Nordic entrepreneurial experience to use in Baltic countries
The aim of the business panel is introduction of doing business the Nordic way. There will be answers to questions like where do Baltic businessmen fail, what are the cultural differences one has to keep in mind and how to really succeed.
We will also hear of some business organizations which exists in the Nordic countries, how do they work with each other and the community, but not forgetting of course, how entrepreneurs can benefit out of them.
The speakers will give insights and inspiration for creating new ways of doing business.
Panel moderator is Toomas Käbin.
Toomas Käbin (BA in Business Adm, Sweden, Ma in Econ, USA)was born in Sweden by Estonian parents. Being employed by the Swedish Trade Council in Stockholm he arranged the first Swedish business delegation to Estonia in 1989. In 1990 he set up the Swedish Trade Council office in Tallinn and worked as Trade Counsellor and First Secretary (Commercial) at the Swedish Embassy until 2001 assisting a large number of Swedish companies with the set-up of operations in Estonia and establishing trade links.
Toomas Käbin was a cofounder of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Estonia in 1996. Toomas Käbin has a vast experience from media, seminars and conferences related to Swedish-Estonian business promotion.
Toomas Käbin is an independent business consultant since 2001 which includes being Director of the BALTECHconsortium between eight leading Nordic and Baltic technical universities and chief-editor of The Baltic Guide – på svenska. Toomas Käbin has been the director of The Lennart Meri Europe Foundation, board member of George Soros Foundation in Estonia and is a board member of the Tartu University Foundation.
Speakers are Helle Fuglevig, Ulf Johansson, Markku Teittinen, Andres Koern and Silvi Teesalu.
Ulf Johansson
Sweco Eurofutures AB
“Business and community co-operation in Sweden”
Ulf Johansson is working as a senior consultant at Sweco Eurofutures AB, a consultancy firm based in Stockholm. He is a graduate from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothen-burg (MSc – architecture). In previous positions Ulf has worked as director at the Swedish Association for Local Authorities and Regions, responsible for the department for Economic Growth and Community Development and as head of the Regional Development department at Gotland Region (Sweden). He has also worked with elaboration of regional strategies and as project manager with partners from around the Baltic Sea.
Ulf has long experience from management positions in the public sector and hence a comprehensive understanding on both strategic and operational level of the preconditions for local and regional development including local and regional business promotion.
Since 2004 he is living in Estonia and having worked with Baltic Sea strategic development issues since 1990 he has a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the Baltic Sea area. Through his extensive work on local, regional, national and EU-level he has acquired a wide personal network around the Baltic Sea.
Helle Fuglevig
Export consultant
“How to enter the Scandinavian markets?”
Market Select ApS provides professional services to companies seeking sales, market-entry, sourcing opportunities, and/or business partners and customers in Europe and Northern, Central and Southern America. Market Select ApS was founded in 2007 by Mrs Helle Fuglevig, who holds an engeneering degree in mechanical engeneering and international sales.
With a background in export engineering, Market Select has a holistic approach to solving problems. We combine and translate natural sciences, technical, mercantile, economic and language aspects into an integrated, practical, problem-solving approach.Our technical backgrounds provide us with the ability to easily acquire knowledge about new products – and to market them under the chosen language- and cultural conditions.
Helle Fuglevig has gained considerable export consultancy experience for Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs working for the Royal Danish Consulate General in Toronto in Canada for almost 4 years, and Håndværksrådet International A/S, dealing with a variety of different products and services in many regions. High level of specialisation in Latin American markets, Canada, and Europe – increasingly in Estonia, Hungary and Scandinavian countries
Helle Fuglevig, was appointed EU Ambassador for female entrepreneurship in 2009, as part of an initiative of the European Commission to promote and inspire entrepreneurship among women, and Helle Fuglevig is today part of the FEN-network together with 100 other female entrepreneurs from other EU-countries.
Currently contracted by Enterprise Estonia as export consultant to assist Estonian companies in identification of potential business contacts in Denmark and establishment of exports to the region.
Currently contracted by IDT Hungary, the Hungarian Investment and Trade Development Agency, as a senior export consultant to assist Hungarian companies in identification of of potential business contacts in Denmark, Norway and Germany and establishment of exports to the regions
Markku Teittinen
Tampere Business Region
Markku Teittinen is educated as a Paper Engineer. His working career relates mostly in marketing and strategic planning. He has 30 years experience in global paper sales and marketing. After paper industry duties he has consulted several Finnish SME companies in internationalization process and helped them into business abroad. The last two years he has guided foreign enterprises to set up business in Finland.
Silvi Teesalu
Danish Cultural Institute
“Cultural differences – threat or asset?”
Silvi Teesalu, PhD (cultural history), is director of Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia since 1990, managing international communication projects between Denmark and Estonia in art, culture and society; from 2003 projects with other European countries included.
Besides art projects and cultural exchange projects, have been actively involved in the democracy development, arranging seminars and conferences on different themes on civil society. Silvi Teesalu has participated in European Citizen´s Consultations – on local level and in Brussels (2007-2008).
Silvi Teesalu is leader of the EUNIC Estonia cluster for 2010. EUNIC is the network of the European Union National Institutes for Culture. EUNIC members play a major role in international cultural cooperation and relations in over hundred countries. Estonia cluster includes seven cluster members and four associated members at the time.
Silvi Teesalu has published articles on the subject of culture in local and Danish periodicals, written tour-guide “Kopenhaagen” (1998). She is author of the book “Sirelid öitsevad juunis” (2003), which was published in Denmark under title “Deporteret til Sibirien” (2009). She is author and editor of the book on Danish and Estonian contacts (culture, society) “Kilde Taani suhetest Eestiga”, which will be presented for readers in November 2010.
She has been interested in the subject of cultural differences, reading the course for the students (from 2001-2009) of the Academy Nord, now emerged into Tallinn University, and discussing the theme on numerous lectures in Estonia.
Andres Koern
AS TK-Team
“International business – some reflections”
Andres Koern is a experienced top manager, who was CEO of Põltsamaa Felix AS for more than 10 years. Põltsamaa Felix AS is subsidiary to Orkla Group.
Andres has studied in Lund and Gothenburg universities fysics, mathematics and pedagogics, but also has taken courses in United States.
Andres is the chairman of the board in AS TK-Team and member of council in University of Tartu Hospital Children’s Fund. He is also a member of the advisory board of regional sector of Enterprise Estonia, International Wine and Food Society and Commanderie de Bordeaux.