By Janus Boye
From the Wednesday morning opening. Photo: Roar Paaske
A welcoming, international and endlessly friendly community — and one that immediately noticed (and approved of) my new beard.
Every November I’m reminded that our gathering in Aarhus isn’t just a conference. It’s a rare and generous space where curious minds come not to perform but to share, question and learn together.
One of the many moments that stayed with me at the Boye Aarhus 25 conference was Berlin-based Hertje Brodersen’s keynote on how to strategise like a pessimist. She challenged us to think critically and to avoid both blind positivity and hollow cynicism. It takes courage to stay in that middle space, to keep questioning and stay curious. During the discussion, one brave participant shared that he had recently been fired for not being optimistic enough. That honesty hit hard. It reminded me that optimism isn’t about ignoring problems, it’s about facing them head-on and engaging with them constructively.
On Wednesday morning, Margot Bloomstein from Boston took the stage and went straight into something we rarely talk about: trust and cynicism. She showed how easy it is to slip into defensive disbelief and how rebuilding trust in teams, leaders and institutions begins with small, consistent acts of transparency. Her message felt deeply relevant to how we lead and collaborate today.
Which activities and actions really ruins your projects? A highly interactive session on the project management track. Photo: Roar Paaske
Then came Thursday morning. Eline Aaris Edslev woke us up with a sharp reminder that supporting female tech entrepreneurs isn’t about charity, it’s good business. Yes! Followed by Jasmin Guthmann’s keynote, When Your AI Strategy Hits the Wall, packed with running metaphors and grounded in real-world messiness. Her line — “Ready isn’t a state you arrive at; it’s a decision you make. Especially when everything is falling apart.” — had everyone nodding. A useful reminder that resilience, human or digital, isn’t about flawless plans but about how we adapt when things go sideways.
Thanks to Jam for bringing the alphorn to the lightning talks. Photo: Roar Paaske
A huge thank you to the 50 speakers who joined us across 12 conference tracks and travelled from near and far, bringing energy, experience and bold ideas to Aarhus. You made every room buzz and, together with all the participants, turned our 21st annual Aarhus conference into something truly special.
Now suffering from a mild case of post-conference blues — and a beard that I think I will keep.
PS: Save the dates for 2026: #boye26 will be held at Godsbanen in Aarhus, November 3–5. Tickets are available and we already have the first few speakers including Antonia Fedder, Cecilie Kalhøj Kobbelgaard, Steven Pemberton and Paul Jervis Heath.