What’s the secret to a happy (work) life? How do you give constructive feedback, and how do you nurture the next generation of leaders? Step inside this year’s Presidents Summit 2024.
On a daily basis, we're deeply immersed in our work with payment solutions. To get a fresh perspective and stay updated, we attend trade shows where we can both gain new insights and a change of pace. We operate in a constantly evolving market, which is why we always strive to make each workday a little better and more enjoyable. Whether it's about technological advancements or legal changes, our goal is to deliver the most efficient and secure payment methods.
The Presidents Summit took place on May 29-30 at Lokomotivværkstedet in Copenhagen. It’s a fantastic opportunity for networking and inspiration. Like-minded individuals from companies, startups, and investors come together for two days filled with insightful presentations from leading experts in business, innovation, technology, and sustainability.
This year, we were fortunate to hear from Bjarke Ingels, Neil Strauss, "The Godmother of Silicon Valley" Esther Wojcicki, and many others. Previous guests at the Presidents Summit include Bill Clinton, Richard Branson, Joe Gebbia, and more.
This Year's Key Themes:
- ’Work culture’
- ’Leadership’
- ’Happiness’
We are greeted on a red carpet that makes us feel a bit like stars and sets high expectations for what awaits inside. The atmosphere is buzzing with activities: robots and digital banners weave through the crowd, META offers you a virtual world with VR goggles, and Polestar showcases this year’s hottest electric car. You can also get your LinkedIn profile picture updated, enjoy an AI massage, and as the icing on the cake, there are free draft beers, soft drinks, and plenty of delicious food trucks in the courtyard outside.
From Dating Tips to Valuable Advice on Parenting and the Ideal Relationship
The main stage has been transformed into a spectacular light show, complete with giant screens and a setup that could rival a major music concert. It really feels like an American TV show when hosts Frida Boisen and Neil Strauss take the stage and get us out of our seats.
Isn't Neil Strauss the one who wrote the controversial book The Game? The book that teaches men step-by-step how to master the art of picking up women? Yes, that's him! But now he's grown up and changed his focus. Today, he writes and speaks about relationships, divorce, and parenting—who would have thought?
From dating tips to practical advice on balancing everyday life with children and a partner. There are many diverse themes that shape the day. Here are our top three:
1) How can you improve your collaboration skills, both as a colleague and a manager?
Kim Scott's presentation, "Culture – How to Work Better Together," was based on her model of Radical Candor. The essence of this approach is to have the courage to be honest with your employees.
- Embracing Personal Engagement: Show authentic concern for your colleague or employee as a person, taking the time to understand their aspirations, ambitions, and emotions. It’s about developing a relationship based on trust and empathy. Be more than just a professional.
- Encouraging Direct Communication: This involves giving honest and straightforward feedback regarding your colleague’s or employee’s work or behavior. It’s important to be clear and specific when addressing areas for improvement or recognizing excellent performance.
The essence of Radical Candor is to find the balance between these two dimensions, depending on the personality type you are engaging with. In this way, leaders can develop a culture of open communication, where feedback is viewed as a valuable tool for growth and development.
2) The Godmother of Silicone Valley – How do you raise successful children?
The Godmother of Silicon Valley, Esther Wocicki, is a teacher and author who shared insights on how to raise your children for success. Her clear message was to believe in your children and their abilities by using:
The T.R.I.C.K. method:
- Trust
- Respect
- Independence
- Collaboration
- Kindness
Her focus on empowering and inspiring young people for success has created great results for both her students and her own children, earning her the unofficial title of "The Godmother of Silicon Valley." Wojcicki's daughters include YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, 23andMe founder and CEO Anne Wojcicki, and anthropologist and professor Janet Wojcicki.
3) How do you achieve a happy life?
Sonja Lyubomirsky has been involved in happiness research for over two decades and has been a pioneer in positive psychology, creating an understanding of how people achieve and maintain long-term happiness.
appy people are said to be more successful, experience fewer illnesses, and live longer. Here are some of her tips that can also be applied in the workplace:
- Listen to learn – not just to respond.
- Kindness – performing kind actions can reduce stress and promote the release of beneficial hormones, which may improve your overall health, including blood pressure.
- Gratitude letter – a gratitude letter involves writing down three things that went well in the past week. It’s a tangible exercise that we look forward to trying out in the office. By sharing your positive experiences with your colleagues, it is said to lead to increased job satisfaction, greater engagement, and better outcomes for each employee.
Is it just business, you might wonder?
We wouldn’t claim that. We were thoroughly entertained during the occasionally information-dense presentations. After each talk, Michael Eriksen from Visual Direction provided a visual summary, simplifying the technical content and making it more accessible. We also joined in as Vilas Nayak performed magic on stage and painted King Frederik and Einstein.
In the evening, both BLUE and Zididada performed their classic hits—feel free to guess the average age of the crowd. Let’s just say that we millennials had a blast.
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