Pivot points powered by Brandpie

Catherine Day is a guest with a journey unlike any other we’ve explored. 

After over a quarter of a century at the heart of the UK government, advising 8 Prime Ministers, she’s come to a vital conclusion - there MUST be a better way.

Catherine is Co-Founder of the National Strategy Project, a movement born from her lifelong desire to play her part in life. 

What happens when you follow your values, and commit yourself to doing something selfless, for the good of all people?

You create the antidote to the malaise of modern leadership…

You will learn:

• How Catherine Day chose a career in government over a Steven Spielberg film set, and how that decision shaped everything 
• What it felt like to spend a decade in “flummoxed curiosity” inside one of the most complex human systems in the country
• How serving eight prime ministers across 25 years changed Catherine’s view of leadership, responsibility and values
• Why pivotal ethical moments pushed her to redefine what integrity looks like in her career
• How leaving the Cabinet Office led Catherine to create the National Strategy Project as the most meaningful work of her life so far

🔗 Connect with us

Catherine Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-day-9571254/

National Strategy Project: https://www.nationalstrategy.uk/

Connect with Dave Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveallenbrandpie/
Learn more about Brandpie: https://www.brandpie.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandpie/

We’ve established across the mini-series so far that businesses in the Nordic region have their own, innate perception of how we do business - one which differs from the rest of the world. 

The question we’re yet to answer is: How does Nordic leadership hold up when it’s applied at a global scale?

Scatec is the perfect case study for a Nordic business who refuses to sacrifice its values, or operate in a manner that’s untrue to itself. 

Even if it results in short term pain, the focus is always on the long game.

Terje Pilskog has been in the renewable energy sector for two decades, and CEO of Scatec since 2022. His is an intriguing view on what happens when the beloved business practices of the Nordics coalesce with the chaos of global instability…

You will learn:

• How Nordic leadership traits become real competitive advantages when expanded globally
• Why Nordic economies are uniquely positioned to shape the global energy transition
• What Nordic businesses must do to move beyond their home markets
• How integrity and purpose can anchor company culture across territories
• Why speed, pragmatism and “good enough” solutions often matter more than perfection

🔑 Key Themes

• Nordic leadership on a global stage
• Trust not being mistaken for naivety
• Integrated execution in renewables
• Innovation, culture and change makers
• Balancing long-term purpose with short-term pressures

🔗 Connect with us

Will Bosanko

https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-bosanko/

Terje Pilskog

https://www.linkedin.com/in/terje-pilskog-8406432/

Scatec

https://www.scatec.com/en/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/scatec/

Connect with Dave Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveallenbrandpie/
Learn more about Brandpie: https://www.brandpie.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandpie/

The Nordic region is rethinking healthcare, cementing its standing as the gold standard. It's more digital. More connected. Closer to the patient.

Thor Medical is a pivotal player in the story that's being written. They're world leaders in using alpha emitters for cancer therapy. 

In other words, their innovation stands at the forefront of a world in which healthcare systems are under greater pressure than ever.

The traits that see them leading from the front are uniquely Nordic, and joining us this week to share how that shapes business in the region is Thor Medical's CEO, Jasper Kurth.

You will learn:

• How high-trust, low-corruption societies in the Nordics create a powerful foundation
• How the Nordic welfare model and culture can enable innovation and risk-taking
• How Norway’s medical ecosystem is growing, and what that growth suggests about the region’s economic future
• What policy and market shifts are needed for Norway to host global ‘life sciences champions’
• The benefits to the uniquely Nordic approaches to resilience, long-term thinking, and partnership-based business models 

🔑 Key Themes

• Uniquely Nordic Advantages
• Trust and Transparency in Ecosystems
• Resilient Leadership
• Long-Term Thinking Amid Short Term Chaos
• The Nordic Culture as a Competitive Advantage

🔗 Connect with us

Will Bosanko

https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-bosanko/

Jasper Kurth

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasper-c-kurth-35213029/

Thor Medical

https://www.thormedical.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/thor-medical-asa/

Connect with Dave Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveallenbrandpie/
Learn more about Brandpie: https://www.brandpie.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandpie/

Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/SvXkoskJtvw?si=z7iLdUAOz1y7bDgH

The Nordics stand at a defining crossroads. 

Geopolitical instability, energy security concerns, AI driven disruption and intensifying global competition continue to threaten the status quo.

The real question is not whether change is coming - that much is certain - it's how Nordic leaders will shape it. At the forefront of this transformation is a CEO we’ve featured already on Pivot points, ATEA’s Steinar Sønsteby.

He joins Brandpie’s CEO of the EMEA region, Will Bosanko, for a special takeover episode of the show, recorded live in the heart of Oslo, Norway.

