Nordic Business Forum

Stop Optimizing Everything: The Real Path to High Performance 19.05.2026 47min

From the crucial difference between performance and productivity to the spillover effect between your personal and professional life, this episode unpacks the deeper mechanics of human efficiency. Expect sharp insights on the reality of wearable tech and a step-by-step blueprint to optimize your energy from your morning arrival to your evening wind-down. Plus: how to conquer the post-lunch slump, ways to measure mental well-being, and the single biggest hidden habit that is quietly killing your daily performance.00:00 – Intro: What We’ve Gotten Wrong About Performance01:15 – Why More Optimization Often Makes Things Worse03:59 – James Hewitt’s 3C Model: Capacity, Control, Coordination06:10 – Why Doing Less Is a Performance Strategy07:37 – Wearables, Tracking, and the Data Obsession Trap11:03 – Sleep, Stress, and Leadership Performance13:42 – What Formula 1 Teams Teach Us About Performing Under Pressure17:47 – Managing Mistakes Without Losing Control19:05 – The Science of High-Performing Teams21:11 – Why Most Teams Fail to Coordinate Properly23:13 – Plan, Brief, Execute, Debrief: System for Teams26:30 – The Importance of Psychological Safety and Failure29:22 – High-Performance Teams Succeed in Organized Hybrid Settings34:23 – Cognitive Load of Online Meetings37:30 – Boundary Management Between Work and Non-Work Time39:01 – Building Better Attention Habits41:14 – The 3C Model Applied to Personal Life43:43 – Attention Is Our Most Valuable Resource45:00 – Attention Is an Act of Love45:33 – Why Self-Compassion Improves Performance

Is This the End of the Neutral CEO? 28.04.2026 1t 4min

In a world where silence is no longer safe, today’s CEOs face a new reality: take a stand or risk losing relevance. But what does it really mean to lead in an age of polarization?Host Heli sits down with Annika Arras (CEO, Miltton New Nordics) and Thomas Kolster (marketing advisor & author) to unpack the rise of corporate activism.From the tension between profit and purpose to the risks of “performative” values, this episode explores why neutrality is fading and what replaces it.Expect sharp insights on leadership, trust, stakeholder pressure, and the messy intersection of business and politics. Plus: real-world examples, hard truths about money and morality, and a practical playbook for navigating activism without breaking your company.00:00 – Intro: The End of the Neutral CEO03:00 – What Corporate Activism Really Means Today04:10 – From Milton Friedman to Modern CEOs: What Changed?05:58 – The “Hero Trap”: When Activism Becomes Self-Serving07:48 – US vs. Nordics: Why Context Matters in Taking a Stand10:39 – Should CEOs Follow Values or Customers?13:00 – The Three Drivers of Activism: Material, Societal, Existential18:06 – “Everything Is Politics”: Why CEOs Are Already Political25:22 – It’s Sustainable to Be Inclusive28:02 – Leaders Need to Create the Space for Difficult Discussions29:45 – Challenger Brands vs. Corporates: Who Can Take Stronger Stands?32:37 – When Activism Works: Examples from Finlayson and Others35:15 – Short-Term vs. Long-Term Thinking in Leadership37:14 – Why CEOs Must Stay Curious and Close to Society39:25 – What Kind of Money Do You Want to Make?44:14 – Practical Guidelines: Why, What, How, and When to Act58:55 – The One Thing Leaders Should Remember01:02:28 – Outro: It’s Okay to Disagree

How to Use AI Without Letting It Rot Your Brain 08.04.2026 57min

AI can boost your thinking but it can also replace it completely. In this episode, we explore how to use AI in a way that strengthens your brain instead of weakening it. Host Olivia Ojala is joined by neuroscientist Mona Moisala and Pactum AI co-founder Kaspar Korjus to discuss what research says about AI’s impact on cognition, memory, and decision-making. When does AI enhance learning, and when does it lead to shallow thinking?You’ll hear practical insights for professionals and leaders: how to use AI as a co-thinker, what tasks to delegate, how to avoid “AI slop,” and why “think first, prompt second” might be the most important rule of all. A must-listen for anyone navigating AI at work and wanting to stay sharp while doing it.00:00 – Intro: Is AI Enhancing or Rotting Your Brain?02:21 – The Neuroscience of AI: Cognitive Offloading vs. Atrophy04:52 – Think First, Prompt Second: The Golden Rule for Brain Health06:55 – AI Agents as "Graduate Students": How to Train Your Tools12:29 – The Fears and Misconceptions around AI17:34 or 18:46 – Integrating AI at the Workplace: Useful Strategies for Companies and Leaders20:47 – The Adoption Inequality Gap: Winners and Losers of AI26:57 – The Fine Line between Outsourcing Tasks for Productivity and Killing Expertise33:50 – Beware of "AI Slop": Spotting Hallucinations and Fake Citations36:36 – How AI Really Works: Next-Character Prediction vs. Human Logic41:26 – Using AI as a Co-Thinker: The Active Way of Using AI at Work46:17 – Building Your Brain Muscle Back47:54 – The 3x Productivity Trap: Why AI Makes Us More Stressed49:13 – Leading with Empathy: Mental Health in the AI Era53:48 – Bridging the Generation Gap: How AI Impacts us Across Generations56:03 – Outro: How to Stay Human in an Automated World

Psychological Safety - Amy Edmondson 16.06.2022 26min

In this session, you will learn: How does psychological safety lead to high performance? How does your leadership style affect your team? Why are bad ideas also an essential ingredient of success?

