When Things Go North

With the theme When Things Go North, Aarhus Symposium 2022 explored how stable and connected the bridges are within the Nordic countries and with the rest of the world. 

Bridges can help bolster business in times of global uncertainty by leveraging shared knowledge and experience. The post-pandemic recovery has demonstrated the benefits of solidarity and collaboration, with some organisations emerging even more substantial from the crisis. Agility, resilience, and overcoming obstacles are crucial to securing Nordic competitiveness. Leaders must prepare to forge connections and collaborate to thrive when things go north. 

The Nordics understand that navigating the complex landscape of small, open market economies require a deep understanding of the interplay between regulatory bodies and the business sector. Still, the Nordic countries possess inherent strengths that we can leverage to achieve cutting-edge success.  

At Aarhus Symposium 2022, the aim was to discuss what constitutes Nordic competitiveness and how to chart the course in securing a strategic advantage. 

 You can watch the full sessions here. 

AARHUS SYMPOSIUM 2022

When Things Go North

SPEAKERS AT AARHUS SYMPOSIUM 2022

LARS FRUERGAARD
PRESIDENT & CEO, NOVO NORDISK A/S

CHRISTIAN HYLDAHL
MANAGING DIRECTOR, HEAD OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE, BLACKBOX

JEAN HEDAYAT
HEAD OF LINKEDIN SWEDEN

HENRIK BODSKOV
INCOMING CEO, IO BUSINESS/NNIT

LAURITS BACH SØRENSEN
PARTNER & CO-FOUNDER, NORDIC ALPHA PARTNERS

LARS LYSE
CEO, BOLIA.COM

BERIT BASSE
AMBASSADOR, CONSUL GENERAL OF DENMARK IN NEW YORK

KERSTIN KNAPP
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF PEOPLE & CULTURE OFFICER, VESTAS

NICOLAI MORESCO
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER, DELL TECHNOLOGIES CENTRAL & NORTH EUROPE

JACOB VITTRUP
CEO, NRGI

CELIA FRANCIS
CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER, EARTHSHOT LABS

LARS SEIER CHRISTENSEN
FOUNDER & CEO, SEIER CAPITAL

ANDERS SAMUELSEN
CEO, UV MEDICO

AARHUS SYMPOSIUM FOCUS 2022

Shades of Innovation

Should companies focus on innovation to unlock new avenues of growth? 

Innovation has long been a primary driver of Danish competitiveness, and its importance should be noticed. In today’s fast-paced world, businesses must constantly adapt and find new ways to stay ahead. 

Considering the importance of innovation, the theme of Aarhus Symposium Focus 2022 was Shades of Innovation. 

A panel consisting of four speakers with diverse experiences gave their insights on the topic. The discussions spread far and included the role of the government, companies and individuals while also considering the three types of innovation: product, process, and business models. 

The commitment to innovation and the eagerness to explore new possibilities is paramount to succeeding in a world of competitiveness. With a determined mindset, Denmark can maintain its impressive ranking in the global innovation index and pave the way to even more exciting innovations in the future. 

DEBATERS AT AARHUS SYMPOSUM FOCUS 2022

PEDER TUBORGH
CEO, ARLA FOODS

JASMINA PLESS
HEAD OF ENTERPRENEURSHIP, DANISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
(DANSK ERHVERV)

Simon Richard Nielsen
Editor in Chief, Euroinvestor

MADS LUNDBY HANSEN
CHIEF ECONOMIST, CEPOS

AARHUS SYMPOSIUM CHALLENGE 2022

Aarhus Symposium Challenge was the official starting line for students to join in on the discussion of the overall theme When Things Go North and secure a seat for Aarhus Symposium Friday 2022 and Aarhus Symposium Focus 2022. In addition to securing a seat, the twelve most inspiring essays are invited to participate in Leader’s forum: an elusive session with the speaker whose challenge the student addressed.  

The students were asked to share their thoughts on one of three challenges. For each challenge, a speaker presented a topic concerning the overall theme. 

The speakers participating in Aarhus Symposium Challenge 2022 were: 

Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, President and CEO of Novo Nordisk, with the challenge: Whether and how diversity and inclusion can provide increased Nordic competitiveness? 

Laurits Bach Sørensen, Partner and Co-Founder of Nordic Alpha Partners, with the challenge: How Nordic countries can promote an effective global green transition? 

Jean Hedayat, Head of LinkedIn Sweden, with the challenge: How the North can develop and maintain a competitive workforce? 

 

LEADERS FORUM 2022

On the day of Aarhus Symposium, the twelve students behind the most extraordinary and inspiring essays were invited to Leaders’ Forum. Here, they had the unique chance to meet and engage in dialogue with one of the three speakers participating at Aarhus Symposium Challenge in an intimate one-hour session. 

The author behind the winning essay of the Aarhus Symposium Award 2022 was Lasse Daabeck, who addressed how the North can develop and maintain a competitive workforce as digitalisation affects our work tasks and everyday life.  

One of the highlights from his essay was the need to equip the current workforce with the necessary skills and knowledge to overcome future challenges and remain competitive in the global economy.  

SPEAKERS PARTICIPATING IN AARHUS SYMPOSIUM CHALLENGE 2022

LARS FRUERGAARD JØRGENSEN
PRESIDENT & CEO, NOVO NORDISK A/S

LAURITS BACH SØRENSEN
PARTNER & CO-FOUNDER, NORDIC ALPHA PARTNERS

JEAN HEDAYAT
HEAD OF LINKEDIN SWEDEN

THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARTNERS WHO HELPED US MAKE
AARHUS SYMPOSIUM 2022 POSSIBLE

MEET THE ORGANISERS OF AARHUS SYMPOSIUM 2022

STEERING COMMITTEE

Rebekka Jørgensen
Nikolas Wilki

FINANCE

Lucas Grimstrup Jensen
(Head of Group)
Oliver Moos Hansen
Jesper Drustrup Vestergaard

BUSINESS RELATIONS

Victor Windfeld
(Head of Group) 
Frederikke Fischer Holm
Edin Becirovic
Sarah Højlund
Jacob Agerskov Høffner

IT

Casper Bang Dall-Hansen
(Head of Group)
Anders Kallesøe
Magnus Tschenka Jensen

PROGRAMME

Laura Hornbæk Svendsen
(Co-Head of Group)
Søren Lykke Thomsen
(Co-Head of Group)
Esther Holm Brændgaard
Ida Amalia Smith Johannessen
Rebecca Mckay-Holm
Rasmus Schelde Agger
Vaishnavan Satkunanathan
Julie Marie Rønhoff Elholm
Niels-Christian Falkenberg Sloth

UNIVERSITY ALLIANCES

Mads Junker
(Head of Group)
Anne Agerskov Høffner
Jonas Stentoft Broch
Sandy Luong

MARKETING

Ditte Dalsgaard Skjelmose
(Co-Head of Group)
Aksel Ross Vestergaard Petersen
(Co-Head of Group)
Line Munk Petersen
Rikke Vestergaard Nielsen
Helene Brügger Jørgensen
Steffen Stevnhoved
Daniel Kringelbach
Julie Søndergaard Sørensen

ESSENTIALS

Mathias Gislason
(Head of Group)
Melanie Scheller Nissen
Kristian Storm
Maya Plesner Pagh
Mads Aarup Andersen
Kirstine Selde
Cecilie Armose Jensen