OBF 2026 Highlights

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On the 16th and 17th of September, 4,000 decision makers gathered in Oslo to step up their business and leadership game.

The event was filled with insights, connections, and enjoyment around the theme of The Human Edge.

THE HUMAN EDGE

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The Human Edge is about unlocking the strengths that no machine can replicate. In an era of disruption, leaders and organizations must lean on creativity, courage, trust, and resilience to thrive. Itʼs about the human capacity to inspire, to adapt with grit, and to shape cultures where people and ideas can flourish.

At OBF 2026, we explore how to harness this human edge to lead with clarity in complexity, to build trust in a digital-first world, and to create organizations that are not only innovative, but meaningful. This is where human ingenuity meets technology. 

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“A company can be scalable only if all levels of the company feel ownership.”

– Milda Mitkute

“A company can be scalable only if all levels of the company feel ownership.”

– Milda Mitkute

“A company can be scalable only if all levels of the company feel ownership.”

– Milda Mitkute

“A company can be scalable only if all levels of the company feel ownership.”

– Milda Mitkute

David Bach

Europe and the New World Order: A Case for Optimism

Geopolitics has moved from the boardroom periphery to its very center - reshaping strategy, supply chains, and leadership in ways that demand a new kind of optimism. In this session, David Bach will show you how to:

  • Translate political decisions into business consequences and prepare for structural, not temporary, shifts.
  • Navigate the evolving balance of power between nations, regions, and markets with a clear framework for competitiveness.
  • Lead with judgment and confidence in a fractured world where the rules of the game are changing fast.
Anu Bradford

The Battle for Rules in a Fragmented World

The global battle to regulate technology is reshaping markets and forcing every business leader to choose a side. In this session, Anu Bradford will show you how to:

  • Understand the Brussels Effect and why EU standards are quietly becoming the default rules for global business.
  • Navigate the rivalry between the US, China, and Europe as they race to govern AI and digital markets.
  • Turn regulatory intelligence into strategic advantage by anticipating policy shifts before they disrupt your industry.
Jesper Brodin

Leading When the Rules Keep Changing

True leadership is not about managing performance - it is about building organizations where shared values drive every decision, every culture, and every human connection. In this session, Jesper Brodin will show you how to:

  • Lead through values and togetherness so purpose becomes a practical force, not just a statement on the wall.
  • Build cultures where people feel genuinely seen, trusted, and empowered to bring their full potential to work.
  • Navigate complexity and change by anchoring your leadership in what remains constant - people, values, and trust.
Patty McCord

A Team, Not a Family

Culture is not built on perks or policies - it is built on radical honesty, trust, and the freedom to do your best work. In this provocative session, Patty McCord will show you:

  • How to implement ‘radical honesty’ as the foundation for a high-performance culture
  • How to attract and retain true A-players by replacing traditional systems with a culture of freedom and responsibility
  • How to build a ‘team, not a family,’ where every member is a high-performer who achieve extraordinary results.
Gary Hamel

Vitality: Building the Ultimate Advantage

In an era of relentless disruption, the most powerful competitive advantage is the vitality of your people and organization. In this landmark session, Gary Hamel will show you how to:

  • Replace bureaucratic management with humanocracy - distributing power and rewarding contribution.
  • Build organizations as resilient, inventive, and courageous as the people inside them.
  • Redesign the DNA of management so your organization adapts as fast as the world around it.
Ståle Solbakken

Inside Norway’s World Cup Team: Building a Culture That Performs Under Pressure

At Oslo Business Forum, Solbakken takes us inside Norway’s World Cup journey.

  • How do you build belief before the results arrive?
  • How do you lead world-class individuals while putting the team first?
  • How do you make difficult decisions when millions have an opinion?
  • And how do you create a culture that holds when everything is on the line?
Angela Duckworth

Finding the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best

Success is not determined by talent or IQ - science proves it is built on grit, the passion and perseverance that separates the good from the great. In this session, Angela Duckworth will show you how to:

  • Apply the psychology of grit to build teams that persist through setbacks toward long-term goals.
  • Develop the five core components of grit at every level of your organization.
  • Shape your environment to amplify human character as a strategic tool for success.
Rahaf Harfoush

Burnout Is Not a Badge of Honor: Redefining Human Capacity

Burnout is not a badge of honor - it is a systemic failure that drains creativity and human potential from your organization. In this session, Rahaf Harfoush will show you how to:

  • Identify the hidden cultural forces and digital behaviors that quietly erode creative capacity.
  • Redesign workflows around humane productivity that restores sustainable performance.
  • Lead with an anti-fragile mindset that transforms digital overload into organizational resilience.
Shawn Kanungo

Innovation in a World of AI

The AI revolution is already rewriting the rules of competition, and organizations that hesitate risk being left behind. In this session, Shawn Kanungo will show you how to:

  •  Use generative AI as a creative force that amplifies human ingenuity and drives breakthrough innovation.
  • Turn disruption into competitive advantage through bold approaches most leaders are too cautious to attempt.
  • Build an exponential organization where AI handles complexity while people focus on irreplaceable human work.
Steven Van Belleghem

Customer Obsession as a Growth Strategy

In a world racing toward automation, customer obsession is the most powerful growth strategy no algorithm can replicate. In this session, Steven Van Belleghem will show you how to:

  • Transform your organization into a truly customer-centric business through cultural change, not just strategy.
  • Harness AI and human empathy together to turn satisfied customers into passionate lifelong advocates.
  • Become a genuine partner in your customers' lives while creating measurable value for your business.
Seth Godin

What Makes You Irreplaceable: The Human Work That Matters

In a world where AI can replicate almost anything, the most valuable work is the work that is unmistakably, irreplaceably human. In this session, Seth Godin will show you how to:

  • Identify the creative and empathic work only humans can do and make it the core of your strategy.
  • Build movements, not just customer bases, by creating meaning that technology alone cannot manufacture.
  • Embrace originality and courage as your ultimate differentiators in a world where mediocrity is the default.
Steven Bartlett

Brand, People, and Mindset: Lessons from the Modern CEO

Modern leadership demands authenticity, relentless curiosity, and the courage to build businesses as human as the people they serve. In this moderated conversation, Steven Bartlett will show you how to:

  • Cultivate the modern CEO mindset - leading with vulnerability and driving culture from the inside out.
  • Unlock the power of storytelling and purpose to attract exceptional talent and build fierce loyalty.
  • Navigate the intersection of mental resilience and values-driven leadership to build a business that matters.

Want to See and Use All Photos?

Our photographer has captured numerous wonderful moments from the event. They’ve also taken many great shots from our dear event guests. Feel free to take a look at our gallery and use our photos! Just give credits to ©Oslo Business Forum when sharing.

Photo Gallery