ODA Board Network

ODA Board Network is a new initiative within ODA-Network aimed at increasing technology expertise and diversity in Norwegian boards. The goal of the initiative is to challenge the «status quo» in Norwegian boardrooms.

Based on a survey among our 10,000 members and input from partners, there is a need for more initiatives to increase both technology expertise and diversity in Norwegian boardrooms. This will contribute to creating increased competitiveness in a time of rapid development and change. ODA Board Network is a non-commercial initiative in line with ODA-Network’s foundation of inspiration, competence development, and exchange of experiences.

Want to hear more? Express your interest in participating in ODA Board Network by signing up here.

From January 1, 2024, there is a requirement for gender balance in Norwegian AS (limited liability company) boards. The legislation covers about 8,000 companies in 2024 and will be expanded annually. Numerous companies will have to make changes in their board composition, and Norwegian companies will have to recruit almost 13,000 new board members by 2028. Who will fill these positions, and how will companies find the right candidates for the right phase of their business?

Our three focus areas:

Increased competence in Norwegian boards: ODA Board Network aims to contribute to increased tech competence in Norwegian boards. This is crucial to ensure relevant technological knowledge and sustainable growth in companies. Currently, we know there is a significant lack of technology expertise in Norwegian boardrooms, and we have a big task at hand.
Creating confidence: ODA Board Network wants to create the framework for more people to become confident in the role of board member and contribute to even more skilled and competent women wanting to take on a board position, as per requests from a number of women in tech. This way, we can create confidence and a support network, and thus contribute to driving change, innovation, and creating new opportunities while increasing diversity.
Network of competence: Through collaboration, experience exchange, and offers of high-quality competence enhancement, as well as meetings, ODA Board Network aims to build a strong network of competence and “paying it forward”.

This is how ODA Board Network works, and how you can express interest:

Participants in ODA Board Network must be members of ODA-Network. If you’re not already a member, you can click here to join. Membership in ODA-Network is free.
When the initiative is launched in September 2024, there will be one group for members who want to learn more about board work (aspiring board members), and one group for experienced board members. In the meantime, express your interest by signing up here.
Gatherings for inspiration and networking. The first gathering and the formal launch of ODA Board Network is on September 4th. More information to come.
Through our partners, we offer discounted high-quality competence enhancement:
- A two-day board course tailored for ODA-Network members, with Scandinavian Executive Institute.
- Digital certification course in board work with Orgbrain.

Our partners

Scandinavian Executive Institute

Scandinavian Executive Institute was established in 2007 and is a leading provider of high-level leadership and board education for top executives, leaders, and board members across the Nordic region. The cornerstone of their education programs is a close collaboration with the internationally renowned business school, INSEAD in France.

– For more than a decade, Scandinavian Executive Institute’s mission has been to contribute to value-creating board work and professionalization in the boardroom in a Nordic context. It is therefore with great pleasure that we are now entering into a collaboration with the Nordic region’s leading network for diversity in tech, Oda-Network. We look forward to jointly contributing to increased knowledge about board work and to elevating the competence among the network’s members, says Tomas Arnesen, Country Manager Norway, Scandinavian Executive Institute.

Orgbrain

Orgbrain delivers next-generation digital board portals, general assembly solutions, and digital board schools. It was founded in 2017 to help boards and management teams handle their tasks and legal obligations in a simpler, better, and more secure way through user-friendly and modern technology.

Orgbrain’s vision is to create better boards and businesses, and its mission is to contribute to competence enhancement and provide good digital tools for the board and management. With the legal change from 2024 that will result in more women taking board positions, it is especially important to be able to provide them with basic knowledge in a simple way.

– It was therefore a natural decision for Orgbrain to offer its Orgbrain Academy with digital board school in collaboration with ODA. And to participate in physical gatherings to hold courses and inform members about the benefits of using digital board tools, says August Brekkhus, Head of Partner Sales at Orgbrain.