11 Days to Go – 11 Speakers at Nordic Business Forum 2026!
To celebrate the countdown, we’ve gathered a selection of insights and key takeaways from all 11 of this year’s exceptional speakers.
Dive into their stories, get inspired, and start preparing for the ideas, stories, and perspectives that await you at this year’s event!
Oprah Winfrey – Video: Oprah and Jacinda Ardern: A Different Kind of Power
(1 h 8 min watch)
Oprah Winfrey has created an unparalleled connection with people around the world, making her one of the most respected and admired figures today. Oprah is a global media leader, producer, philanthropist, actress, and author.
On the Youtube Video Oprah and Jacinda Ardern (former prime minister of New Zealand), discuss kindness as a guiding principle of leadership, challenging the traditional idea that power and authority need to be associated with toughness or fear. They discuss what it means to lead with empathy, while still making difficult and decisive choices.
Steven Bartlett – Article: Steven Bartlett
(6 min read)
Entrepreneur, investor, and host of The Diary of a CEO podcast, Steven Bartlett has become one of Europe’s most influential business minds. His bestselling book, The Diary of a CEO: 33 Laws for Business and Life, has helped millions navigate business and personal transformation.
In the article Steven Bartlett shares how he turned early doubts and uncertainty into success. As the founder of FlightStory and host of The Diary of a CEO, he explores the journey behind building a billion-dollar business and becoming a leading voice in modern leadership.
Angela Duckworth – Social Media Inspiration
(5-10 min look)
Angela Duckworth is a psychologist, bestselling author, and founder of Character Lab, best known for her groundbreaking research on grit—the power of passion and perseverance in achieving long-term goals. Angela’s TED talk about Grit is among the most-viewed of all time.
If you want a quick look into her thinking, check out Angela’s Instagram. And if you haven’t yet watched Angela’s famous TED-talk, we highly recommend you watch it.
Paul Polman – Video: Recorded Live at Climate Week, New York
(1 h 3 min watch)
Paul Polman is an internationally recognized leader in sustainable business and a co-architect of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As CEO of Unilever (2008-2019), he proved that purpose-driven strategies deliver exceptional results.
At the Thinkers50 episode Paul discusses how business can be a force for good, what it means to be ‘net positive,’ and how to shape the next generation of leaders. Paul calls for a new leadership mindset centered on cooperation, purpose, and regenerative action—moving beyond competition to create meaningful, lasting change.
Patty McCord – Book: Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility
Patty McCord was the Chief Talent Officer of Netflix for fourteen years and helped create the Netflix Culture Deck. Since it was first posted on the web, the Culture Deck has been viewed more than 15 million times. Currently, Patty coaches and advises a small group of companies and entrepreneurs on culture and leadership.
In the book Patty shares her insights on recruiting, motivating, and building high-performing teams. Drawing on her experience as Netflix’s former Chief Talent Officer, she challenges traditional approaches to workplace culture and advocates for a culture built on freedom, responsibility, and strong performance.
Nando Parrado – Podcast: Resilience, Rugby, and Leading Your Life
(55 min listen)
Nando Parrado’s story is a powerful example of resilience and leadership. After surviving the 1972 Andes plane crash, he rebuilt his life and went on to become a successful entrepreneur, CEO, and television producer.
On the podcast episode Nando Parrado reflects on how the values and work ethic instilled by his family and nurtured through rugby helped him build the resilience needed to survive 72 days in extreme conditions and lead a mission across the Andes to save the remaining survivors. He also discusses the life lessons rugby provides, including moral clarity, collective responsibility, and self-confidence, as well as how he went on to create a second life after the trauma.
Rahaf Harfoush – Video: How Burnout Makes Us Less Creative
(5 min watch)
Rahaf is a digital anthropologist, bestselling author, and expert on the future of work. She explores how leaders and organizations can improve performance by using technology more intentionally, protecting focus, and creating environments that support creativity, resilience, and better decision-making. In a world where everyone is trying to do more, her message is refreshingly simple: sometimes the competitive advantage is knowing what deserves your attention.
In the TED series episode Rahaf explores how our obsession with productivity can actually reduce our effectiveness. Rahaf Harfoush argues that workplaces should shift their focus from constant efficiency and task completion toward creativity, focus, and meaningful work, helping people and organizations perform better in the long term.
Kjell A. Nordström – Book: Momentum
Economist, author, and global business thinker Kjell A. Nordström is known for his provocative views on business, leadership, and the forces reshaping society. With decades of experience advising companies, governments, and cities, Kjell has a rare ability to translate global megatrends into actionable insights.
Momentum by Kjell and his co-author Per Schlingmann explains how the pandemic, the climate crisis, and the war in Ukraine together are changing our societies, our organizations and ourselves. It bridges strategic foresight and leadership rather than being purely tactical, which makes it an excellent read for any business leader.
Alison Wood Brooks – Podcast: The Framework To Instantly Become Better At Conversation!
(33 min listen)
Dr. Alison Wood Brooks is the O’Brien Associate Professor of Business Administration and Hellman Faculty Fellow at the Harvard Business School, where she created and teaches a course called TALK. As a behavioral scientist, she is a leading expert on the science of conversation.
On the podcast episode Alison and Steven discuss Alison’s research based framework that can make you a better communicator in every area of your life. Alison explains the subtle habits that quietly damage your likability, why people often leave conversations feeling unheard, and the small changes that can make every interaction feel more natural, engaging and memorable.
Shawn Kanungo – Podcast: Unlocking Career Growth by Disrupting Yourself and Leveraging AI
(56 min listen)
Shawn Kanungo is a globally recognized innovation strategist and author specializing in disruptive innovation and generative AI. With over two decades of experience advising Fortune 500 companies, he helps leaders navigate transformation across AI, cloud technologies, and behavioural economics.
In this podcast episode, Shawn Kanungo discusses why disruption isn’t a dirty word and how it can actually spark growth in your career and life. He shares personal stories, practical tactics, and bold advice on embracing change, overcoming imposter syndrome, and even learning from the jazz-like improvisation of life’s unexpected moments.
Michael Beckley – Podcast: China’s Rise Is Over. Things Are Gonna Get A Lot Worse – Fast
(34 min listen)
Michael Beckley is a tenured political science professor at Tufts University, a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and Head of Asia Research at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. His research develops new methods to measure national power and forecast the rise and fall of great powers, showing why some states dominate while others decline.
In the podcast episode Michael explores China’s economic challenges, growing geopolitical tensions, and the risk of conflict over Taiwan. It examines how these developments could shape China’s strategy and the global business environment in the late 2020s.
