Pir it forward
People sharing, because they care.
Pir it forward is our informal peer-to-peer initiative, created for our members to connect with people who have been there, done that and are happy to share what they learned.
We have gathered some of our most inspiring friends. People who are curious, generous with their knowledge and genuinely interested in supporting others who want to create, scale and figure things out.
Pir it Forward is launched to give our members the opportunity to be paired with experienced professionals from different fields. The idea is simple: a few conversations over the course of a year. No rigid structure, no pressure. Just honest sparring, shared experiences and a safe space to ask all kinds of questions that can move your business forward.
Meet the group of skilled, dedicated and kind people who believe in paying it forward.
Sara Strand
Sara helps companies create clear, engaging content that makes their brand more visible and relevant. She founded the content agency Takk for sist in 2021 and works closely with businesses to shape stories and messages that people actually notice and care about, especially on social media. Get guidance on creating a business and content people can't stop talking about.
Expertise:
Content
Social media
Brand building
Copywriting
Communication consulting
Kristina Giske
Kristina works with creative leadership, entrepreneurship and social responsibility. She is driven by creating positive change in both business and society. She is Managing Partner at Vest Studio, co-founder of FJELL^ Snowboards and holds several board positions. Kristina is our best support when we are exploring sustainable business concepts, building meaningful brands and aim for purpose-driven growth.
Expertise:
Creative leadership and entrepreneurship
Strategy and business development
Marketing strategy and brand positioning
Social responsibility and sustainability
PR and communication
Marius Lunde Petersen
Marius is passionate about developing the Ålesund region by evolving the culinary scene. He is founder of Ut i Ålesund Management and has extensive experience in building and running businesses within tourism, hospitality, culture and events. Marius also actively advocates for social inclusion and a more mindful use of our planets resources. He is the one we ask for help when we want to turn ideas into profitable operations.
Expertise:
Leadership
Project management and business development
HR
Business operations
Budgeting and financial management
Olav Sindre Kriken
Olav Sindre works with high-tech innovation, building and scaling companies at the intersection of technology, business and people. He is co-founder and CEO of Tana and he currently lives in San Francisco, growing one of the iastest moving AI companies internationally. With a background spanning a variety of startups, investments and strategic development, Olav Sindre is great at growth, strategy and building scalable, product-led companies.
Expertise:
Innovation and international growth
Funding and attracting investors
Technology and AI
Product and business development
Overall business strategy
Go to market strategy
Digital marketing
Cathrin works with strategy, technology and business development. She helps companies navigate complex change as co-founder of Stratry and Managing Director of Piwot. She also has extensive experience as a leader, advisor and board member across both tech-driven and established organizations. Cathrin can give input on making clear strategies, strong products and the interaction between technology, people and business.
Expertise:
Strategy and business development
Product and service development
Technology and IT strategy
Change management
Project and product management
Tore Holmem
Tore is founder and CEO of Arkwiz and works as a 3D generalist across different media. He combines creativity and technology to develop innovative visual solutions, including procedural generation and GIS-based workflows. Tore also works as a freelance motion graphic designer through Holmem Grafikk, and he has hands on experience in building a scalable tech startup.
Expertise:
3D design and motion graphics
Procedural generation and GIS-based solutions
Digital visualization and creative technology
Project management and product development
Torill Standal Eliassen
Torill is CEO of Conta and holds several board positions. She has a strong track record in top management and building healthy, high-performing organizations and teams. With a solid background in technology, sales and marketing, Torill is the one we turn to for advice on leadership, strategy, and data-driven decision-making in growth companies.
Expertise:
Leadership and change management
Strategy
Technology
Business operations
Marketing
Data-driven decision-making
Eivind Molvær
Eivind is Creative Director and partner at Vest Studio. He has broad experience in design, visual communication and creating brands and digital products that people understand, trust, and want to use. He combines creativity and strategy to develop strong concepts and identities for both commercial and cultural projects, and also serves on the boards of several cultural institutions.
Expertise:
Visual communication and graphic design
Digital interfaces and UX
Art direction and concept development
Typography and corporate identity
Creative leadership and design strategy
Tore Tønseth
Tore works with investments, finance and strategic development and is driven by creating long-term value for companies and owners. He is Investment Director at Ronja Capital and serves as Chair or board member in several companies. Tore offers sparring on market understanding, investment development and building sustainable businesses.
Expertise:
Investments and capital management
Financial analysis and valuation
Corporate finance and strategic advisory
Board work and ownership
Market monitoring and decision support
Ingvild Vartdal
Ingvild is a respected business lawyer nationally, and founder and managing partner at ADVISO. She has extensive experience in corporate law, transactions and tax and is also owner and board member in several companies, including the family business Vartdal Plast. Ingvild works at the intersection of law and business and brings us perspective on ownership, structure, and decision-making in complex situations.
Expertise:
Corporate law
M&A and transactions
Strategic board work
Tax law
Christian Finnskog
Christian works to strengthen the Ålesund region through The North West, a community-focused festival centered around meaningful conversations and human connection. He has broad experience in media production, events and film. Christian is an expert on exploring business concepts that unite people across disciplines and creates lasting value for communities.
Expertise:
Festival and event management
Media and film production
Strategy and business development
Project management and coordination
Communication and PR
Leadership and team development
Kathrine Synnes Finnskog
Kathrine has 20 years of experience as leader in the cultural sector building organizations, scaling funding and navigating complex political and commercial landscapes. As CEO of Music Norway, she doubled the organization's government funding and positioned it as a key player in the music industry. She has contributed to building and structuring several national and international networks, and brings hands-on experience from political lobbying, organizational development and cross-sector partnerships.Today she works for Momentium, where she develops cultural projects, produces large-scale shows and works at the intersection of culture, urban development and business strategy.
Expertise:
Organizational development and leadership
Fundraising and public funding strategy
Political lobbying and stakeholder management
Urban development and cultural infrastructure
Event and show production
Network building across sectors
Sondre Omenås
Sondre works with commercial strategy and technology. He is currently Commercial Lead at GNA, where he helps build and scale an AI-driven company from Miami. He has a background from banking, wealth management and international business development, and enjoys working closely with founders and teams to turn ideas into structured progress. He supports us with strategy, commercial direction, investment thinking and evaluating work with milestones and project progress to help us move forward with clarity and momentum.
Expertise:
Commercial strategy
Business development
AI, technology and innovation
Finance and investment perspective
Project evaluation and progress tracking
Sales and partnerships
Financial analysis and value creation
Birgitte Hoddevik
Birgitte is currently Head of Marketing at Sparebanken Møre. With experience from global technology and industrial companies such as Microsoft, Visma and Kongsberg Maritime, she brings strong expertise in building brands, driving growth and translating complex products and services into clear value propositions. She can help founders and teams sharpen their market positioning, develop go-to-market strategies and create structured, data-driven marketing efforts that support real business growth. She is also the one we turn to when we are evaluating communication, campaigns and commercial direction along the way.
Expertise:
Marketing and brand strategy
Go-to-market and growth initiatives
B2B marketing and digital communication
Content and positioning
Business development and commercial mindset
Campaign planning and project execution