12Sep2025
Only 12 days remain until Nordic Business Forum 2025! To celebrate the countdown, we’ve gathered a selection of insights and key takeaways from all 12 of this year’s exceptional speakers. Take a look, get inspired, and start preparing for the ideas, stories, and perspectives that await you at this year’s event.
Rick Rubin – YouTube video about Creativity
(12-minute watch)
Rick Rubin, one of the most influential music producers of all time, opens up about the secrets of his creative process in an interview with Jay Shetty. He emphasizes that creativity has a place in everyone’s life—and that place can always be expanded. Things shouldn’t be done with the intention of gaining something, but simply because they genuinely spark your interest. The only real competition is with yourself: have you gone further than last time, have you pushed yourself forward?
Rick also reminds us that the best way to be accepted is to be yourself. Personality is a strength—sameness is boring, and it’s our differences that make us interesting. The only thing within your control is what you personally enjoy; you cannot control what others think. That’s why it’s essential to be proud of your work, give it your best, and put it out into the world—the right people will find their way to it.
Simon Sinek – Podcast about Optimism
(Approximately 60-minute episodes)
Many of us know Simon Sinek for his powerful ideas around the concept of WHY—his TED Talk on the topic has been viewed more than 60 million times. But beyond books and keynote stages, Sinek also hosts an active podcast, A Bit of Optimism, where he invites inspiring guests to talk about life, love, leadership, and silver linings.
The conversations are designed to leave listeners with fresh insights and a dose of hope, something we could all use these days. Simon’s goal is simple: to help us see that the future is always bright, if we know where to look.
Angela Ahrendts – Video Interview about Putting People First in Business
(39-minute watch)
Angela Ahrendts, former Apple and Burberry executive, highlights the power of putting people at the center of business in a Forbes video interview. She warns against settling for “good enough” and urges leaders to embrace change—adapting to disruptions, including AI, to make their organizations stronger. When unexpected things occur, companies can either get swept under the wave or adapt and grow, and that responsibility lies with leadership.
Trust, she says, is today’s greatest currency, and building deep, authentic trust is essential in an AI-driven world. People, culture, and connection form the foundation of long-term success, even in numbers-driven business. Leadership, Angela emphasizes, is about empowering others—the power is to empower. Vulnerability fosters authenticity, and teams follow leaders who are genuine. AI should be explored thoughtfully, enhancing human judgment rather than replacing it.
Jonah Berger – Article Reveals 3 Ways to Turn Everyday Words into Impact
(8-minute read)
In a recent CNBC feature, Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger shares three simple conversational tweaks that can transform failed communication into successful influence. Jonah, author of bestselling books like Contagious and Magic Words, reveals the power of small linguistic shifts to shape how ideas are received and remembered.
He demonstrates that everyday language choices can be subtle yet powerful tools of persuasion. The right phrasing can elevate your message from forgettable to contagious. Want to learn which three fixes can make your words resonate and influence? Dive into the full article—your next conversation could be the spark that changes minds.
Milda Mitkuté – HS Visio Article: From Simple Idea to Unicorn Business
(10-minute read – In Finnish)
Milda Mitkuté is a Lithuanian entrepreneur best known as the founder of Vinted, Europe’s largest second-hand fashion marketplace. Vinted operates in over 20 countries and has more than 100 million users. The company started in 2008 when Milda came up with a simple idea born from a genuine need and decided to sell her clothes online with a friend. Vinted later became Lithuania’s first unicorn startup, reaching a valuation of over $1 billion.
An article in HS Visio dives deeper into Milda’s journey, showing how a simple idea turned into a unicorn business, what she is currently working on, and her plans for the future.
Sukhinder Singh Cassidy – Tips Before Joining a Board in a Blog Post
(8-minute read)
Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, founder of theBoardlist and CEO of Xero, offers valuable insights for professionals aspiring to join a board in a Boardprospects blog post. Drawing from her extensive experience on boards of recognized companies, she emphasizes the importance of defining your areas of expertise, researching target companies, and building a strong personal brand. Sukhinder advises aspiring board members to actively network, engage with executive recruiters, and leverage platforms like BoardProspects to increase visibility and opportunities. Her approach provides a strategic roadmap for professionals aiming to transition into board roles.
