Big hugs for young alumni
Just a few years after graduation, NHH brought them back together. «Junior alumni meetup» was all about good vibes.
As an NHH student, Christian Arstein (26) was deeply involved in student life.
He served as head of the buddy program and as a project manager in the student association, and the NHH-ring on his finger speaks volumes about what his degree and years at the business school meant to him.
«Business og pleasure»
When NHH Alumni recently invited the graduating classes of 2021–25 to a professional and social event in Oslo, Arstein didn’t need much convincing. It wasn’t just the academic program or the welcome pizza dinner after a long day at work at KPMG that drew him in.
«These are people I’ll be growing up with in the business world. That’s why it’s great to take part in events like this, nurture networks, and keep up with what’s going on,» he says.
Around him, in the premises at Drammensveien 44, smiles and hugs come easily. Loud small talk, a bit of business, a bit of pleasure. In this crowd, there are plenty of shared memories.
The AI boom continues
«AI: Hype or game changer? Who are tomorrow’s leaders?» was the theme of the alumni meetup.
Professors Alexander Lundervold and Eirik Sjåholm Knudsen offered both a snapshot and their vision for the future of AI development in the short and slightly longer term. In very brief summary: AI tools will become ubiquitous, and agents will function as fully fledged colleagues. You will need them to stay competitive—but they will most definitely also need you and your human judgment to lead.
Maja Brudeli Holtet graduated from NHH in 2024 and now works at Beyond Strategy Consulting. She was captivated by the professors’ presentation.
«I use AI a lot, but like many others - not particularly efficiently. Learning how to leverage AI and its capabilities, rather than just using it as a technology, was both very useful and exciting,» says Holtet.
Eye-openers
Opening new perspectives was precisely one of the goals of the evening. Rector Helge Thorbjørnsen had invited two NHH alumni who have chosen somewhat unconventional career paths.
Jonas P. Ludvigsen earned both laughter and spontaneous applause with his self-ironic introduction.
«I’m half Bergen-born and have it in my mouth, so politics became the natural path,» said Ludvigsen, who is Secretary General and political adviser for the Liberal Party (Venstre) in Oslo.
In a more serious vein, he added:
«So what motivates me? It’s the idealistic side of it: being where things happen, helping shape the basis for decisions, seeing policies implemented and the city moving in the direction you want. It’s rewarding to be part of that.»
Kristine Devold graduated from NHH in 2016. She joined Telenor and made her ambitions clear early on: «I want to work abroad!» One day, an opportunity opened up with Telenor Asia in Singapore, and she seized it.
«The mindset there was completely different—you simply have to adapt. At the same time, Singapore is much more of a melting pot than New York, truly made up of people from all over the world. Learning how to navigate such a context is incredibly valuable,» she told her fellow alumni.
«There’s never a perfect time to move abroad. Or put differently: it’s always the right time. You don’t miss all that much back home. The experiences you gain add value for the rest of your life,» she said.
Her talk clearly struck a chord. Afterward, many wanted to speak with the two ambassadors of atypical NHH career choices.
Strong endorsements
Rector Helge Thorbjørnsen liked what he saw and heard.
«Our aim is to engage young alumni, give them fresh input, and show the directions NHH is heading—thereby keeping them connected over time,» said Thorbjørnsen.
«This evening was a pilot, and people seemed genuinely pleased.»
Kristine Devold was among them.
«A really great initiative. The alumni network is one of the few arenas where you meet many people with the same foundation as yourself. I work with a lot of engineers and technologists. It’s nice to come back to people who share the same background and frame of reference,» said Devold.