Theme: Small Steps, Giant Leaps

Sometimes all it takes is a small step in the right direction to make a giant leap.

Byscenen
Kongens gate 19
Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag, 7012
Norway

Candiss

The Candiss choir from Trondheim's Student Society consists of 21 strong female students in pink dungarees.

Antoinette Botti

Founder of Ging natural ginger drink, Antoinette Botti, was inspired to set up The Zomadre Women’s Project in her homeland of the Ivory Coast, where up to 90% of produce is grown by women. Using her African heritage and the springboard of her ever-growing business, Ms Botti aims to empower women in rural Africa through training, investment and nurturing local skills and talent to provide a decent livelihood and access to education for all.

Christian Aasland

Mr. Christian Salbu Aasland holds an M.Sc in physical electronics from The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and a MBA from The Norwegian School of Economics (NHH). After spending five years in various positions in the R&D and technology department at Statoil, he decided to quit and start Keep-it Technologies. He has spent the last seven years developing a great idea concocted at the University of Life Sciences from the lab bench onto products you can buy in your local Rema 1000 store. The final product is a small adhesive that makes the generic “best before” date on food products smarter by tracking each product’s refrigeration cycles. Keep-it Technologies has increased its production six times last year, but the journey has just begun.

Erik Bertrand Larssen

Erik Bertrand is a mental trainer who energizes people to think differently, embrace what he calls “emotional contrasts,” and make small adjustments to their daily actions to experience a successful career and happier life. He is the creator of The Bertrand Method. After leaving the military, he worked in the telecom industry, moved into headhunting and then started mental and career coaching on the side. Today, Erik is the number one mental trainer in Norway with clients ranging from business executives to Olympic athletes. His international clients include Microsoft, the Boston Consulting Group and Stat Oil. Erik is also the best-selling author of No Mercy and Hell Week that have been translated into twelve languages around the world.

Jennifer Chernega

Dr. Jennifer Chernega is an associate professor of sociology at Winona State University. She teaches about and studies issues of inequality and race and ethnic relations and is a visiting lecturer at the University of Oslo on a Fulbright Scholar Award. As an applied researcher, Jennifer Chernega has investigated issues of housing and homelessness, segregation and integration as well as community-based research for a variety of organizations.

Julien Bourelle

Julien is the founder of Mondå, a project that helps Norwegians benefit from cultural diversity while supporting talented foreigners in their efforts to adapt and connect with Norway. He is educated as an astronautical engineer and is currently completing a doctoral degree in Norway. He is originally from Canada and speaks English, Norwegian, French and Spanish. He has been active in higher education policy at the European level, at the national level in Norway and locally at different institutions. He became the first foreign board member of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Other positions include the Norwegian national research committee (UHR), the board of the national Norwegian doctoral organisation and the presidency of NTNU’s doctoral organisation.

Julien S. Bourrelle

Julien is the founder of Mondå, a project that helps Norwegians benefit from cultural diversity while supporting talented foreigners in their efforts to adapt and connect with Norway. He is educated as an astronautical engineer and is currently completing a doctoral degree in Norway. He is originally from Canada and speaks English, Norwegian, French and Spanish. He has been active in higher education policy at the European level, at the national level in Norway and locally at different institutions. He became the first foreign board member of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Other positions include the Norwegian national research committee (UHR), the board of the national Norwegian doctoral organisation and the presidency of NTNU’s doctoral organisation.

Marianne Danielsen

Marianne Danielsen is an entrepreneur and a value driven business manager. She lives by the philosophy that all developing processes starts with a consumer need, or creating a consumer need and that people are the most important asset of any organization.

Matija Puzar

Matija Pužar is a Senior Engineer at the USIT/UiO, University of Oslo, working with developing web applications. He is also a Certified LEGO® Professional, a hobby that he has transformed into his main business.

Therese Ulvan

Therese Ulvan discovered her true calling while attending a singing course known as LIPA at Paul McCartney’s music school in Liverpool. After attending the Nordic Institute for Scene and Studio for a time, she enrolled at the University of Leeds in England, where she received a Bachelor of Jazz. She has a busy life as an international musician.

Victoria Uwonkunda

Victoria Uwonkunda is originally from Rwanda, but she counts Norway as her second home. Along the way, she has lived in several countries. Currently she enjoys living and working in the UK. A talkative and curious child, Victoria always dreamed of journalism, and the road finally took her to BBC where she presents and produces, BBC Minute, a 60 seconds global news summary.