In Canada I don't think it's the same reasoning. We don't shame ambition, but we also prefer to be a "big fish in a little pond."
It's the inferiority complex that comes from living so close to America. Companies and individuals that stay here are mostly focused on becoming the best Canadian version of the thing.
This is a well-known thing in Scandinavia (or at least I think it's well-known - I'm not Scandinavian.) They call it the "Law of Jante". (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante) I didn't know it was a thing in Irish culture too.
We don't have a word for it that I'm aware of, but I would say that is at least 40-60% of the undertone I notice. Even when I myself was getting into startup stuff 20+ years ago, I very very very vividly recall my father looking at me and saying with real distain "why do you think you have to be better than everyone else?".
Perhaps Canadians have a similar word? I can't really think of an equivalent in the US, which is perhaps telling.