Breaking Into Leadership: The NBF Leadership Program Unpacked

The NBF Leadership Program was created for students across different universities like Haaga Helia, Laurea, and Metropolia to introduce them to a leadership role like no other. A team of 12-14 students goes through several months of training based on leadership concepts and team-building exercises to become Customer Service Team Leaders at Nordic Business Forum. The Customer Service Team at the event is made up of over 200 students from different universities of applied sciences, and it is our job to lead them in different customer service functions.

Now this might sound serious, but in reality, it is one of, if not the most, fun we’ve had working with a group of people for a long time. The insights into leadership and the different team-building activities have been so much fun until now, and there is more to come. Here, we’ll share a bit more about what the program is, who it is for, and how to apply.

(Written by Arpit Jain and Shresth Vashist)

What Is the Leadership Program about?

The key purpose of this program is to empower and inspire young leaders and teach them how to be better leaders for their team members and others around them. There are a few key things that we feel the program builds upon:

Building a Team

Some of the key parts of the program exist in different kinds of group activities. For example, we had a lot of fun in a team cooking class organized by NBF. They took us to a culinary school, where we made a whole day’s worth of meals. For the starters, we had to make a mushroom risotto, for the main course, it was a white pike with asparagus and butter sauce, and for the dessert, it was an apple tiramisu thingy (you can guess which one we worked on from the details). At first, it seemed very daunting, but through having fun and splitting our work, it was relatively easy and, might I say, very delicious. For us, these types of exercises are what brings the team together, and gives the team an opportunity to do something that strengthens our bond and greatly helps with psychological safety.

Creating Trust

Certain group activities have allowed us to build trust in the group. An example of this is when we went to a session of laughter yoga together. At first, everyone was kind of nervous and did not really know what was going on, but for us Team Leaders, it was one of the best experiences together. We laughed so much the instructor was even surprised. I feel we all got to see a different side of the people we work with.

Learning about Teamwork and Leadership

Talking on the more professional side, the classroom sessions that are held by Marjo Haatainen and Salla Seppä from NBF and sometimes also with different guests, like Priit Liiv (The CEO of NBF), are very refreshing and sometimes even eye-opening. These sessions go over the basic fundamentals on how teams work, what makes a good team, and what we need to do in order to succeed during NBF 2025. These talks also include how we can improve this year’s NBF and changes we can make to help the students and the customers with a more streamlined experience. These sessions are super important as they teach us how to be a good leader to our team members during training and the actual event. We also learn what types of leadership styles we can use with the students. All of the sessions are more of a conversation than a lecture, where other team leaders present their ideas and Marjo and Salla help guide the conversation in the right direction. We wish our classroom lectures were like that.

Who Are the Participants in the Program and How to Get in?

The Leadership Program is designed for University students from the 3AMK universities, that’s Haaga-Helia, Metropolia, and Laurea University of Applied Sciences. We feel the vibe is super international, open-minded, and collaborative.

You’ll find people studying everything from finance to tourism to creative business. It’s like a melting pot of different skills and perspectives, which makes the experience 100x richer.

If you’re a student in one of those schools and you’ve got a passion for leadership, teamwork, and organizing next-level events, then this is right up your alley. Or if you’re just curious about how these Team Leaders are recruited, read on!

So, how do the people actually get into the program? Unlike you might think, you don’t need to have climbed Mount Everest or solved world hunger to qualify. But there is a structure to it, and here’s how it works:

Step 1: Get that One-year Experience First

Before anything else, you have to have worked at NBF at least once. That’s a non-negotiable. The idea is: if you’ve already been part of the event, you get what it takes, and you’re ready to take on more responsibility. So whether you were guiding guests, managing queues, or sprinting across the venue with a walkie-talkie, that experience matters.

Step 2: The Application Form

Once the applications open for the Leadership Program in November, it’s time to fill in that form. Simple questions like:

• Who are you?
• Why do you want to be part of the program?
• What makes you a good team player or leader?
• Can you commit to the training and event dates?

Pro tip? Be honest. Be human. Be YOU.
This is your chance to really show your personality. You don’t need to sound like a leadership guru. Just explain what excites you about the program and what kind of leader you aspire to be. Show that you’re someone who can support others, stay calm under pressure, and still crack a joke when needed.

Step 3: Group Interview Time

If your application hits the right note, you’ll be invited to a group interview. You’ll be in a room with 4–5 other applicants, and you’ll go through a few exercises or scenarios together. This isn’t about dominating the conversation or trying to “win.” Nope. It’s about listening, contributing, and showing that you can work well in a team, because spoiler alert: NBF is one giant team effort.

Step 4: The One-on-One

If the group interview goes well, you’ll be invited to a one-on-one interview. This is where they really get to know you. You’ll talk about your leadership style, how you handle challenges, how you support others, and how you’d guide your team during the event.
This was one of our favorite parts. It felt like a real conversation, not an interrogation. Just two humans talking about leadership, growth, and why events like NBF are so special.

Step 5: You’re in—Welcome to the Leadership Program!

If all goes well (and fingers crossed it will), you’ll get that golden email telling you that you’re officially a Team Leader! And it’s not just “See you at the event!” Nope. You’re trained, and that’s one of the best parts. You’ll go through:

• Leadership training sessions (fun, interactive, very real)
• Team meetings
• Communication exercises
• Event logistics walkthroughs
• Learning how to lead under pressure (trust me, that cloakroom line can feel like a battleground)

It sounds like a lot, but it’s actually super fun. The NBF team makes it engaging, supportive, and sometimes even funny. And suddenly, you’re not just “an employee”, you’re a leader.

Final Words (aka TL;DR)

The NBF Leadership Program isn’t just about leading a team and building one of the top business events in Europe. It’s about:

• Growing yourself as a leader
• Learning to communicate under pressure
• Supporting and empowering others
• Making real connections
• …and becoming a part of something bigger than yourself

This program has already taught us that leadership isn’t about being the loudest person in the room; it’s about being present, kind, and reliable.

It takes effort to get in, sure. But if you’re willing to show up, learn, and lead with heart, then you’re already halfway there. And who knows? Maybe you’ll be writing your own version of this story next year.