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Olivier GRELLIER, Winner of the 16th International Expatriation Award – Social and Solidarity Engagement

The GO2 group (GO2C.eu – GO 2 Consult ; GO2S.eu – GO 2 Scale – NAVIGO2C.eu) is pleased to announce that Olivier GRELLIER, founder of GO2Consult e.U., has been recognized at the 16th International Expatriation Award, in the category Social and Solidarity Engagement. This award highlights his exemplary career as a French entrepreneur based in Austria and his constant commitment to social and solidarity causes.


An entrepreneurial journey serving social impact

The Racines SUD Award annually recognizes French expatriates worldwide for their professional achievements, community contributions, and societal engagement. Through the creation and development of GO2Consult, Olivier GRELLIER has shown how entrepreneurship can go hand in hand with meaningful social action.


Alongside his entrepreneurial activity, Olivier actively supports several international organizations:

Racines SUD 2026 Award Winners

The Racines SUD Award recognizes several categories:

  • Ambassador: Ludovic KRUNDEL (China)

  • Entrepreneur: Cyril PLUCHES (London)

  • Innovation / Research: Fabrice VAILLANT (Colombia)

  • Young Expat: Flora TISSIER (USA)

  • Coup de cœur: Thibaut ROUQUETTE (Switzerland)

  • Rebound Expat: Marie MIGAIROU (Singapore)

  • Social & Solidarity Engagement: Olivier GRELLIER (Austria)

  • Special Jury Mention: Ali BENNANI (Morocco)


    For full results: 🌐 16th International Expatriation Award – Racines SUD



Exclusive Interview on the “Français dans le Monde” Podcast


Following this award, Olivier GRELLIER was invited by Gauthier Seys to the podcast “Français dans le Monde”, a free and independent non-profit association (French Law 1901) providing information to nearly 3 million French expatriates worldwide. The episode explores his journey, his commitments, and his vision of social and solidarity-based entrepreneurship.



🎙️ Listen to the podcast and read the full French transcription:🌐 Entrepreneurship and Solidarity in Austria – Olivier GRELLIER’s inspiring journey




💬 You can find here the full transcript of the podcast/interview in English :


"What if this podcast was the beginning of your new life… Welcome to Français dans le Monde, the international mobility media. I’m Gautier Saïs, and I have the pleasure of spending 10 minutes with Olivier Grellier, based in Vienna, Austria. 10 minutes.


G: He has just won a prize, the Expatriation Award, offered by the Association of Occitans in the World, Racines Sud, the 2026 Social and Solidarity Engagement Award. This is an opportunity to get to know Olivier, even if you are not a true Occitan by birth and heritage. Olivier, hello.


O: Hello Gautier, thank you for having me.


G:  We’ll look back at your career, your life, in what is clearly, according to various surveys, one of the best places in the world to live, even if you have a few tips to share. And we’ll also talk about your professional experience.


If you don’t mind, let’s start at the beginning. Originally from the Paris region, preparatory classes for HEC, and then Occitania adopted you when you went to Toulouse Business School, where you lived for three years. What is it? Is it the Occitans, rugby, food?


O: It’s all of that. Actually, it’s all of that. From the very first interviews, during the business school oral exams, the welcome was fantastic. I remember that it was what appealed to me most, in addition to having some family near Fontenilles.


G:  So you studied there with a few internships, but you decided to expatriate to Europe.


O: Yes, that choice was motivated the day RENAULT offered me to do a VIE either in Zurich, Angola, or Vienna.


G: You chose Vienna.


O: I chose Vienna. This was in 2004.


G: Let’s remind the audience what a VIE is for those who don’t know the acronym.


O: Yes, it’s the Volontariat International en Entreprise (International Corporate Volunteer Program), under the supervision of Business France, which does a remarkable job on this. I was among the first waves of VIEs in Austria, since the VIE replaced the cooperation program, allowing people who did not want to do military service at the time to work abroad in a company instead. When military service was professionalized, they developed the VIE program.


G: So, how did you choose Austria? Is it because you did some research, met people, read books, surfed the internet?


O: It turns out that my first training was in piano; I attended the music conservatory. I also had an exchange pen pal, since our schools in Germany, Austria, and France promoted early German language learning, and I had a German-Austrian pen pal in Vienna. I knew a little bit, and Vienna was the perfect choice for me, for its musical culture and almost daily operas.


G: So you went there, even though we should warn listeners: an expat arriving in Austria is not necessarily warmly welcomed. There is not much human warmth.


O: It’s not the Mediterranean. They are a bit less Latin. I also lived a little in Brazil, where you can eat feijoada at a grandmother’s house just two days after meeting someone. It’s not quite like that here. But once relationships are established, they are strong, and you have to hang in there.


I advise everyone to hang in there and to mention that you could potentially be buried in Austria rather than saying you’re just passing through. It reassures people a little. And you have to take some time.


G: You hesitated several times to return. You would say, “Well, the Austrian adventure is over.” Ultimately, you are still there in 2026, so it went rather well. You have to be patient to enter the hearts of Austrians.