Strategic Work in a Turbulent Geopolitical Landscape - Kjell Nordström 28.04.2022 34min

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused, above all dreadful loss, grief, anxiety, and fear. It has also drastically changed the geopolitical landscape we operate in as businesses. So, how can you navigate your business strategy now? We’ll try to find that out at our next live webinar as we sit down with the economist and author, Kjell A Nordström. In this session, you will learn: What are the emerging risks you need to be aware of? How can you navigate the current geopolitical landscape? How can you work strategically in a fast-changing environment? How can boards play a vital role in building a culture for cyber security?

3 Ways To Succeed In The Future of Work - Terence Mauri 08.04.2022 38min

In the last two years, everything changed. People changed. Technology changed. The office changed. Priorities changed. And the way we work changed. The future of work is now. Are you prepared for opportunity, choice, and growth in the accelerated future of work? Terence Mauri is on a mission to help leaders harness the upside of disruption, leadership, and growth in the accelerated future of work. He holds Entrepreneur Mentor roles at MIT and IE Business School and is the founder of the management think tank Hack Future Lab. His latest book The 3D Leader: Take your leadership to the next dimension has been described as a ‘game changer’ by Forbes.

Nilofer Merchant - The Importance of Connections on Your Way to Success 04.02.2022 36min

Nilofer Merchant is often referred to as the Jane Bond of Innovation. In this keynote, she talks about change, success, and the importance of connections.

Ed Catmull - Culture of Creativity 09.12.2021 34min

During this keynote, Ed explores his learnings at Disney–Pixar on how to remove the barriers that inhibit creativity in the workplace.

Morten Hansen - Do Less, Work Better, Achieve More 02.12.2021 14min

Morten Hansen, an author and management theorist, talks about the importance of working smart in the 21st century. He also shares a few pieces of advice on how to do less, work better, and achieve more. The discussion is a recording from Nordic Business Forum Stockholm in 2019. Enjoy!

Simon Sinek - Great Leadership According to an Optimist 18.11.2021 14min

During this interview, the world-renowned author and speaker Simon Sinek talks about issues such as the infinite game and great leadership. The discussion is a recording from Nordic Business Forum Stockholm in 2019.

Sahar Hashemi - 6 Steps to Be Entrepreneurial in a Large Company 12.11.2021 27min

In this episode, the co-founder of Coffee Republic, Sahar Hashemi, shares her journey to entrepreneurship. Her keynote also provides 6 pieces of advice on how to be entrepreneurial in a large company. The session was recorded at Nordic Business Forum Stockholm in 2019

Donald Miller - How the Power of Story Can Grow Your Business 27.08.2021 43min

"A clear story will win every time." During this keynote, Donald Miller, the CEO of StoryBrand, talks about the power of storytelling. He also shares 7 key characteristics of a story that you can use in marketing.

Seth Godin - Leadership vs. Management 29.07.2021 59min

In this keynote, Seth Godin, a world-renowned marketing and leadership author, talks about the difference between leadership and management, the confusion surrounding them, and why the world needs more leaders.

Anssi Rantanen - Why Experimentation is the Future of Growth 01.07.2021 18min

This time, Anssi Rantanen, the winner of our 2019 speaker contest explains why experimentation is the key to growth. With the help of a very practical example, he also demonstrates how technology allows us all to experiment much faster and easier.

Costas Markides - Innovation As a Springboard to Success 17.06.2021 26min

In this episode, Costas Markides, a professor at London Business School speaks about what innovation is and why it is important. He also explains why and how an organization must identify the kind of innovation it needs before implementing.

James Hewitt - The Key to Sustainable High Performance 03.06.2021 18min

In this episode, James Hewitt, a performance scientist, and author, shares research insights on what the keys are to sustainable high performance.

Simon Sinek - The Infinite Game 20.05.2021 32min

In his keynote, "The Infinite Game", Simon Sinek talks about the idea that business is not about beating the competition - it’s about outlasting your competition. Additionally, he shares 5 things you need in order to play the infinite game.

Aswath Damodaran - Valuation, Investing, and Teaching 23.04.2021 11min

During this discussion, Aswath Damodaran, a Professor of Finance at the Stern School of Business talks about valuation, investing, and teaching.

Des Traynor - Pitfalls, Successes, and Surprises of Establishing and Growing a Company 15.04.2021 12min

In this episode, Des Traynor, the co-founder of Intercom talks about the pitfalls, successes, and surprises of establishing and growing a company.

Avinash Kaushik - How and When to Use Owned, Earned, and Paid Media in Your Marketing 08.04.2021 13min

During this discussion, digital marketer and author, Avinash Kaushik, shares some great marketing insights. He, for example, explains how and when to use owned, earned, and paid media in your marketing. This interview is a recording from Nordic Business Forum Oslo in 2019.