NBF 2025 Highlights
On the 24th and 25th of September, around 7,500 decision makers gathered in Helsinki to step up their business and leadership game.
The event was filled with insights, connections, and enjoyment around the theme of Moving Forward!
Moving Forward
“Moving forward requires that we accept that it is impossible to change the world unless we are prepared to change our world.”
– Gianpiero Petriglieri
“A company can be scalable only if all levels of the company feel ownership.”
– Milda Mitkute
“Creativity comes from a connection to what’s going on inside of you.”
– Rick Rubin
“Leadership is not a position. Leadership is not a possession. Leadership is a relationship.”
– Gianpiero Petriglieri
“Culture must change to keep meeting your purpose.”
– Sukhinder Singh Cassidy
“If you’re not changing, then are you doing your job.”
– Angela Ahrendts
Secrets of Being Future-Ready
We kicked off 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.
Lessons on the Core of Company Culture
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.
Working Recipe for Leading Culture
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.
Foundations of Purposeful Leadership and Culture
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.
Importance of Strategic Foresight
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.
Keys to Master Change and Innovation
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.
The Essence of Growth and Creativity
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.
Read More Insightful Thoughts from the Main Stage Speakers
Eager to learn more of the key insights shared on the Nordic Business Forum 2025 stage? Our blog offers quick recaps of both days, but also written summaries of the Main Stage sessions. Enjoy!
“Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position, but certainty is an absurd one.”
– Peter Hinssen
“The future will not reward those of you who see it most clearly. It rewards those who act on what you see.”
– Risto Siilasmaa
“The faster the pace of change in the outside world, the more essential it is to know how to slow your own inner pace.”
– April Rinne
“A great company always provides the mechanism to allow good ideas to surface up.”
– Howard Yu
“Change is inevitable, but our growth is optional.”
– Diana Kander
Check the Visual Summaries
Our go-to notetaker Linda Saukko-Rauta has also made a sketchnote of each Main Stage session. Go back to the main points of each presentation in a quick and inspiring way!
Download the Written Executive Summary
The Executive Summary offers an overview of all the Main Stage sessions by capturing the core insights of each speaker. In addition to a written summary, we’ve also included a list of key points and a few reflective questions that you can use to better apply those insights into your own work. Enjoy diving into the ideas!
Want to See and Use All Photos?
Our photographer has captured numerous wonderful moments from the event. They’ve also taken many great shots from our dear event guests. Feel free to take a look at our gallery and use our photos! Just give credits to ©Nordic Business Forum when sharing.
Want to Join us in 2026?
The themes and first speakers for Nordic Business Forum 2026 have now been announced and tickets are on sale. Join to learn from Oprah Winfrey, Steven Bartlett, Angela Duckworth and many others to improve your leadership skills and take your business to new heights!