CEO & COB Summit 2026

by Nordic Business Forum

Within their own organizations, CEOs and Chairs are often rather alone with their problems and opportunities. They face the need to build a more successful business, high expectations of growth and profitability, demand to lead better – and not to mention being present to their loved ones.

This first of its kind CEO & COB Summit by Nordic Business Forum is a place to get timely insights and connect with your peers. It will be a combination of the energy of one of the world’s most impactful leadership conferences and the exclusive sessions of the CEO & COB Summit. 

Warm welcome!

  • 17 September, 2026
  • 7:030 - 12:45 (EEST)
  • Rooftop, Messukeskus (Messuaukio 1, 00520 Helsinki)
  • Check-in: You'll receive your Event Badge upon arrival to the venue (Southern or Northern entrance)

Agenda

07.30 – 08:30

  • CEOs & COBs private breakfast (Rooftop)
  • Executive Dialogue on today’s hottest competitiveness topics by Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae and Risto Siilasmaa (Rooftop)

08.30 – 09:30

  • Nordic Business Forum VIP session Navigating the New World Order by Michael Beckley (Main Stage)

09.30 – 11:15

  • NBF Main Stage keynote The Courage to Collaborate by Paul Polman (Main Stage)
  • NBF Main Stage keynote Conversation as the Operating System of Collaboration: Under Pressure by Alison Wood Brooks (Main Stage)

11.15 – 12:45

  • CEOs & COBs private lunch (Rooftop)
  • Private Q&A session with Michael Beckley (Rooftop)

Speakers

Risto Siilasmaa

Risto Siilasmaa is the founder of F-Secure, a global cybersecurity company, and served as the Chairman of Nokia from 2012 until 2020. He played a crucial role in guiding Nokia through a major transition. He continues to be an active investor and advisor in the technology sector.

Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae

Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae chairs the boards of Finnair, Orthex, Posti Group, BoConcept, and TCM Group, guiding these organizations towards sustained success and innovation. Her expertise in CEO and Executive Team effectiveness inspire leaders worldwide. 

Michael Beckley

Michael Beckley is a 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. 

Paul Polman

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. Paul continues his work towards a more sustainable future through board roles, investments, and his Net Positive book. 

Alison Wood Brooks

Dr. Alison Wood Brooks is an Associate Professor 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. Her award-winning research has been published in top academic journals and is regularly cited in media outlets such as The NY Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Venue Map

The CEO & COB Summit sessions will all be held at the Rooftop, Messukeskus, Helsinki.

The NBF 2026 keynotes by Michael Beckley, Paul Polman, and Alison Wood Brooks will be given at the Main Stage.