Norwegians in California

Are you a student dreaming of studying in Northern California? Wondering how to secure scholarships to make it happen? Curious about the importance of networking when building a future abroad? Want to learn more about the business culture in Silicon Valley?

In this episode of Norwegians in California, we talk to Erlend Bø, president of Norway House Foundation, about life as a Norwegian in Northern California and his work supporting educational exchanges between Norway and the region.

Norway House Foundation provides scholarships for Norwegian students pursuing studies in Northern California, and in the podcast, Erlend will elaborate on how you can apply to get it. They also fund cultural initiatives supporting the Northern California Norwegian community, and exchanges for American scholars who want to study in Norway. Erlend shares valuable insights on the culture of "paying it forward" in Silicon Valley, and the power of networking, a skillset he wished he had when coming to California.

With 25 years of experience in investment management, including a long career with renowned investor Jeffrey Gundlach at TCW, Erlend now works as a private investor and advisor to startups while serving as president of Norway House Foundation.

Tune in to hear more!

How can you create the most value for your organization in your role, especially in the ongoing digital revolution? How can you prioritize tasks and say no to your boss when you have too much work? What is essential in creating new roles as tech diplomats working for governments engaging with technology companies? Go fast and big or slowly and experiment and change the course over time when building an organization? 

With Morten T. Hansen, a Management Professor at the University of Berkeley, we delve into these questions and discuss how to prioritize and communicate and lead today.

Throughout the podcast, Morten T. Hansen generously shares his personal experiences, illuminating Silicon Valley's best practices and the valuable lessons to be drawn from California's innovation ecosystem. These insights are practical and applicable, empowering you with the tools to elevate your performance and impact within your organization.

Morten T. Hansen is a University of California, Berkeley management professor. He is the coauthor (with Jim Collins) of the New York Times bestseller "Great by Choice" and the author of the highly acclaimed "Collaboration .." and "Great at Work". He is also a senior director at Apple. 

Formerly a professor at Harvard Business School and INSEAD, Professor Hansen holds a PhD from Stanford Business School, where he was a Fulbright scholar. His academic research has won several prestigious awards, and he is ranked one of the world's most influential management thinkers by Thinkers50. Morten Hansen was also a manager at the Boston Consulting Group, where he advised corporate clients worldwide. Morten travels the world to give keynotes and help companies and people become great at work.

Are you dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur? What are the key ingredients to succeed as an entrepreneur and a startup team in Silicon Valley? What programs does Innovation Norway offer to Norwegian businesses which plan to enter the US market? Are you eager to explore Silicon Valley's bustling heart of innovation and technology? 

Have you dreamed about starting up your very own business or do you have an entrepreneurial spirit?

On this episode of Norwegians in California, we speak with student Eirik Sars Grøner, Amund Risa Fylling and Fredrikke Slemdal who are attending the Norwegian School of Entrepreneurship, also known as Gründerskolen. Listen in to learn more about their summer classes at UC Berkeley and their internships at different start ups in Silicon Valley.

Hosted by Oda Sanaker.

On this episode we speak with Oda Sanaker, the current student intern at the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in San Francisco.

Listen in to learn what it is like to be an intern for the Norwegian the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in general what its like to be an intern in the Silicon Valley tech hub.