Four Nordic business and leadership survival hacks during COVID-19
Release Date: 07/15/2020
Multi-talented chef and foodie |Kati Turkia, Founder, NordiChef Kati
Nordic Insights
Kati Turkia is a young, super talented chef based in Sydney. Her love for food started while learning to cook with the seasonal ingredients from her Grandmother’s garden in Finland. Kati has gained great experience in working with multicultural cuisines in Finland, Spain and in Sydney.
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Can Australia benefit from adapting Nordic policies? |Professor Andrew Scott, Nordic Policy Centre, the Australian Institute
Nordic Insights
The Nordic Policy Centre is a think tank formed by the Australia Institute. It investigates the effective, progressive social and economic policies of the Nordic countries and how they might work in Australia. My guest, the Inaugural Convenor of the Nordic Policy Centre, Professor Andrew Scott has co-authored a new book titled the Nordic Edge. We discuss the topics in the book including climate and energy, work/life balance, the high Nordic taxes, gender equality, media diversity and more.
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Multi-talented artist and leader |Satu Vänskä, the Principal Violin of the Australian Chamber Orchestra
Nordic Insights
Multi-talented Satu Vänskä, a fellow Finn, is the Principal Violin of the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Her destiny was decided when she started playing the violin at the age of 3 while living in Japan. She studied and worked in Europe with world-leading classical musicians before moving to Australia in 2004.
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How COVID inspired a pivot from travel to recycling second-hand fashion|Minna Monaghan & Satu Raunola-Spencer
Nordic Insights
My guest is my friend and business partner, Minna Monaghan. COVID made us pivot from travel aviation consultancy business to open a recycling retail fashion store in Sydney. Minna and I set up our travel-aviation consultancy in 2017, representing AIRHELP air passenger rights company in APAC. The idea of VENLA was born at the end of 2020 to help to reduce fashion waste. We talk about the success of VENLA MOSMAN which has now enabled us to open VENLA BONDI, in Sydney.
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Pandora's box - insights of a multi-award winning business leader|Karin Adcock, Business Owner of Winmark Wines
Nordic Insights
Danish Karin Adcock has become a very successful award winning business leader and entrepreneur. Karin has gained in-depth knowledge of branding, marketing, distribution and franchising. This includes founding Pandora, a Danish jewellery brand in Australia and New Zealand. Karin has since transformed her career and runs Winmark Wines in the Hunter Valley. We discuss Karin’s journey to success, her vision and determination.
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How to prevent and/or cure diabetes|Dr. Miina Öhman, Scientist, Longevity Scout, Singapore
Nordic Insights
Diabetes has a long history in my family. It has made me curious to learn more about it and to research recent encouraging developments. I came across Dr Miina Öhman, a Singapore based Finn who has a strong desire to prevent and/or cure chronic diseases, including diabetes. We discuss her strong track record in academic research. She also gives us guidance on how to prevent, manage and even cure diabetes in some cases. We discuss her challenges as a Finn in working in multicultural environments.
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Building bridges between Nordic start-ups and South-East Asia|Sami Jääskeläinen, Community Director, Nordic Innovation House, Singapore
Nordic Insights
Sami Jääskeläinen runs Nordic Innovation House, a community platform for accelerating Nordic start-ups in the Singapore and South-East Asia region. Sami’s colourful career included being a professional chef and a team lead in a leading advertising company for iconic global brands. Sami now has a successful career as a Nordic start-up Community Director in Singapore. We discuss Sami’s experience of cultural differences working as a Nordic in Singapore and in collaborations with other Nordic colleagu
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Bringing Danish flair to Australia|Michael T Hansen, MD Nilfisk Pacific
Nordic Insights
How has little Denmark able to bring over 600 brands in Australia? My guest, Michael T Hansen, the former Trade Commissioner of Denmark talks about why he thinks Danish design, cuisine, food products and livability concepts are now well known and desired in Australia.
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Solving problems that help people live better lives|Ari Tulla, Serial Entrepreneur, CEO, Board Member, Dad
Nordic Insights
Silicon Valley based entrepreneur Ari Tulla made a big jump from Finnish Nokia and the gaming industry to the healthcare industry in the USA. In 2011 he co-founded BetterDoctor, a comprehensive doctor data engine that powers the healthcare market to help people to navigate the complicated US healthcare system. BetterDoctor was very successfully acquired by Quest Analytics in 2018. We discuss Ari’s journey from a teen tech gig in Northern Finland to becoming a serious entrepreneur in SFO.
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Create your happiness in a Swedish way |Kajsa Humphreys, Health and Wellness Coach, The Swedish Solution
Nordic Insights
Nordics are well known to be some of the happiest peoples in the world. What do they do to make themselves happy? Kajsa Humphreys is a Sydney based Swedish Health and Fitness coach. Her business The Swedish Solution was born after she was feeling unhealthy and unhappy about her own life. She made some dramatic changes and decided to quit her successful corporate job and leave her marriage - at the same time. Kajsa talks about her journey as a single mum to become a very successful and happy entrepreneur. �
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I am reflecting on my interviews to this point. What have been some of the inspirational business and leadership survival strategies used by my Nordic and Nordic-inspired business and corporate leader guests during COVID-19?
Listen in and get insights how four Nordic and Nordic-inspired business leaders tackle their challenges
- Scandinavian travel specialist Tietse Stelma. Tietse is the CEO of 50 Degrees North, which specialises in tours in the Nordic Region. He has built up 50 Degrees North to be one of the most successful global travel operators specialising in the Nordic Region, with over 40 staff. When COVID-19 started, he went from $2M monthly turnover to $0 in a month. Tietse talks about the changes he had to make and how he is pivoting his business during the time of turmoil.
- Libby Helinski, the Founder of Pappa Sven, a Nordic lifestyle business including a retail shop, online business, Pappa Sven community events and 2 airbnb’s in Newcastle. After COVID-19 hit, she thought she would lose her business. However, inspired by Armi Ratia, the founder of Finnish Marimekko, she has been able to turn it all around with her passion and energy.
- Swedish born Anders Lindstrom, Director of Communications for North America for Norwegian Air, found himself living in NYC in the middle of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter demonstrations, working for an airline industry that has just been paralysed. In March 2020 he initiated the non-profit “Project Wingman USA”, mobilising hundreds of airline crew to provide care for COVID-19 hospital healthcare workers in NYC hospitals.
- Finnish-born Tommi Nordstrom is the co-founder of Pupsy, an online start-up platform for all things that matter to dog-owners. Tommi talks about how his Nordic characteristics have helped him to get through the start-up challenges, including COVID-19.
Check out 50° North website https://www.fiftydegreesnorth.com
Check out Pappa Sven website https://www.pappasven.com.au
Check our Project WingmanUSA website https://www.projectwingmanusa.com/
Check out Pupsy website https://pupsy.com.au/
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