Oslo Business Forum

A big thank you to our logistics partner Porsche Norge AS for being part of OBF 2026. 🚘 Missed the chance to test drive? You can still sign up through the link in the comments.

WOW. Still feeling the energy.🔥🔥 To everyone who joined us: you made this unforgettable. #obforum 🎥 by N.Ø.R.D. Production

Anu Bradford, finnish-american law professor and author, on “The Battle for Rules in a Fragmented World”. Anu challenged Europe to define success on its own terms by strengthening technological sovereignty while building an AI future that keeps people at the center. Her message was clear: Europe should not simply race to build the biggest or fastest AI systems. It should focus on harnessing AI’s potential in ways that create real value for citizens and society. "The race I want us to win is the race that we are ambitious of harnessing all the tremendous opportunities that AI brings about for the benefit of our citizens." Thank you, Anu, for bringing an important European perspective to the global AI conversation.

"Quantum computing may sound like science fiction, but the opportunity and the risks are very real." - Andreas Ahlgren Quantum Director at Sopra Steria Norway, Andreas Ahlgren, took on an ambitious challenge: making leaders quantum-ready in just 10 minutes. His explanation was simple: if AI is a blunt instrument, quantum is a laser scalpel. Quantum computers are still limited today, but leaders should already be thinking about what comes next. Understand the opportunity. Quantum computing can solve certain complex problems in fundamentally different ways. Take the security risk seriously. More powerful quantum computers could eventually break widely used encryption. Build access to expertise. Leaders do not need to become quantum experts, but they do need people around them who understand the technology. Thank you, Andreas, for making a complex topic clear, relevant, and urgent.

"Even your very best performers need to hear that they're doing a great job." - Ståle Solbakken Fresh from Norway's historic World Cup run, Norwegian National Team coach Ståle Solbakken took the stage at OBF to share what it takes to turn exceptional individual talent into a team that competes to win. His leadership philosophy combines high expectations with something we might forget to give our stars: encouragement. "The best players or the best workers or your best people in the company or on the football team, they also need to get praised." But praise doesn't mean avoiding difficult conversations. Even the best performers want to get better, and leaders owe them direct, honest feedback that can help them reach another level. Ståle, fantastic that you took the time to meet our community. Thank you! 💪 ⚽️

AI can sound right. That doesn’t mean it is. ⚠️ Norway is one of the world’s most trusting societies. But in an AI-powered workplace, what happens when information only looks credible? On the Impact Stage, Helene Holand and Tine Austvoll Jensen Fornell challenged leaders to build cognitive resilience: the ability to question the information behind important decisions. Use AI to explore ideas, but verify the facts. Stress-test decisions by questioning the assumptions behind them, and create a culture where people feel safe to challenge and speak up. The goal is not more bureaucracy, but stronger human judgment. Thank you, Helene and Tine, for an important reminder that trust still needs critical thinking.

"When you change your situation, you change yourself." - Angela Duckworth Angela Duckworth is famous for her research on grit: the passion and perseverance that distinguish many of the world's highest achievers. At OBF, she challenged leaders to think beyond the "inside game" of individual effort. "Just trying to change your behavior is the absolute worst way to go. It's far better to trace your behavior all the way back to the situation, change the situation, and then let the behavior flow naturally." The people who reach their potential don't do it with grit alone. They find great coaches and mentors and surround themselves with people pursuing similarly ambitious goals. They create environments that keep goals close and distractions far away. For leaders, that creates a responsibility and an opportunity: create the conditions that help people become better. Thank you so much, Angela, for joining us! 💙

What if the "right" answer isn’t always the best one? Karen Fonk, Creative Director at Knowit, challenged our obsession with optimization, data, and best practices, and made the case for human creativity. When everyone works from the same inputs in search of the same answer, we risk ending up with the same solutions. Creativity takes us somewhere different. Bring your own perspective. Instinct and imagination reveal possibilities data alone cannot. Thank you, Karen, for reminding us to leave room for ideas that don’t follow the obvious path. #obforum

“The best founders are exceptional quitters, not just great starters.” - Steven Bartlett Thank you so much for joining us, Steven. It was such a pleasure having you with us and learning from your perspective 💙 #obforum

AI adoption is soaring. Investment is climbing. Employees are working faster and making better decisions. So, where’s the business impact? Anders Brun, Managing Partner at Strategy& (part of the PwC Norway network), explored the gap between using AI and actually creating value from it. His key reminder: individual productivity gains don’t automatically translate into company profits. The organizations starting to close that gap are doing four things differently: 1. They aim higher. They look beyond efficiency and use AI to drive revenue, innovation, and new sources of value. 2. They treat AI as business transformation. Instead of isolated pilots, they rethink how work gets done across the organization. 3. They build the foundation to scale. Modern systems, scalable platforms, reusable components, and accessible information enable broader impact. 4. They use governance to build trust and speed. Clear guidelines, strong security, and responsible practices give people confidence to move faster. The goal isn’t simply to use more AI. It’s to turn AI adoption into measurable business impact. Thank you, Anders, for bringing such a clear and thought-provoking perspective to the Impact Stage.