Nordic Business Forum 2025 focused on foresight, growth, and culture. Here are some of the highlights:
The forum started with Howard Yu focusing on what defines a company’s preparedness for the future:
– They empower teams to experiment, take ownership, and learn quickly from both success and failure.
– They make themselves easy to partner with, opening doors for innovation and collaboration.
Focusing on the topic of company culture, Gianpiero Petriglieri underscored the need for humanistic leadership:
– Strong cultures don’t just align people—they keep them alive by nurturing learning, belonging, and meaningful work.
Sukhinder Singh Cassidy shared powerful reminders about leading company culture:
– Cultural change doesn’t always require big moves—small, consistent actions and listening to “constructive agitators” can create lasting impact.
Continuing on the topic of culture, Angela Ahrendts shared her learnings from leading companies such as Burberry and Apple Retail:
– Empowering employees and listening to customers creates alignment that fuels real innovation and business growth.
– Great leaders of the future will lead with authenticity, empathy, and human connection.
During the final session of Day 1, Milda Mitkute shared her learnings from founding and growing Vinted:
– Great company culture is built on transparency, trust, and empowering every team member to act like an owner.
Simon Sinek closed the first event day with insights on leadership, culture, and connection:
– Replace judgment with curiosity, build with purpose, stay consistent in what you believe, say, and do—that’s how cultures last.
Kicking of day 2, Peter Hinssen underlined how the “never normal” is the new reality, and leaders must embrace it:
– To thrive, organizations must eliminate outdated “yesterwork,” invest in adaptability, and empower people who are comfortable solving mysteries, not just puzzles.
Risto Siilasmaa followed emphasizing that strategic foresight only matters if you act on it—observation without execution is wasted potential:
– To stay ahead, leaders must train three muscles deliberately: observe trends, think critically, and act decisively.
Continuing on the topic of foresight, April Rinne shared her learnings on how to make change suck less:
– By practicing new habits—like running slower, releasing control, and noticing the invisible—you can make change not just manageable, but something to love.
Diana Kander then continued by giving practical tips on how to innovate and grow:
– Innovation starts by eliminating low-value work (“zombies”), reimagining from scratch, and building a pit crew to challenge your thinking.
During the last session of Day 2, Jonah Berger highlighted how change will not happen by pushing harder, but by removing the barriers that hold people back:
– If you want to drive action and growth, stop persuading—start designing environments and conversations where people convince themselves.
Closing the event, Rick Rubin reminded us that progress starts with taking action—even small steps in the wrong direction teach you more than standing still:
– Creativity, whether in art or business, comes from tuning into your inner voice, staying open, and freeing yourself from the pressure to follow rules or please others.
More on the speakers, check: https://www.nbforum.com/nbf2025
Photo: nbforum.com
