Main Stage: Session 1 Passed
Wednesday February 19, 2025 09:50 - 10:30 Main stage
Speakers: Jacob Wallenberg (Investor AB and of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise), Pam Cheng (AstraZeneca), Mary Snapp (Microsoft), Benjamin Dousa (Government Offices of Sweden)Type: Main stage
Sweden: A Blueprint for Global Competitiveness - Innovation leaders share their vision
In an evolving and uncertain global business landscape, Sweden stands out as a premier destination for innovation, digital transformation, sustainable development and industry excellence. This session delves into why global leaders such as AstraZeneca and Microsoft are making significant investments in Sweden and how they perceive the country's competitiveness in both European and global contexts.
Join the industry leaders and policymakers as they highlight how Sweden’s advanced AI infrastructure, fossil-free energy solutions, cutting-edge manufacturing capabilities, and world-class talent pool create an unparalleled environment for businesses to collaborate, innovate, scale, and lead on the global stage. Explore how Sweden’s unwavering commitment to sustainability, its strong public-private partnerships, and progressive policies are driving the next generation of global competitiveness, shaping industries, and setting benchmarks for the future of business.
Special keynote address: Small country - Big business
- Jacob Wallenberg, Chair, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and Investor AB
Featured keynote speakers
- Pam Cheng, Executive Vice President, Global Operations, IT & Chief Sustainability Officer, AstraZeneca
- Mary Snapp, Vice President Strategic Initiatives, Microsoft
- Benjamin Dousa, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade
Lecturers
Jacob Wallenberg Speaker
Chair of the Board
Investor AB and of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise
Jacob Wallenberg is Chair of the Board of Investor AB and of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise. He is Vice Chair of Wallenberg Investments AB, FAM AB, Patricia Industries and Ericsson AB.
Mr. Wallenberg also serves on the Board of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
He is a member of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), the Advisory Board of Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management. Mr. Wallenberg is a member of and Honorary Chair of IBLAC, the Mayor of Shanghai’s International Business Leaders Advisory Council. He is also member of the Trilateral Commission.
Pam Cheng Speaker
Executive Vice President, Global Operations & IT, Chief Sustainability Officer
AstraZeneca
Pam Cheng joined AstraZeneca in 2015 as executive vice president of Global Operations and Information Technology (IT), guiding the company’s manufacturing, supply chain, procurement, and IT across 18 countries and leading a team of over 19,000. Under her leadership, AstraZeneca Global Operations has transformed significantly driving top performance across the business while delivering value back to the enterprise. The next phase of transformation includes the convergence of operational excellence and digital innovation, building the ‘Factory of the Future’.
Before AstraZeneca she spent 18 years in global manufacturing, supply chain, and commercial roles at Merck/MSD. As president of MSD China, she was responsible for MSD’s entire business in China—sales and marketing, commercial operations, and oversight of manufacturing and research and development. Prior to that, she was head of Global Supply Chain Management and Logistics for Merck and led the transformation of Merck supply chains across the global supply network.
Mary Snapp Speaker
Vice President, Strategic AI Initiatives
Microsoft
Mary brings her experience and perspective from over 35 years at Microsoft to lead strategic AI initiatives in the Office of the Vice Chair and President. She is a frequent speaker on issues related to Microsoft’s corporate and social responsibility as well as technology policy, including in relation to AI.
She formerly led Microsoft’s Global Philanthropies, investing the company’s technology, financial support, employee talent, and voice to partner with nonprofits and communities to create lasting positive impact. Prior to that, Mary was Deputy General Counsel leading legal support for Microsoft’s engineering organizations.
Mary has been an active board member for many nonprofit organizations, including the YWCA of Seattle, King, and Snohomish County, the Seattle Art Museum, the National 4-H Council, Washington STEM, Emerging Prairie, and Farm Foundation. She also serves on the University of Michigan’s President’s Advisory Group, and on the National FFA Foundation’s Corporate Sponsors’ Board.
Mary joined Microsoft in 1988 as its fourth attorney, and first female attorney. She grew up in Newton, Kansas, where she still has close family, and graduated from the University of Kansas School of Journalism before earning her law degree at the University of Michigan.
Benjamin Dousa SpeakerPartner
Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade
Government Offices of Sweden