202: How Nordic Capitalism Prioritizes Profit and Climate for A More

What if the key to creating a more sustainable future lies not in reinventing capitalism entirely, but in looking at how it already works elsewhere?

In this episode of Nordic Visionaries, a special series inside the Innovation Storytellers Show, we welcome Dr. Robert Strand, Executive Director of the Nordic Center at UC Berkeley and Associate Professor at the Copenhagen Business School. With one foot firmly planted in American academia and the other deeply connected to Nordic thought leadership, Robert offers a compelling comparison between American and Nordic models of capitalism highlighting how the Nordics are approaching profit, climate responsibility, and long-term societal well-being.

Drawing on his research, leadership courses, and real-world corporate experience, Robert shares why many of the assumptions embedded in American business culture deserve to be challenged. He explains why sustainable capitalism is desirable and necessary and how it can be built on models already in practice across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Whether it’s universal childcare, patient capital, stakeholder-driven innovation, or strong democratic institutions, Robert walks us through the policies and cultural mindsets that allow Nordic companies to be both competitive and conscientious.

We also explore how sustainability can drive innovation and how American business leaders might need to rethink their relationship with speed, growth, and quarterly returns. Robert calls for a shift in leadership priorities, urging executives to act as advocates for society as much as for their bottom line. From planetary boundaries to AI, from corporate structures to childcare, this conversation challenges long-held ideas about what makes capitalism work.

Can we borrow from Nordic approaches to shape a more resilient and just economy? And are American businesses ready to reimagine their role in a changing world? Tune in and share your thoughts.