You will learn:

• How the Nordics turned small populations and harsh geography into a strategic advantage in energy, technology and healthcare
• Why trust given upfront is a core operating system for Nordic organisations
• How Atea’s CEO thinks about delegation, culture and mistakes to build a 9,000-person, high-performing organisation
• Practical ways to lead through geopolitical instability
• Why AI is pivotal for regions and sectors facing labour shortages
• How to think about brand and reputation as an outcome of internal culture and employees’ actions

🔑 Key Themes

• Trust as a strategic advantage
• The Nordics at a geopolitical and economic crossroads
• Culture, decentralisation and leadership
• AI as the answer to “too few people, too much to do”

🔗 Connect with us

Will Bosanko

https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-bosanko/

Steinar Sønsteby

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steinarsonsteby/

ATEA

https://www.linkedin.com/company/atea-asa/

Connect with Dave Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveallenbrandpie/
Learn more about Brandpie: https://www.brandpie.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandpie/

What’s at stake if you fail in business?

For some, it's a reputational risk. For others, it's a financial risk. But if Fredrik Ruben’s company fails, millions of disadvantaged families will no longer be able to communicate with their loved ones.

Failure is not an option for Fredrik and Dynavox - commerciality is key, and such an ultimatum might make some leaders try to be heroes. Fredrik is quite the opposite.

Join us as we discover why being the ‘tour guide’ removes a single point of failure, why a CEO’s self-care isn’t selfish, and how Fredrik has solved how to be in two places at once…

You will learn:

• How mission-driven leadership works when stakes are high
• Why “tour guide” leadership beats the hero CEO model
• How to build a team that doesn’t depend on you for every decision
• How to balance commercial discipline with deep purpose in a publicly listed company
• Why self-care, health, and life outside work are non-negotiable foundations for sustainable leadership

🔑 Key Themes

• Mission-Driven Leadership at Scale
• The Tour Guide CEO vs Hero Leadership
• Balancing Purpose and Commercial Reality
• Building a Decision-Making Culture
• Self-Care, Identity, and Sustainable Leadership

🔗 Connect with us

Fredrik Ruben

https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredrikruben/

Dynavox Group

https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynavox-group/

https://dynavoxgroup.com/

Connect with Dave Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveallenbrandpie/
Learn more about Brandpie: https://www.brandpie.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandpie/

What does it mean to make your own luck?

Dan Vahdat’s persistence planted the seeds in people’s minds that healthcare can change, and that Huma is the business to lead the revolution.

He saw through his vision until it rained, and those seeds became growth - Huma’s $1bn valuation is driven by a bold embrace of calculated serendipity.

Dan challenges the standard CEO playbook, navigating the pivot points of Huma’s journey without all the answers, leaning on his razor-sharp instinct. 

After all, in his eyes, perfect things are made by imperfect people…

If Dan’s leadership style resonates with you, then join us as we explore why he ‘adores crazy’, how to graduate from being an underdog, and when to follow intuition, rather than information…

You will learn:

• Why Dan Vahdat thinks of entrepreneurship as planting seeds and waiting for rain
• How one unexpected email unlocked NHS, pharma, and global growth
• How Huma’s values shape a culture that embraces unconventional thinkers and intuition‑led decisions
• Why celebrating mistakes is essential for innovation
• How promoting people into roles they’re “not ready for” can build a strong internal talent pool

🔑 Key Themes

• Building the Operating System for Healthcare
• Making Your Own Luck
• Intuition, the “Sixth Sense,” and Imperfect Leadership
• Culture That Adores Crazy and Celebrates Mistakes
• Growth and Entrepreneurial Resilience

🔗 Connect with us

Dan Vahdat

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danvahdat/

Huma

https://www.huma.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/humaforhealth/

Connect with Dave Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveallenbrandpie/
Learn more about Brandpie: https://www.brandpie.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandpie/

Did you know what career you’d be in when you were in 9th grade?

Alan Whitman did. He’s a dreamer who challenges convention. He’ll embark on a mission to make things happen, even when the path can’t be seen.

He spent nearly 8 years at Baker Tilly’s CEO, transforming it into a global advisory powerhouse - and at the heart of that transformation is his radical leadership philosophy.

Whether it’s his approach to candid, uncomfortable feedback, or taking pride in coaching and enabling the next generation, Alan represents the blueprint of a leader who transforms all that he touches.

