Nordic Business Forum
Known for its excellent customer experience and inspiring world-class speakers, the Nordic Business Forum brings together international business decision-makers, experts and thought leaders year after year. On the agenda are the drivers and phenomena of business life, but equally the sharing of ideas and networking.
We asked the founder of the event, Hans-Peter Siefen, how a business event with a strong reputation is created.
Story | Ambition
Nordic Business Forum was organized for the first time in 2010 in Jyväskylä. The founders Jyri Linden and Hans-Peter Siefen decided already in the second year that they would like the American environmental activist Al Gore to come to Finland to speak. When this finally succeeded through all the twists and turns, the organizing team realized that the Nordic Business Forum could become a bigger event.
“Think big. We set an ambitious goal: the Nordic Business Forum will be among the world’s most significant business events in ten years. In the coming fall of 2023, the Nordic Business Forum will be held for the 12th time. Now our dream is many times bigger: the internationalization of the event.”
“Think big. We set an ambitious goal: the Nordic Business Forum will be among the world’s most significant business events in ten years. In the coming fall of 2023, the Nordic Business Forum will be held for the 12th time. Now our dream is many times bigger: the internationalization of the event.”
Hans-Peter Siefen, Founder of Nordic Business Forum
Sales | Hard work
Ten years of success are behind us and the appeal of the Nordic Business Forum is only growing. The sale of the Nordic Business Forum starts while the previous event is still in progress. More than 3,000 tickets were already sold for next autumn’s seminar when the first speakers were announced. What is the recipe for success?
“Early-stage sales are a big factor in why NBF can be such a big event in a small country like Finland. That, in turn, is influenced by the reputation, the unique offering and the program, to which the big names are attached well in advance. And don’t forget the hard work of sales,” Siefen lists.
Team | Passion
Nordic Business Forum’s own core team handles sales, marketing, customer service and international relations. At Messukeskus, the event is supported by an event planner and a project manager as well as strong expertise in the field of security. In addition, Messukeskus’ AV specialist Suomen Videoviestintä SVV supplies some of the technical equipment and expertise. During the event, a large number of other event organizers join the group, including a very well-trained group of student volunteers, whose activities and willingness to serve are praised year after year.
Messukeskus | Professionalism
The Nordic Business Forum is planned anew every year at Messukeskus. The planning is dictated by the different functions of the event, the need to create an atmosphere, and the expected number of participants. In 2023, the largest halls – 6 and 7 – were used, as well as twenty meeting rooms in the Congress Wing of Messukeskus.
“Messukeskus is an event platform that enables the most diverse events. I feel confident and see only opportunities, because the venue is endlessly adjusting and the staff has a flexible and learning attitude. This applies to technology, security, cleaning, catering and liability. We learn and develop together year by year. Now we are thinking about new solutions for recycling and using clean Finnish tap water for next autumn.”
Customer Feedback | Humility
Siefen’s favorite task is humbly listening to customers. In his opinion, the importance of customer feedback as a source of ideas simply cannot be overemphasized.
“The NBF team collects feedback using many different techniques. Feedback is collected by doing a self-assessment, watching the recording of the event carefully, using electronic surveys, calling customers… Even the overcrowding of the premises is checked with cameras afterwards,” he says.
Surprises | Memories
What was Hans-Peter Siefen’s own top moment at the last Nordic Business Forum? The answer reveals one more success factor that brings top managers to Helsinki year after year.
“The audience should always be surprised – surprise sells! In the last event, the surprise and at the same time my own highlight was bringing Garri Kasparov on stage. The Russian chess master and political activist took the stage after the Zoom call play. Such twists and turns blow up social media.”