O: Yes, real Austrians from Austria. Beyond that, it’s a very international country, since the UN has a headquarters in Vienna. There is OPEC, OSCE, ICMPD. I also invite you to look at all the international organizations in Vienna. I am also an advisor to the UN Staff Council, in addition to my other activities.


So there are many international organizations in Vienna, which also allows people to live without much contact with Austrians. Some choose that path.


Having played tennis, football, and other activities, I was fortunate to meet fantastic Austrians.


G: You live today in an apartment in the 7th district, in the heart of the city. Why is this city so highly ranked by expats? Why is life so pleasant in Vienna?


O: Actually, it’s an incredible and striking mix. The tap water comes from the mountains. You should know that a large part of Austria is mountainous. The water flowing from the taps is very pure; my skin feels very soft thanks to it.


Transport is very well organized, often doubled or even tripled: bus, tram, metro. Security is good, and day-to-day, you’re not worried about your children or your wife coming home late, although you should always be careful. But this is part of the good life.


I also think they have a social tradition in which they decided not to tax inheritance in Austria as heavily as in France. This means that many Austrians are apartment owners, whether in Vienna or in the regions. Real estate prices have remained relatively moderate, with a strong public housing policy. This also helps relax everyone, even if recent geopolitical times do not favor it.


G: I imagine inflation has been noticeable since 2020 in the city.


O: Yes, it’s felt — on prices, apartments, purchasing or renting, and daily life. But compared to Paris rents, we are still doing well, and we often have more space. What contributes to luxury for me is space and time.


Since it is easy to get around in Vienna and we live in places with a little more space, we go to restaurants, we’re not on top of each other, even in the metro. This contributes to a certain calm.


G: Professionally, you have 20 years of experience in financial management, and then you decided to set up your own consulting firm, GO 2 Consult (GO2C.eu). Today, you are accredited by Business France.


In particular, you encourage French companies to invest in Austria. What are the main advantages?


O: Since life is pleasant in Vienna, that is obviously a strong incentive for employees of large companies who might want to move here. Austria is also centrally located in Europe and Central Europe, with many neighboring countries: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy — meaning the pizzas in Vienna are excellent. South of Germany, so very central in Europe.


There is a good quality of life, a high standard of living, and still a relatively strong purchasing power. This contributes to Vienna’s attractiveness.


And above all, the economic partners: Austrians, with the Franco-Austrian Chamber of Commerce, which is very strong; all French associations, Atout France for tourism; but also Wirtschaftskammer Österreich, the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the Vienna Business Agency, and the Austria Business Agency, all working professionally to facilitate integration in Austria.


G: Finally, this year’s Expatriation Award offered by Racines Sud — the Social and Solidarity Engagement Award.


A few words, because in your life you experienced a serious illness at age 13, a golden staph infection. And since then, it has profoundly changed your desire to help people, organizations, and associations. This award recognizes that journey.


O: Yes, in fact, it wasn’t really calculated. That is, I realized — one is always smarter afterward, perhaps — so time passes, and the pieces of the puzzle in life fall into place.


It’s true that this illness and long hospitalization always made me a bit different, apart, special, hyperactive, since I really have a hunger to seize life. I’ve always wanted to give back, if I could, what I had received, what I had benefited from.


I am very grateful to the French medical system for the support I received. In the United States, my family might have been in debt for three generations.


Creating my firm was also to help anyone start their own business. Once I did that, I wanted to help, and I enjoy helping through my connections, relationships, expertise, and intuition — organizations that might need support. So I enjoy helping to help.


Among the organizations I support, for example, there is kleineherzen.or.at, “Little Hearts,” supporting disadvantaged, disabled, orphaned children in Ukraine and Cambodia. There is Vienna Mission for Ukraine (vm4u.org), helping those affected by war. There is CEHRI.org, helping victims of war crimes and promoting therapeutic justice. I also support dupmecp2.eu, which provides support to families affected by MECP2 gene duplication syndrome.


G: The award is clearly deserved, Olivier. Congratulations to the RACINES SUD teams for choosing to honor your engagement.


O: I think life in Vienna is now well established. No question of moving back to France.


I must not say “Fontaine, I will never drink that water again,” since the water in Austria is apparently better.


I have been fortunate — both as an expatriate and in starting a company — and I often say, we shouldn’t be manichean: you can start a business while being employed. People don’t necessarily know that.


You can be an expatriate while regularly traveling back to your roots. I have always been very close to friends and family. I was lucky to work for major French companies, with regular meetings in France. So I was able to maintain contact and never truly feel alone.


Honestly, in my case at least, Vienna is just a short flight from Paris.


A small note: if Atout France and our French friends could help establish a Vienna–Toulouse flight connection, it would be welcome.


G: We’ll see if Français dans le Monde radio has that power. Thank you, Olivier, for sharing your story on our airwaves, and I look forward to seeing you again.


O: With great pleasure, thank you Gautier.



 
 
 

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