What Our Partners Got Out of Nordic Business Forum

Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure to partner with numerous great companies at our events. Our partners have brought tremendous value to our event participants all while generating new leads, increasing brand awareness, and gaining thought leadership.

In this blog, we spotlight three Nordic Business Forum 2025 partners, who are continuing to collaborate with us in 2026. We had the pleasure to hear from Esa Jäntti, EVP, Customers at Ilmarinen, Mathieu Piriou, Commercial Marketing Manager at Framery, and Karolin Frankenberger, Dean of the Executive School at University of St. Gallen on what they gained and why they came back for more.

Why Partner with Nordic Business Forum?

Before hearing from our partners themselves, we’ll share a few words about what Nordic Business Forum events can offer to brands. We provide tailored partnership opportunities designed to help companies:

• Increase brand awareness among a highly engaged audience
• Strengthen brand position and credibility
• Gain thought leadership
• Build meaningful relationships with senior decision-makers
• Generate qualified leads and meetings
• Showcase products and services in a premium setting

Now, here’s what our partners had to say.

Why Did You Choose to Partner with NBF?

Each partner shared what initially drew them to Nordic Business Forum from strategic brand visibility to shared values and international reach.

Esa Jäntti, Mathieu Piriou, Karolin Frankenberger

 Esa Jäntti, EVP, Customers, Ilmarinen:

“NBF is the most significant business event in the Nordics. It gives us a platform to meet customers, understand their future needs, and present our services to a discerning audience. After the success of 2025, coming back for 2026 was a no-brainer.”

Karolin Frankenberger, Dean of the Executive School, University of St. Gallen:

“Our ambition is to become the best business school in Europe. To achieve that, presence in influential international markets and forums is essential. Among the options we considered, Nordic Business Forum clearly stood out—world-class in content, professionalism, and reach. It brings together ambitious leaders eager to make a difference and offers an energizing, enjoyable experience.”

Mathieu Piriou, Commercial Marketing Manager, Framery:

“The event has been every year a great success, full of valuable interactions and meetings. We really value the high-quality standards of the NBF team, and this for Framery makes it a very natural event to partner with every year!”

What Were Your Goals?

Here’s what our partners set out to achieve: deeper customer connections, new markets, and brand storytelling in a meaningful context.

Ilmarinen:

“Our goal was to strengthen customer relationships and gain deeper insight into what our clients expect from the future. At the same time, we aimed to reinforce Ilmarinen’s brand and position as a leading player in the industry. Our customers are proven to be the most satisfied in the sector, and the partnership helped us create meaningful conversations and new networks.”

University of St. Gallen:

“Our aim was to explore the Nordic Executive Education market and connect with like-minded leaders and organizations. We were thrilled by the strong brand recognition we gained right from year one—it exceeded expectations.

Framery:

“Partnering at NBF allows us to showcase our smart and soundproof pods in their natural environment to a wide, qualified audience. The event is a lively venue where sometimes a small break from the buzz is needed for a short call or a private discussion. We feel like in this setup in particular, our products truly speak for themselves and they play a natural part in elevating the experience of all visitors at NBF.”

What Did You Find Most Valuable?

From product showcasing to team bonding, our partners felt the value of NBF partnerships went beyond expectations.

Ilmarinen:

“Overall networking and face-to-face conversations with existing customers. The event gave us a chance to listen to our audience and showcase our services. Additionally, the visibility and content collaboration supported our brand excellently.”

University of St. Gallen:

“An unexpected but one of greatest outcomes was the team-building effect. Being together in such a stimulating environment created connection and trust. It was a moment of inspiration both personally and professionally.”

Framery:

“Being on our home market with an audience already familiar with Framery gave us the chance to focus on a less-known side of our offering, such as our smart office solutions. At NBF 2025, we launched a booking feature where attendees could reserve private pods on demand. It’s great to be able to show to the NBF visitors that Framery is much more than a phone booth company.”

How Was the Collaboration?

NBF’s team was appreciated for professionalism, flexibility, and care by the partners.

Ilmarinen:

“The collaboration was smooth and professional. The NBF team was flexible, proactive, and genuinely interested in helping us reach our goals. Our partner experience was excellent.”

University of St. Gallen:

“It was fantastic. Every interaction with the team was highly professional, remarkably responsive, and warm-hearted. You can tell that they truly care about creating value for their partners and participants alike. They always go the extra mile – and they do it with a smile.”

Framery:

“It’s every year a pleasure to work with the NBF team. Their attention to detail is spot-on, and they make the planning process a smooth sailing every year, even given the complexity of the logistics involved. We couldn’t ask for a better team to work with!”

Why Continue in 2026?

The 2026 theme, Human Edge, strikes a strong chord. Our partners explain why they’re coming back for more.

Ilmarinen:

“Next year’s theme, the Human Edge, aligns perfectly with how Ilmarinen operates—people-focused and attentive to customer needs. We’re looking forward to even more impactful encounters.”

University of St. Gallen:

“For the opportunity to deepen our engagement and learning. In 2025, we stepped in to explore the potential and connect. In 2026, our focus will shift towards building on those insights and partnerships – turning exploration into tangible impact. It’s about learning, growing, and contributing even more actively to this inspiring community.”

Framery:

“As a brand, we really connect with the Human Edge theme in a world where technology takes more and more space. Our smart pods allow workers around the world to focus on what really matters and what makes a difference at work: finding a quiet space to focus, or a space that can enhance collaboration. As we believe this will be an increasingly important topic in the years to come, this makes us really excited about next year’s edition!”

Could Your Company Become an NBF Partner?

We’ve already confirmed partnerships for Nordic Business Forum 2026, but there’s still room for more.

Could one of those spots be for you? Reach out to our team to further explore the possibility!