Participants of the 2024-2025 AmCham Mentorship Program attended their fourth and final group gathering; the culmination of a nine-month program consisting of group gatherings and one-on-one mentor-mentee sessions for 78 participants from 35 member organizations across 13 industries. The finale, held at the US Embassy in Oslo, featured presentations by the US Embassy and Kahoot!
Jamal Al-Mussawi
Acting Deputy Chief of Mission
Vidar Keyn
Head, Commercial Section/US Commercial Service
Ingvild Næss
CIO
Jamal Al-Mussawi, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy Oslo, has served in multiple US State Department roles, including as Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in Oslo, Chief of the External Affairs division in US Embassy Berlin’s Political Section and Chief of Staff of the US Department of State’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.
Al-Mussawi has witnessed an array of approaches to leadership across countries and cultures, often with an embedded hierarchical structure. By contrast, the Nordics tend to opt for a flatter structure, which presents a valuable proximity to employees and enables close dialogue that ultimately builds confidence in the organization’s leadership. As the ‘chief in command’ of the establishment, Al-Mussawi is conscious of being physically present, even throughout the vast embassy premises, to signal availability and accessibility.
Vidar Keyn, Head of the Commercial Section at the US Embassy, represents the US Commercial Service and is responsible for its programs in Norway. The Commercial Service is an agency under the US Department of Commerce working to strengthen the competitiveness of US industry and promoting US trade and investments. Reflecting on his professional career and encounters with leadership, he stated that “interpersonal relationships are similar to diplomacy between states.” Inspired by observations from his long tenure in diplomacy, Keyn highlighted select leadership characteristics he deems especially compelling, such as showing trust, flexibility, and a willingness to change, and to be generous and give well-earned compliments.
"Interpersonal relationships are similar to diplomacy between states.”
Ingvild Næss, CIO at Kahoot!, has been acclaimed by the media in Norway for her thought leadership on the balance between the individual’s need for data privacy and companies’ access to data. Drawing from her extensive tech and legal background, she has maneuvered by applying her leadership ethos.
Kahoot was founded in 2012, and today boasts of 11 billion participants (non-unique) in more than 200 countries and regions since their launch. For the innovative global learning and engagement platform, embracing experimentation and taking risk without fear are paramount to their success.
When facing a challenge, Næss rhetorically asked, do you view it as an opportunity or a roadblock? The answer to this very question, Næss argued, provides the defining clue about an individual’s outlook and present problem-solving capabilities. When addressing this question, the concept of growth mindset, rooted in neuroscience, can be applied. Referencing the book Mindset by Carol S. Dweck, Næss emphasized the belief that intelligence and skills can and should be developed. It is the belief that, also those who at some point may see roadblocks, have the capacity to develop and look beyond perceived obstacles, reminding participants that “mindset is a choice.”
"Mindset is a choice.”
With its unique cross-industry orientation, the AmCham Mentorship Program offers a dynamic, internationally minded arena for leadership development.
The program pairs emerging corporate talent with seasoned member company executives. The result: a collaborative arena that fosters improvement and reflection, prepares young leaders for the challenges of the international marketplace, and forges bonds between AmCham member companies.
The Mentorship program is available to Patron-level members of AmCham Norway. For interest in participating in the upcoming edition of AmCham’s Mentorship Program, please contact Margrethe.Harboe@amcham.no.
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