SACC SUMMIT CHICAGO 2024

​​​​​​​September 18-19, 2024

Together with SACC USA, we were honored to host the 2024 SACC Summit Chicago, SACC’s annual flagship event that gathered top executives of major Swedish and American corporations, government officials, academia, and other thought leaders. We were proud to welcome all the attendees to Chicago, beginning in the evening on September 18, with an all-day program on September 19.

Attracting SACC members from across the U.S., the SACC Summit offered a platform to engage with the national Swedish-American business community in a relaxed and professional setting. The program included keynote speakers, panels, fireside chats, and round table discussions with Swedish and American officials and executives.

The theme was “Reaching for the Summit.” We brought together unique perspectives to explore how companies and individuals can reach their ultimate goals—whether financial, sustainability, or quality-focused.
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The SACC Summit presented ample networking opportunities. In addition to the daytime program, we also organized an evening social program, allowing attendees to experience the magnificent architecture of Chicago on an evening Wendella boat cruise on the Chicago River with other SACC Summit attendees and SACC Chicago members.

THE SACC SUMMIT DAY 1 

To kick off the Summit Wednesday night, we enjoyed a beautiful evening on SACC Chicago’s rooftop with live music and food from Swedish restaurant Tre Kronor.
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THE SACC SUMMIT DAY 2

We had the great honor to kick off our SACC Summit Chicago 2024 with welcoming remarks by Governor JB Pritzker. His inspiring speech on Sweden’s important economic role in Illinois started an exciting day filled with insightful discussions on leadership, gender diversity, cultural differences, collaboration between public/private/academia and corporate creativity.

After a full day of thought-provoking panels and keynote speakers, attendees gathered at Labriola to enjoy traditional Chicago-style deep dish pizza while continuing to network and socialize. The evening concluded with a stunning boat cruise on Lake Michigan and along the Chicago River, graciously hosted by our Gold Sponsor, Wendella Tours & Cruises.
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OUR DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS

Keynote: Steps Towards the Summit

NIKKI NEMARICH
Head of Americas Marketing,
Axis Communications
LinkedIn

Panel: Reaching for Financial Success ​​​​​​​

MELISSA WIDEN
 Co-Founder, Chief Legal Officer, & Head of Impact Deposits 
​​​​​​​First Women's Bank
EMILY MATTES 
Senior Vice President 
Business Banking 
​​​​​​​
First Women's Bank
​​​​​LinkedIn
NANCY BONGES
Head of Community
Engagement

William Blair
LinkedIn
KATE VRIJMOET
CEO & Founder
Necessary & Sufficient Coffee
LinkedIn

Panel: Business Dynamics in Cultural Differences

ELIN AJAX
Project Manager
​​​​​​​ Business Sweden
LinkedIn
ANDERS FORSBERG
Head of
Navistar University
​​​​​​​LinkedIn
VICKI PAAVILAINEN
COO & Director
SkyBridge Resource Center
LinkedIn
INGER TANDERUP
​​​​​​​Executive Creative Director
FCB Chicago
LinkedIn

Panel: Reaching New Heights Through Gender Diversity

BEATA KRAKUS
Vice President of Programs
SACC Chicago
LinkedIn
GABRIELLE BUCKLEY
Director of Gannon Center for Women & Leadership
​​​​​​​Loyola University Chicago
LinkedIn
ALEX LEDERHAUSEN NABAVIAN
Lead Career Coach
​​​​​​​Parentaly
LinkedIn
VANESSA RICHMOND
Senior Counsel
Chicago Trading Company

Panel: Private/Public/Academia Active Collaboration and Innovation ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

CARL KÄLLÉN
Chairman of the Board
SACC Chicago
​​​​​​​LinkedIn
ABIN KURIAKOSE
​​​​​​​Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer
World Business Chicago
LinkedIn
ULF LANDIN
Director International Relations
Business Region Gothenburg
​​​​​​​LinkedIn

Panel: Reaching the Summit with Team Sweden

KITTY KURTH
President
Kurth Lampe Worldwide​​​​​​​
LinkedIn
CHARLOTTE KRAMER
Commercial Officer at Trade and Economic Affairs
​​​​​​​Embassy of Sweden
LinkedIn
ANDRÉ PERSSON
Chief Communications Officer
SACC USA
​​​​​​​LinkedIn
PETER EKDAHL
Vice President and Head of Region Americas
​​​​​​​Business Sweden​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​LinkedIn

Keynote: Improv With Brendan Sullivan

BRENDAN SULLIVAN
Owner & Corporate
​​​​​​​Creativity Coach
​​​​​​​
BPS Communication Skills
LinkedIn

ARTICLES AND PRESS

Dagens Industri

USA:s rikaste politiker: ”Harris kommer att vinna”

Emanuel Sidea - 9/20/2024

CSCI

Swedish American Chamber of Commerce hosts SACC Summit Chicago

CSCI - 9/30/2024
SCI Newsletter 4

Swedish Chambers International

SCI NEWSLETTER 4

SCI - 10/29/2024
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! 

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the generous sponsors of the 2024 SACC Summit in Chicago for making this event possible!