LEADERSHIP IN A NEW REALITY
In 2021, Aarhus Symposium delved into the theme A New Reality.
Leaders of today, as well as leaders of tomorrow, are often faced with fast-changing circumstances. As a result, they are obligated to make decisions based on uncertain conditions. By enabling innovation within the organisation and collaboration throughout our society to secure sustainable approaches, leaders can brace for tomorrow. Therefore, the 10-year anniversary of Aarhus Symposium sought to shed light on how leaders can navigate in a new reality.
It is paramount for organisations to carefully consider the impact of our actions and move our society in a more equal, inclusive, and sustainable direction. The expectations placed upon organisations expand, and leaders must empower people to take responsibility in such times. Even though change can be challenging, it enables the organisation to reach new heights. Thus, leaders must consider how they best seize their opportunities in these new, lucrative environments.
At Aarhus Symposium 2021, the aim was to bridge the gap between the present and future by exploring how leaders of today brace for tomorrow. The speakers gave the audience their perspective on how organisations and societies can turn challenges into opportunities by adapting to new circumstances.
You can watch the full sessions here.
AARHUS SYMPOSIUM 2021
A NEW REALITY
SPEAKERS AT AARHUS SYMPOSIUM 2021
JOE KAESER
Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Siemens Energy
HELLE ØSTERGAARD KRISTIANSEN
CEO, Danske Commodities
MARGRETHE VESTAGER
Executive Vice President, European Commission
MADS NIPPER
Group CEO, Ørsted
KIM FOURNAIS
CEO & Founder, Saxo Bank
PER BANK
CEO, Salling Group
MAGNUS TYREMAN
Managing Partner in Europe, McKinsey & Company
BRITTA KORRE STENHOLT
CEO, Stark Denmark
ANDERS KRAB-JOHANSEN
CEO & Publisher, Berlingske Media
GEETA SCHMIDT
CO-FOUNDER & VICE PRESIDENT, HUMIO AT CROWDSTRIKE
SEBASTIAN VESTERGAARD
FORMER CEO, JOE & THE JUICE
MADS CHRISTIANSEN & MATHIAS BOE
CO-FOUNDERS, AKTIEUNIVERSET
AARHUS SYMPOSIUM FOCUS 2021
IMPACT BEFORE INCOME?
Should leaders of today seek out impact-driven strategies, maintain a focus upon profit, or unite the two?
In a new reality, it is key for leaders to assess the impact of our actions and empower people to take responsibility. Therefore, many companies have broadened the scope of their responsibilities and shifted their objective from mere profits to a broader goal.
It is paramount for the firms to create healthy returns to their owners through their core activities while maintaining a consistent profile. Thus, engaging in activities with the ambition to change the world for the better can give rise to an immense value creation besides that of profit.
Therefore, the theme of Aarhus Symposium Focus 2021 was Impact before income?
A panel consisting of four competent speakers with diverse academic backgrounds and experiences gave their varied insights on the topic. Leaders find themselves in a dilemma where they must choose between impact-driven strategies or maintaining a focus upon profit. Through research and professional experience, the speakers provided solutions to balance and unite impact and income in a new reality.
SPEAKERS AT AARHUS SYMPOSUM FOCUS 2021
Philipp Schröder
Professor of Economics, Aarhus University
Director, Find Research Centre
Torben M. Andersen
Chairman of the Board of Directors, ATP
Professor of Economics, Aarhus University
Simon Richard Nielsen
Editor in Chief, Euroinvestor
RASMUS NØRGAARD
FOUNDER, HOME.EARTH
AARHUS SYMPOSIUM CHALLENGE 2021
Aarhus Symposium Challenge is the students’ opportunity to secure their seats for Aarhus Symposium and Aarhus Symposium Focus. Furthermore, the students submitting the most inspiring essays are invited to participate in Leaders’ Forum: an exclusive session with the leader whose challenge the student addressed.
The students were asked to share their thoughts in an essay on one of three challenges. For each challenge, a speaker presented a topic concerning the overall theme. The speakers participating in Aarhus Symposium Challenge 2021 were:
Joe Kaeser, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Siemens Energy, with the challenge: How economic growth can be more just and sustainable.
Helle Østergaard Kristiansen, CEO of Danske Commodities, with the challenge: One area where automation can cause dilemmas for businesses and how to deal with them.
Kim Fournais, CEO & Founder of Saxo Bank, with the challenge: How organisational agility can improve adaptiveness in dynamic markets.
LEADERS FORUM 2019
On the day of Aarhus Symposium 2021, the twelve ambitious students with the most inspiring essays were invited to participate in Leaders Forum 2021. The students met with the speakers to discuss their essays and engage in debates about the challenges presented by the speakers.
The winner of the Aarhus Symposium Award 2021 was Christian Nyegaard Lambertsen, a Master’s student in Business Administration and Commercial Law at Aarhus University. His essay addressed Helle Østergaard Kristiansen’s challenge and gave an original and inspiring view on the topic. Christian’s essay focussed on reskilling the workforce and how businesses and governments of today can use it to mitigate the coming displacement of the workforce.
When asked about his experience at the Leaders Forum session with Helle Østergaard Kristiansen, Christian said the following:
“The main key takeaway from the session was that you have to develop yourself continuously, both personally and professionally, to get where you want to be in life.”
SPEAKERS PARTICIPATING IN AARHUS SYMPOSIUM CHALLENGE 2021
JOE KAESER
CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD, SIEMENS ENERGY
HELLE ØSTERGAARD KRISTIANSEN
CEO, Danske COMMODITIES
KIM FOURNAIS
CEO & FOUNDER, SAXO BANK
THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARTNERS WHO HELPED US MAKE
AARHUS SYMPOSIUM 2021 POSSIBLE
MEET THE ORGANISERS OF AARHUS SYMPOSIUM 2021
STEERING COMMITTEE
Emma Dengsøe
Sebastian Østergaard
Sune Viberg
BUSINESS RELATIONS
Nikolas Wilki
(Head of Group)
Rebekka Jørgensen
Victor Windfeld
Laura Hornbæk
Cecilie Gjerlevsen
FINANCE
Rasmus Hovaldt
(Head of Group)
Søren Thomsen
Thomas Lægaard
PROGRAMME
Nicole Attias
(Head of Group)
Jonas Ingvard
Liva Merrild
Axel Grøn Roepstorff
Tobias Kragh
UNIVERSITY ALLIANCES
Sofie Grønbæk
(Head of Group)
Johannes Thykjær
Line Sørensen
Mads Junker
IT
Mads Marchall
(Head of Group)
Simon Wessmann
Mikkel Juulsgaard
MARKETING
Ditte Dalsgaard Skjelmose
(Co-Head of Group)
Joakim Løper
(Co-Head of Group)
Mette Østergaard
Aksel Ross Vestergaard
Vivi Hoang
Gudrún Kristín Stefánsdóttir
Casper Bang Dall-Hansen
ESSENTIALS
Jørgen Høegh
(Head of Group)
Julie Thomsen
Mathias Gislason
Jepe Erichs
Nanna Jæger
Sarah Højlund
Ann-Katrine Weinreich Jensen