You will learn:

• How a self-described “late bloomer” tax accountant became a transformational CEO of a global professional services firm
• Why emotional leadership, candour, and uncomfortable feedback prevail at senior levels
• How executive coaching can radically improve both individual leaders and the effectiveness of a senior leadership team
• Practical strategies to reframe change as progress to reduce resistance
• How to think about AI and automation as tools to eliminate friction
• What young professionals can do now to build a future‑ready career in leadership

🔑 Key Themes

• Breaking the mould in professional services leadership
• The power of coaching, candour, and uncomfortable feedback
• Emotional vs rational leadership
• Reframing change as progress
• AI, automation, and eliminating friction

🔗 Connect with us

Alan Whitman

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-whitman-357ab91/

Nichols Cauley

https://nicholscauley.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nicholscauleyllc/

Connect with Dave Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveallenbrandpie/
Learn more about Brandpie: https://www.brandpie.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandpie/

Lucy Knill is Anthropy’s newly-branded CEO, but at what point on her journey did she become the great leader that she’s proving to be?

It could be nature - evident from her relentless, meticulous mindset throughout her time in the events industry.

It could be nurture - from the role models that taught her radical collaboration and the value of the bigger picture.

Whatever the balance, if you’re a long-time CEO who might be set in their ways, Lucy’s story might remind you of the skills that’ll see you through a crisis, empower your teams, and create something with purpose.

You will learn:

• How an ‘accidental’ career path can evolve into an intentional, purpose‑driven leadership journey
• Practical ways to break into a new field without direct experience
• How NLP principles and positive language can reshape your mindset
• What it takes to lead when you need to pivot under pressure
• Building Anthropy and its mission, and scaling its platform

🔑 Key Themes

• Turning an unplanned career trajectory into intentional leadership
• Handling unexpected pivots in the events industry through Covid
• The power of purpose and impact in a career

🔗 Connect with us

Lucy Knill

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-knill-7060b24/

Anthropy

https://www.linkedin.com/company/anthropy-uk/

Connect with Dave Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveallenbrandpie/
Learn more about Brandpie: https://www.brandpie.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandpie/

Tómas Sigurðsson’s greatness comes from small beginnings. 

The self-described ‘accidental CEO’ has been measured and methodical. He’s not blinded by chasing quarterly goals - he’s patient. He’s prudent. He builds for the long-term…

The skills on display throughout his career often stem from innocuous moments - those same talents combined with invaluable early experience see him lead one of Iceland’s leading geothermal power companies; HS Orka.

So join us to explore the moments that taught Tomas what really keeps the power on for the long run.

You will learn:

• How to balance decade-long planning and capital projects with short-term, quarterly performance goals
• Strategies for driving culture change 
• How to grow strong teams and future leaders through continuous feedback, mentorship and intentional succession planning
• Why planning your life, protecting time to recharge and staying grounded matters for sustainable leadership

🔑 Key Themes

• Long-term thinking vs. short-term pressure
• Innovation and resource stewardship in Tómas’ industry
• Culture change and building a business mindset
• People, mentorship and developing leaders

🔗 Connect with us

Tómas Sigurðsson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/t%C3%B3mas-sigur%C3%B0sson-4b53b986/

HS Orka

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hs-orka/

https://www.hsorka.is/en/

Connect with Dave Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveallenbrandpie/
Learn more about Brandpie: https://www.brandpie.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandpie/

Dr Kyle Grant-Talbot is a self-described: ‘washed up astronaut’. 

Don’t let his humility fool you, though - his talents and innovations continue to leave their mark among the stars for NASA and SpaceX.

Kyle’s intelligence in Engineering Biology was matched by the ambition to tackle an industry which has shocking, high-stakes ripple effects through hospitality and healthcare - industrial laundry.

Today’s episode of Pivot Points paints a portrait of pure ambition.

The portrait of a leader who’s grounded, but possesses the drive to turn his hand to anything, and make it fly.

The portrait of a leader who’s learned the traits of mature, experienced leaders, decades ahead of his time.

You will learn:

• How the life-support engineer role at NASA/SpaceX translated space-grade thinking into a scalable, real world business
• Strategies to spot high-impact, overlooked industries where deep tech can create real competitive advantage
• How to navigate rapid growth, painful pivots and tough calls with patience and maturity
• The aspects of Kyle’s business that have proven more important than any single piece of technology

🔑 Key Themes

• Applying modern engineering to outdated industries
• The zero‑to‑one hundred founder grind
• Obsessive customer focus as the real engine of growth
• The significant pivots on the scaling journey
• The emotion and timing behind selling Oxwash 

🔗 Connect with us

Dr Kyle Grant-Talbot

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-c-grant/

OxWash

https://www.oxwash.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/oxwash/

Connect with Dave Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveallenbrandpie/
Learn more about Brandpie: https://www.brandpie.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandpie/