Two prominent Danish business figures, Malou Aamund and Casper Kirketerp-Møller, shared insights with the 2025 class of Berlingske’s Talent 100, a list recognizing the top 100 business talents under 37 in Denmark. The event, marking the 21st year of the awards, brought together young professionals with the potential to significantly impact the business world.

Aamund, a seasoned businesswoman with experience at IBM, Microsoft, and Google, and Kirketerp-Møller, CEO of Clever and a 2011 Talent 100 honoree, both emphasized the importance of personal well-being and diverse perspectives alongside professional ambition. They noted a shift in the talent pool compared to their early careers, with today’s talents appearing more streamlined and career-focused.

Aamund cautioned against overwork, urging the talents to cultivate passions outside of their careers to become more well-rounded individuals and leaders. She highlighted the need for experimentation, embracing mistakes, and prioritizing personal development alongside professional achievements.

Kirketerp-Møller echoed the sentiment, stressing the significance of surrounding oneself with supportive people and setting healthy boundaries. He observed that younger generations are better at establishing limits and questioning norms, preventing burnout and maintaining a sense of self.

Both Aamund and Kirketerp-Møller emphasized the value of inspiration and mentorship. Aamund, who benefited from mentors throughout her career, encouraged the talents to seek guidance from individuals outside their immediate industry or company to gain fresh perspectives.

While Kirketerp-Møller never had a formal mentor, he actively engaged in conversations with people who held different viewpoints. Aamund supported this approach, suggesting reverse mentoring and peer-to-peer coaching as valuable avenues for mutual growth.

The Berlingske Talent 100 initiative aims to identify and celebrate young individuals with the ambition and skills to shape Danish society. The selected talents represent diverse industries and are nominated across ten categories, including public sector, business development, entrepreneurship, and green initiatives.

Selection criteria for the Talent 100 list include professional qualifications, demonstrable results, recommendations, comprehensive CVs, age (under 37), and diversity in terms of gender, education, professional background, and company affiliation.