In late 2016, Vessels observed that Next Step’s Norwegian clients were asking the same questions about innovation and leadership as their American peers. Although open dialogue and collaboration between leaders of different companies in Norway had been, historically speaking, quite rare, she saw a possible opportunity to explore expansion of the Executive Growth Alliance across the Atlantic.
Based on the need for collaboration and innovation across the Norwegian transportation sector, Next Step organized a pilot Norwegian Transportation Executive Growth Forum in early 2017.
“During this session, there was initial skepticism and hesitancy to speak openly compared to members in our American forums,” she noted in an interview with AmCham’s Tyler Barrott, before adding, “At the end of the session, however, participants expressed strong interest in follow-on sessions. After the next Executive Growth Forum, sharing and collective learning really began to flow.”
Within a year, actions and results also began to flow, leading to the co-creation (design, development, and pilot) of a new digital service by Avinor and Posten – through their collaboration within the Executive Growth Alliance.
Building from the success of the Executive Growth Alliance Norway Transportation, Next Step launched groups and held Executive Growth Forums for companies in the smart environment, consumer/retail, industrial, and health eco-systems. Since the initial EGF in 2017, Next Step has facilitated twenty-six Executive Growth Forums in Norway. Members in each of the five groups consistently gain insights, collaboration partners, and opportunities to co-create future success.