THE CORE
OWE PETTERSSON
CEO
Former VP of Sampo Bank, Stockholm Branch. Made a journey from the insurance and banking industry to CEO for one of the world's 100 most innovative companies. Examples of previous positions are Group Cash Manager at If P&C Insurance Ltd with responsibility for 80 billion in cash flow. Experience from large listed companies, SMEs, and non-profit organizations equips Owe with skills needed in many different types of organisations.
EDUCATION
IHM Business School
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Tai-chi
Table tennis
CREDENTIALS:
Chairman for several non-profit sports associations.
Receiver of ESQR´s Quality Achievements Award, 2013.
Key note speaker at several international innovation events.
HANS HASSLE
FOUNDER
Hans Hassle received several international awards such as the Red Herring Award for leading one of the 100 most innovative companies in the world, and the New York Deloitte Green Award for breakthrough green innovation, handed out by His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf. 2012, CEO of the Year Sweden by European CEO, and the World Finance 100 list in 2013. 2018 Hans was awarded the Khalifa International Award in Dubai for Agricultural Innovation.
EDUCATION
Poppius School of Journalism, 1983
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Traveling, indigenous cultures, human limits,
family, society, politics.
CREDENTIALS:
Co-author of the UN Global Compact Research Report.
Author of the book "Business as Usual is Over".
Advisory Board Member Australian Davos Connection.
Member of Karolinska Institutet ("Nobel Prize Institute") ethical vetting committee, see Read More.
PER ÖSTLING
GOVERNANCE MODELS
Per started a Design Management company 1989. Throughout the years he has worked with all sizes and sorts of companies and organizations including McDonalds & Samsung. Growing up in a small industrial town he always felt a we in society. Driven by a passion for taking on challenges he has practiced' extensive Societal Entrepreneurship & Collaborative efforts on a glocal level. He is now mainly occupied as an advisor, lecturer, and with orchestrating and facilitating explorative & iterative processes to span boundaries, and challenge the present unsustainable models and structures.
EDUCATION
Separate courses in Market Planning, Copywriting, Graphic Design, Human Resources, Journalism, Idea History-Philosophy.
SPECIAL INTERESTS
People, Sports, Nature, Italian Food (and beverages), Gardening , Bonsai.
CREDENTIALS
Former Representative of the Swedish Industrial Design Foundation. Chairman & Boardmember in several organisations and Business Associations.
MATS RÖNNE
BRAND MANAGEMENT
Mats has over 30 years' experience of brand and marketing strategy and is one of Sweden's most respected marketing professionals. He has been in charge of global brand strategy and brand management at major international groups such as Ericsson and Electrolux, and has held senior marketing positions at companies such as Skanska, Readly and Bonniers.
EDUCATION
London School of Economics and Political Sciences
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Food and wine
Trivia
Skiing
CREDENTIALS:
Former Chairman of the Swedish Advertisers' Association. Co-founder of 100-wattaren, the Swedish advertising effectiveness award. Led the work that established the Swedish marketing industry's standard for identifying and defining the key marketing effectiveness metrics. Frequent lecturer, speaker and contributor to marketing publications and industry events.
PROF. DR. LARS KIRKHUSMO PHARO
GOVERNANCE MODELS
Lars specializes in religions, ethics, history of ideas (ideologies/philosophies), languages (translation and history of concepts), literacy, writing, semiotics, and knowledge systems of the American continent and Europe. He is Former Vice Dean of Research and Development and Professor of Religions and Ethics, Faculty of Education and Arts, Nord University.
EDUCATION
Magister Artium and Doctor Artium in History of Religions, University of Oslo.
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Hiking, Cross Country skiing, Music, Literature
CREDENTIALS
Research Associate, Moses Mesoamerican Archive and Research Project, Harvard University. Research Partner, ”Globalizaton of Knowledge” and ”The Globalization of Science in the Modern World”. Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte (MPIWG), Berlin. Member of Harvard Club of Norway and Harvard Alumni Association.
PROF. JAN STAËL VON HOLSTEIN
BRAND MANAGEMENT
Remembering Professor Jan Staël von Holstein
On August 13, 2025, the world lost not just a remarkable professional, but a man whose presence made life richer for everyone who knew him.
Professor Jan Staël von Holstein was our partner, our dear friend, and for so many, a bridge — between people, between cultures, and between ideas.
Jan was often called the Swedish business bridge into China, and for good reason. Over more than six decades in Design and Brand Management, he guided global companies in shaping their identities — from automotive and petrochemical giants to banks, airlines, luxury fashion houses, and beyond.
His career took him from Stockholm to London, New York, Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, but no matter where he was, Jan carried the same calm authority, deep knowledge, and a generosity of spirit that made him unforgettable.
The last fifteen years of his life’s work were dedicated to China, where he pioneered courses in Design Management and Brand Strategies at the country’s three leading universities.
As a visiting professor, he inspired his students not just to think differently, but to believe that design could shape the future. Jan spoke nine languages, yet perhaps his greatest gift was speaking the universal language of respect and human connection.
EDUCATION
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The Institute of Graphic Arts, Stockholm
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Institute of Directors, London
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Tongji University (D&I), Shanghai
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Jan’s heart was equally drawn to fine arts, music, and water sports — passions that revealed his sense of beauty, balance, and joy.
CREDENTIALS & ACHIEVEMENTS
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Founder member, Unimark International, New York
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Fellow, Institute of Design (ID) at Illinois Tech
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Founder & CEO, ADM International
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Founder, Network with Silver Lining
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Founder member, College of Design and Innovation (D&I), Tongji University, Shanghai
Jan was respected for his rare competence, but loved for his big heart. He had a gift for seeing the best in people and making them feel they belonged. He built bridges where others saw walls, and he did so with grace, humour, and unwavering kindness.
For us — and for all who knew him — his absence leaves a silence that will not easily be filled. Yet his influence lives on, in the ideas he championed, the students he inspired, and the friendships he nurtured across the world.
He will be deeply missed, and forever remembered.
CONTACT US
SEEKING THE OBVIOUS® Björnåsengruppen
Stockholm
Sweden
SEEKING THE OBVIOUS® Himalaya
Uttarakhand
India
SEEKING THE OBVIOUS® UK
London
UK
knock-knock@seekingtheobvious.com
Web
Phone
+46 (0)709 17 94 00