The Story-Driven Business podcast with Susanna Rantanen
BONUS episode | Live at Nordic Business Forum 2026: Dating, the Wedding and the Marriage in employer branding context
If money brought your people in, money can take them away. So what actually makes the right people join and stay? This bonus episode is a little different. It's a recording of my on-stage interview at Nordic Business Forum 2026 in Helsinki, hosted by Olivia Kingshorst. I'm still a bit pinch-me about this one. This year's theme was The Human Edge, and the stage belonged to people like Oprah Winfrey, Steven Bartlett, Angela Duckworth, Patty McCord and Paul Polman . Getting to share the stage and talk about why people matter more than ever in the age of AI, in front of thousands of leaders from all over the world, is a moment I'll carry with me for a long time. Thank you, NBF, for the invitation and the trust. Olivia put me in the hot seat with questions straight from the audience. We talked about: Why salary alone won't win or keep the people you need Whether companies should sell themselves in recruitment, or simply be honest Why a pool table won't fix a stiff culture, but a mirror might How to make people care when your product is "boring" Why your brand and your employer brand are siblings, not twins What AI can and can't do for your employer brand and your recruitment And why employer branding is dating, recruitment is the wedding day, and culture is the marriage It's short, lively, and full of what I want leaders to hear. It all comes back to one idea: Matching Minds with Mission. When leaders tell a clear, honest story about where the company is going, the right people recognise themselves in it, and they stay. If this episode sparks a thought, send it to a leader who needs to hear it. And I'd love to hear which answer made you nod or wince. Susanna xo @rantanensusanna Connect with me on LinkedIn
