Panel Descriptions 
& Speaker Bios

Keynote: Steps Towards the Summit

​​​​​​​
The higher the summit, the more steps are necessary to reach it. Nikki Nemarich, Head of Americas Marketing for Axis Communications, will share her career journey, and reflect on lessons learned along the way, and how each step has helped her evolve as a leader.

​​​​​​​Read more about Nikki by clicking on the headshot.

Panel: Reaching for Financial Success 

​​​​​​​
“I work all night, I work all day to pay the bills I have to pay” sang ABBA. Financing is crucial for any business to thrive and reach its goals. This panel will explore the challenges faced by businesses seeking necessary funding to grow, as well as discuss additional challenges that some groups of borrowers may face.

Click on the images to learn more about each panelist.

Panel: Business Dynamics in Cultural Differences

​​​​​​​
Swedes tend to speak very good English, which inadvertently becomes a stumbling block in U.S.-Swedish business dealings. The ease of communication between Swedes and Americans may end up masking real differences in how companies do business, how decisions are made, and what goals are set. We may all hear each other, but do we understand each other?

Click on the images to learn more about each panelist. 

Panel: Reaching New Heights Through Gender Diversity

​​​​​​​
Can a diverse workforce help a business reach its goals? Will increased diversity at a company lead to setting different, better goals? What challenges may a company face, in trying to reach DEI goals? How do diversity goals and efforts differ between the U.S. and Sweden? These questions and others will be tackled by the panelists, who will share their personal experiences and ideas about how to use diversity to promote corporate goals.

​​​​​​​Click on the images to learn more about each panelist.

Panel: Private/Public/Academia Active Collaboration and Innovation 

​​​​​​​
It takes two to tango, or maybe three? Abin Kuriakose , Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer of World Business Chicago, and Ulf Landin, with almost two decades of experience at Business Region Gothenburg, will share their experiences and thoughts about how academia and the private and public sectors can work together to achieve better results for all parties involved.

​​​​​​​Click on the images to learn more about each panelist.

Panel: Reaching the Summit with Team Sweden

​​​​​​​
The Olympic Team Sweden performed beyond expectations this year in Paris, but what has the business focused Team Sweden been up to? Our panelists will discuss various efforts by Sweden to help businesses grow and develop, and share what we can expect in the near future.

​​​​​​​Click on the images to learn more about each panelist.

Keynote: Improv With Brendan Sullivan

You're a Genius...And So Am I

Brendan Sullivan is a seasoned creativity coach who specializes in helping organizations, teams, and individuals unlock their creative potential and foster healthy,  collaborative work environments. With over 20 years of experience, Brendan combines his expertise in improvisation, creative thinking, and corporate dynamics to deliver practical, engaging workshops and keynotes that inspire innovation and effective teamwork.

Having worked with a wide range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies like PepsiCo and Marriott Hotels, to smaller businesses and nonprofit organizations, Brendan tailors his programs to meet the specific needs of each group. His background as a professional improviser trained at the renowned Second City Conservatory and his experience as a creative producer for a top-rated Chicago radio show equip him with unique insights into generating and implementing creative ideas quickly and effectively.
​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​Read more about Brendan by clicking on the headshot.