I barbecued with Republicans on weekdays and danced with Democrats on weekends!
NHH student Knut Visdal
How NHH Student Knut (23) Ended Up in the Middle of Global Politics
When Donald Trump won the election, NHH student Knut Visdal (23) was thrown into a diplomatic whirlwind. The tasks he was given reeked of high-level politics.
On Thursday, April 24 this year, the world press zooms in on three Norwegians at the heart of global power: two grey-haired men in suits and a woman in a red dress.
Barely two months have passed since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was scolded and lambasted right here. Much is at stake for Norway as Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, and U.S. Ambassador Anniken Huitfeldt stroll into the White House.
In another building, about five kilometers away, NHH student Knut Visdal (23) is glued to a TV screen. Together with other embassy staff, he is following the coverage of the meeting with Donald Trump minute by minute.
An Important Role
What few know is that the embassy intern himself contributed to prepping the Norwegian top delegation ahead of the crucial meeting. Visdal’s task included gathering information and visual fact sheets about the Norwegian economy – should Trump need any.
For example, the average size of a Norwegian farm compared to one in Wyoming. Or how many barrels of oil the Castberg field in the Barents Sea is set to produce, or which buildings the Oil Fund owns in New York. All so that Støre & co could be as well-prepared as possible. NHH student Visdal had every reason to sit forward in his chair.
Farm Boy from little Skjåk
«One of the most intense experiences I’ve had. Everything happened so fast,» says Knut Visdal to NHH Bulletin.
We meet him half a year after the summit. It’s also exactly one year since he dropped by the Career Center at NHH for help with his application and CV.
The adventurous master’s student from the rural small town Skjåk was eager to land a student internship at the Norwegian embassy in Washington D.C.
«When a farm boy from the mountains gets out, you grab the opportunities that come your way,» Visdal explains. He actively used his rural background in a storytelling-style application to the foreign service. It clearly made an impression.
Visdal beat out hundreds of other applicants, and one day in late January this year, he planted his suitcase on American soil. In the meantime, Donald Trump had won the election, and the world had turned upside down.
«Geopolitics is undergoing a paradigm shift. And all eyes are on Washington. There’s no more rewarding place to make a difference for Norway.»
Visdal’s main task in Washington was to report on political and economic issues and decisions in the U.S. back to the ministries in Norway. But due to the presidential transition and all the upheaval under «Trump 2.0», the workload at the embassy increased accordingly. Visdal likely received more responsibility and tasks than is typical for student interns—such as preparing an information package for the Støre and Stoltenberg meeting with Trump.
Another key task was assisting during visits from delegations from Norwegian business and politics. Along the way, he met several influential figures, such as Defense Minister Pete Hegseth and Energy Minister Chris Wright.
«Wright was so interested in skiing, mountains, and hydropower that I invited him to visit my family farm in Skjåk.»
«What did he say?»
«He seemed positive,» Visdal laughs.
But just as exciting were the meetings and conversations with people further down the hierarchy, he thinks.
«I barbecued with Republicans on weekdays and danced with Democrats on weekends,» the student jokes.
«But most of all, I got a unique insight into the dynamics of the Oval Office and how the pieces move. And especially how ordinary Americans are affected by politics. I now understand more about why the U.S. is so polarized and why populist movements arise,» says Visdal. He returned to NHH full of energy and new motivation.
«The experience has given me an even stronger sense of civic engagement,» says the Gudbrandsdal native, who is pursuing a double master’s degree in economics and international management through the CEMS program.
Thanks the Career Center
Visdal thanks the Career Center at NHH for their help. Without them, the U.S. adventure would never have happened, he believes.
«I got help tailoring my CV and application—yes, for every step of the process. Extremely valuable!»
Visdal is not alone in seeing the value of the center. Recently, it was announced that NHH climbed to 83rd place in the Financial Times’ annual ranking of the world’s best business schools. In the subcategory of career services, NHH jumped 19 places compared to last year—from 91st to 72nd.
«We’re thrilled about that ranking! We take it as a sign that we’ve done a lot right over many years,» says Career Center head Ann-Mari Haram.
«It’s also a clear indication that NHH’s investment in more staff and AI tools at the Career Center is increasing accessibility for students,» she adds.
Each year, Haram and her colleagues advise more than 700 people—about 20 percent of the student body. She says she’s especially inspired by the story of Knut from Skjåk.
Living among Americans as a farm boy from Norway can be «contagious». As Visdal puts it:
«Now I dare to take up more space!»
NHH Rises in FT Ranking
NHH makes a strong advance in Financial Times’ international ranking of master’s programmes, and is now the best in Norway.