The Nordic Leaders meet Nordic Blue Crime!

In this episode, we sit down with Satu Rämö — bestselling Finnish author, Icelandic resident, and creator of the hugely popular Hildur crime series.

Satu is a master of paradox. She’s a crime writer who can’t stand the sight of blood. A daily runner who lives by strict routines, yet writes fiction filled with wild unpredictability. A storyteller who leads with trust — even when it has cost her dearly.

We explore:

• How discipline can fuel creativity
• Why her crime novels are fiction — but based entirely on real experiences
• What she learned from trusting the wrong people
• The role of Icelandic folklore in shaping her voice
• How she found product-market fit — and literary magic
• Her writing rituals, rejection themes, and the power of little daily habits

Satu also reflects on her upcoming TV adaptation, her journey to one million copies sold, and why she believes in demystifying the creative process.

Whether you're a leader, writer, entrepreneur — or simply someone who loves a good story — this episode is for you.

Some standout quotes from

🎤 “I don’t start writing a book. I start writing chapter one.” Progress begins with small, focused steps.

🎤“I write fiction — but I haven’t made anything up.” Fictional crime novels built from real-life stories, observations, and interviews.

🎤“Discipline is the way I create space for freedom.”A daily 3.3km run and structured writing routine allow creativity to flourish.

🎤“My biggest failures have come from trusting the wrong people — but I still choose to trust.” A striking reflection on the emotional risk and reward of openness.

🎤“If you wait too long to write the story, it goes stale. Like old fish.” On why speed matters — not just for productivity, but for staying connected to the soul of a story.

🎤“I have to be my own boss, colleague, and assistant. So I give myself structure.” Life as a solo creator, and how she keeps herself moving forward.

🎤“The stories are all true. The characters are not.” Her method of blending journalism, folklore, and imagination.

🎤“I don’t want to mystify creativity. It’s not magic. It’s work — beautiful, hard work.” Satu on demystifying the writing process and encouraging aspiring authors.

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Books Mentioned in the episode

• Satu Rämö's Hildur series
• On Writing by Stephen
• Discipline Equals Freedom by Jocko Willink
• Atomic Habits by James Clear

In this episode of Nordic Leaders: Fail Smart, we welcome back Jarmo Suominen, CEO of Rejlers Abu Dhabi, marking his second appearance on the podcast—our first returning guest! We explore leadership lessons from one of the UAE's fastest-growing professional services firms, diving into resilience, growth, and adapting to an ever-changing business landscape.

Key Takeaways:

1. Focus and Learning from Failure:

🎙️ Focus on the task at hand and avoid over-planning.
🎙️ "When you’re somewhere, focus on what you’re doing. When you’ve had enough, start looking for something else."

2. Leading Through Crisis:

🎙️ COVID-19 Strategy: Despite the market shutdown, Jarmo kept his team intact
by cutting salaries across the board instead of laying off staff. This decision
helped preserve the company’s core talent.
🎙️ Rejlers Abu Dhabi emerged stronger post-pandemic, growing from 45
employees to 300 and becoming the most profitable unit in the global Rejlers
group.

3. Building Trust in a Diverse Organization:

🎙️ "What we’re selling in consulting is trust."
🎙️ How to Build Trust:

• Be genuinely interested in people.
• Lead by example—be present, listen, and engage.
• Avoid imposing personal ideologies or assumptions on others.

4. Leadership Evolution:

🎙️ From Manager to Coach: Jarmo’s leadership style evolved from directive
management to coaching through listening and asking the right questions.
🎙️ "If the house is on fire, it’s not time to discuss what’s for dinner." Coaching
works best in non-emergency scenarios.

5. Cultural Intelligence:

🎙️ Leading a team of 24 nationalities requires cultural sensitivity, curiosity, and genuine interest.
🎙️ Advice for Leaders Moving Abroad: "Drop the idea that everyone thinks like
you."

Memorable Quotes:

• "Don’t plan too far ahead—you’ll be disappointed."
• "Be honest, but remember that most people say they want the truth—until they hear it."
• "Let people discover solutions themselves; nothing works better than a self-made realization."

Podcast Team Reflections:

• David: "The best time to leave a party is when you’re enjoying yourself the most."
• Nick: "Focus and adaptability stood out as essential leadership traits."
• Stefano: "Selling trust defines good consulting—a guiding principle for any leader."

Closing Thought:

Jarmo’s enduring lesson resonates beyond business: Success isn’t about imposing one way of thinking but about fostering trust, enabling growth, and embracing diverse perspectives. His journey through challenge and transformation exemplifies leadership resilience and the power of learning minds.

Thank you for tuning in to Nordic Leaders: Fail Smart. Stay curious, keep learning, and see you next time!

In this insightful episode of Fail Smart, we sit down with Asko Känsälä, former Deputy CEO of Elisa, a leading telecommunications company in Finland. Known for his sharp thinking and profound insights, Asko shares the experiences, philosophies, and failures that have shaped his leadership journey. Together with Asko we explore what it means to lead with empathy, balance, and impactful simplicity.

Key Takeaways from the Episode:

1. Failures and Successes Don’t Define Us:
   • Asko discusses his belief that failures and successes, while part of business, don’t shape identity. Instead, it’s about experimenting, learning, and not clinging to events.
   • “Whatever the mistake, you can always fix it. Whatever the success, don’t be too proud—it’s often a collective achievement.”
2. Leadership as Lifelong Learning:
   • Self-leadership is the foundation of effective leadership. It requires constant reflection and an openness to feedback from peers, subordinates, and even customers.
   • Asko highlights the importance of developing impactful, "dense" leadership—focusing on what truly matters.
3. Impact Through Simplicity:
   • Inspired by art, Asko emphasizes the power of distillation: finding the essential and stripping away the unnecessary.
   • Memorable example: Introducing Elisa’s customer-first strategy with the phrase “Frontline First.”
4. Empathy in Leadership:
   • Asko advocates for understanding people as whole individuals, not just roles within an organization. This means noticing the small things, engaging in “small encounters,” and creating a culture of trust and care.
   • His empathetic leadership was deeply influenced by personal experiences, including caring for his daughter during a difficult illness.
5. Challenging Urgency:
   • A key leadership “superpower” Asko discusses is “stopping the time” to challenge assumptions and find clarity. This approach often reveals that urgency is an illusion, allowing teams to focus on essential actions.
6. Cultural Insights and Creative Thinking:
   • Asko shares how his experiences in Japan and at Columbia Business School shaped his approach to leadership, creativity, and problem-solving.
   • Key lesson: Understand the assumptions and meanings behind people’s words and actions to gain a new perspective.

Memorable Quotes:

• “Leadership is not about perfection; it’s about impact.”
• “Stop the time, challenge assumptions, and focus on the behaviors and actions that truly matter.”
• “Good leadership makes itself unnecessary—it’s about empowering others to lead.”

About the Guest:

Asko Känsälä is a seasoned leader and former Deputy CEO of Elisa. With a career spanning decades, Asko is known for his empathetic yet results-driven approach to leadership. He has authored a book "Joh­ta­jas­ta mes­ta­rik­si" ("From Leader to Master") on his leadership philosophy, focusing on self-leadership, team dynamics, and the art of impactful simplicity.

Resources & Mentions:

• Asko Känsälä’s Book: (Currently available in Finnish) English edition coming soon!
• Inspirations Discussed: Artworks by Eva Ryynänen, Japanese cultural insights, and Olli Jokinen’s coaching philosophy.

Host Team:

• David Goddard - Chief Quote Officer
• Nick Vertigans - Chief Summarizer Officer
• Stefano Mosconi - Insights Facilitator