Howard Yu – Blog Post About The Power of Quiet Leadership
(10-minute read)
Howard Yu, LEGO® Professor of Management and Innovation at IMD, explores in his recent blog post why some of today’s most effective leaders aren’t the ones making the most noise. Drawing on research, psychology, and real-world examples, he shows how quiet CEOs consistently deliver results. In business, substance outlasts show.
The lesson: true strength isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about clarity, resilience, and focus in times of uncertainty. Leadership is not about making noise—it’s about making things happen with a clear plan.
Diana Kander – Social Media Inspiration
(5-minute look)
As an author and keynote speaker, Diana Kander has shared her insights in many formats, but if you want a quick look into her thinking, her Instagram offers inspiration. The short videos spark ideas around entrepreneurship, leadership, organizational growth, and curiosity, turning everyday social media scrolls into brief but meaningful moments of learning and reflection.
Whether you’re seeking practical tips, thought-provoking insights, or a quick boost of motivation, Diana’s feed shows how social platforms can be more than entertainment—they can be a source of insight, empowerment, and innovative thinking.
Peter Hinssen – Brand New Book release: Uncertainly is Not a Threat
Peter Hinssen is a global keynote speaker, bestselling author, and world-leading expert on innovation, technology, and adaptive leadership. He has collaborated with Fortune 1000 companies like Google, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft, and lectures at top business schools including London Business School and MIT Sloan.
This year, Peter published his new book, The Uncertainty Principle, which explores how uncertainty is not a bug but a feature of life and a source of opportunity. The book is a manual for bold, visionary leaders who want to transform their organizations in the face of global challenges, emphasizing strategy, innovation, culture, risk appetite, and the evolving nature of work. It encourages readers to see cracks in the system not as warnings, but as windows for change—looking at chaos and asking, “what can we build here?”
Risto Siilasmaa – Podcast Interview about Technology Optimism, AI, and Global Growth
(83-minute listen – in Finnish)
Risto Siilasmaa is a Finnish entrepreneur and board professional, best known as the founder of WithSecure and as the Chairman of Nokia during its major transformation. He is an advocate of paranoid optimism—a leadership philosophy that combines clear-eyed risk awareness with strong belief in future opportunities. Risto is known for his focus on resilience, digital transformation, and strategic leadership.
In this recent Futucast podcast interview, Risto explains his views on technology optimism, the role of AI in shaping the future, and what we can do to boost economic growth. With AI, you can’t close your eyes and see only one side because there are both positive and negative sides.
April Rinne – TED Talk about How to Navigate our Uncertain Future
(17-minute watch)
April Rinne is a globally recognized change navigator, speaker, and author known for helping individuals and organizations thrive in constant change. In this powerful TED Talk, April explores how to thrive in a world that’s changing faster than ever. Once, the world felt predictable, but today change is constant, and April shares personal experiences that highlight the importance of adapting. She introduces the concept of the FLUX mindset—a way of thinking that treats change as a superpower rather than a threat.
April offers three practical tips to cultivate a FLUX mindset: look beyond your own culture, expand your peripheral vision to notice what you’re not seeing, and learn to let go of the future. Letting go doesn’t mean giving up; it means staying flexible and ready to adapt as changes unfold. Her approach shows that embracing uncertainty can be a source of resilience, creativity, and growth.
Gianpiero Petriglieri – Article about Leadership as Trust and Identity
(15-minute read)
In a Thinkers50 article, Gianpiero Petriglieri, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at INSEAD and leadership expert, brings his background in psychiatry into the leadership conversation. He views organizations as “identity workspaces,” places where people not only perform but also become who they are. For Gianpiero, leadership is not about exerting influence, but about courage, commitment, and trust—the ability to articulate and embody a shared story of possibility.
He highlights that today, leadership is less about exercising power and more about building communities and earning trust. A good leader needs courage, commitment, skills, and above all, trust. Leadership development, Gianpiero emphasizes, should therefore focus not only on individuals but also on leadership communities, where shared ownership and responsibility foster stronger and more authentic leadership.
