Episode #58
Nordic Business Forum started with evening seminars in Jyväskylä and grew into one of Europe’s leading leadership and business events. We sat down with CEO & Co-founder Hans-Peter Siefen to talk about navigating the pandemic, building an unforgettable customer experience, and what it takes to run a world-class event.
3 takeaways from the conversation with Hans-Peter “Hape” Siefen
Start Small, Think Big
Hape began hosting local evening seminars in Jyväskylä with only Finnish speakers. He had no grand master plan, yet his enthusiasm and willingness to “just try” led to breakthroughs—like booking Al Gore for his second major conference. Sometimes a bit of naïveté and bold phone calls can open unexpected doors. That first event in 2010 drew more attendees than expected (700 instead of the target 500), giving them the confidence to aim higher the following year.
Embrace Risk and Push Through Rejection
Picking up the phone, sending faxes, and hearing “no” after “no” are all part of building something big. Hape credits his years in sales for teaching him how to handle constant rejection and still keep moving forward. In business, it’s often not the “no” that matters, but how quickly you bounce back and persist. That resilience ultimately helped Nordic Business Forum land high-profile speakers and establish itself as a serious player in the international conference scene.
Leadership Is Hard, but Candor Helps
Hape admits that leading people—communicating well, giving honest feedback, and setting clear expectations—can be the toughest part of running a business. Yet he highlights a lesson from Jack Welch: your team must always know where they stand. If someone isn’t meeting expectations, don’t wait for a crisis before telling them. Being upfront in a caring way builds trust and prevents nasty surprises down the road. Honest feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable, is the kindest thing you can offer.