrounding trees, for instance).  

We are champions of France’s robust innovation climate and the work of agencies like Business France, particularly their commitment to responsible and ecologically conscious international business. According to 2023 data from Business France, France has led foreign direct investment across all of Europe for the last five years with 1,194 projects in 2023 alone, many of which focused on renewable energy, AI and biotech. And, the U.S. remains the top foreign investor in France with more than 4,500 U.S. companies with a European presence in France, employing over 420,000 people there.  

At Connexion South, we share France’s focus on ecological transition. Our goal is not just to facilitate cross-border activity but to do so responsibly. We aim to:  

• Highlight Europe as a leader in the ecological transition  

• Attract top-performing, new-economy and sustainable projects to Europe and the broader Southern European region and from Southern Europe to the American South, Central and South America.  

By fostering dialogue around these issues and linking these economies more closely, we believe we can unlock new avenues for innovation and responsible growth, as well as provide long-term stability and security for these regions. 

Global Atlanta: What are some of Connexion South’s upcoming initiatives involving France? What specialized services/expertise do you offer potential clients looking to do business in/with that country? What sets you apart in your engagement there? 

Karim Lesina: Early-stage research and ongoing market intelligence are critical to our long-term success. We are continuously expanding our relationships throughout Southern Europe to understand local economic opportunities—and the challenges that might hinder growth—so that we can give American businesses and organizations the most effective strategic advice.

Simultaneously, we’re building a similar knowledge base across the American South, Central America and South America, drawing on my own experience based in Miami and working with various Latin American companies.  

According to the International Trade Administration, exports from the Southeastern U.S. to France increased by nearly 30% over the last five years, illustrating a clear growth trajectory. What sets Connexion South apart is our combination of deep global expertise and real-time adaptability. Our partners bring decades of experience in international relations, public affairs, technology and social impact, yet we remain laser-focused on cutting-edge developments in sectors like aerospace, biotech and clean energy. This dual perspective—seasoned global insight coupled with a pulse on emerging technologies—ensures our clients receive both strategic vision and up-to-the-minute market intelligence. 

In addition, we collaborate with a think tank, the Center for Latin America Convergence (CC-LATAM, www.cc-latam.org), which plays a pivotal role in shaping the dialogue around critical issues that impact the Americas, Europe and beyond. By fostering collaboration among policy experts, industry leaders and academics, CC-LATAM helps identify actionable strategies for advancing economic integration, strengthening trade relationships and promoting sustainable growth.  

Through initiatives such as research papers, policy forums and cross-regional summits, we are pushing for practical solutions to challenges faced by businesses operating across the Atlantic corridor. A key example of this effort is the Digital Latam Summit (https://digitalsummitlatam.com ), which serves as a platform to spotlight the immense opportunities that exist between the U.S., Latin America and Europe. The summit brings together business leaders, policymakers and innovators from across the regions to discuss critical topics such as digital transformation, sustainable growth, and cross-regional collaboration.  

Events like these not only generate visibility for emerging opportunities but also drive actionable outcomes by connecting stakeholders with shared goals. This proactive approach, exemplified by the Digital Latam Summit, allows us to foster deeper economic and technological ties across the Americas and Europe. It ensures that businesses operating within this corridor are not only well-informed but also well-positioned to capitalize on the synergies between these dynamic markets. By leveraging such platforms, Connexion South and CC-LATAM demonstrate a unique ability to drive collaboration, innovation, and long-term growth.  

Historically, you needed 20,000 employees and skyscrapers in New York, São Paulo or Paris to do global business. Today, the digital economy has dramatically lowered the barriers to entry, enabling billion-dollar companies to be run from a laptop.

Brian tolleson

Global Atlanta: Why did you choose to sponsor a Global Atlanta Channel? What benefits do you expect from partnering with Global Atlanta?  

The Team: We have long admired Global Atlanta for its high-quality coverage of international business and cross-cultural exchanges right here in our city. For decades, you’ve led the civic conversation around Atlanta’s global prospects, consistently highlighting key trends, emerging markets and innovative companies. Our missions align: both of us are intent on elevating Atlanta and the Southern region’s role on the global stage.  

According to the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s 2024 Impact Report, metro Atlanta continues to be one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions, adding more than 65,000 new residents annually and attracting over $2.1 billion in new corporate expansions and relocations in 2023 alone.  

Partnering with Global Atlanta allows us to amplify these conversations, share success stories, and introduce new voices and innovators who can shape the region’s global future. Ultimately, we expect this partnership to deepen Atlanta’s connections worldwide, shining a spotlight on the city’s vast potential and helping Global Atlanta continue its role as a conduit for critical global dialogues.  

Global Atlanta: How can Global Atlanta best aid your outreach? Our contacts? Our expertise? 

We see several areas of synergy: 

• Major Events and Initiatives: Partnering around high-profile opportunities like the upcoming World Cup could showcase Atlanta’s global status. 

• Thought Leadership and Storytelling: We want to share success stories from Europe, Latin America and the American South—spotlighting innovative companies, policy advancements, and sustainable development projects. 

• Networking and Introductions: Leveraging Global Atlanta’s longstanding networks to connect with international businesses and government agencies. 

• Panels and Discussions: We’d be delighted to collaborate on or participate in forums focused on global business, technology, cultural exchange or sustainability. By combining forces, we can ensure Atlanta’s global narrative continues to broaden, reflecting the city’s diversity, innovation and rapidly expanding economic footprint.

Global Atlanta: Which of your services or events would you like to promote via direct email to our list focused on France? When would be the ideal timing?  

We’re still shaping our calendar for upcoming events and initiatives, especially those tied to conferences, trade missions and exhibitions across Southern Europe. Timing and alignment with major international gatherings—such as industry expos or clean-tech summits—will be key.  

We would also welcome opportunities to join or host panels, roundtables, or webinars through Global Atlanta’s channels, particularly on topics like:

• Expanding in the Southern European market
• Sustainable and responsible international business
• Cross-cultural communication in the era of real-time translation 

When the right event or travel opportunity emerges, we’ll collaborate closely with Global Atlanta to reach the France-focused (and broader European) audience at the most impactful moments.  

Thank you for the opportunity to share Connexion South’s vision, initiatives, and enthusiasm for fostering deeper global connections. We look forward to partnering with Global Atlanta and driving meaningful conversations and collaboration across the American South, Central and South America, Southern Europe and beyond. 

Contact Connexion South at https://www.connexionsouth.com/contact.