In Good Company with Nicolai Tangen

Eric Schmidt has watched the technology industry reinvent itself again and again, and he is convinced this wave is the biggest yet. The former CEO of Google, today one of the leading voices on AI, joins Nicolai Tangen for a conversation about agents, superintelligence and power. Where does this leave large companies? What happens to Europe? And what is Schmidt most worried about? Schmidt also speaks about failure, the myth of the founder, and why he can never switch off. Tune in!

In Good Company is hosted by Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management. New...

This week’s Friday Wrap-Up looks at Nicolai Tangen’s podcast conversation with Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Match Group, the company behind dating apps like Tinder and Hinge. With Marthe Skaar in Oslo and Nicolai in London, they discuss how online dating has changed the way people meet, the algorithm Rascoff compares to a deck of cards, and his advice for a better dating profile. They also look at why NBIM holds regular portfolio manager debriefs, and why sticking to a consistent methodology matters. Nicolai also shares what is on his agenda for the weekend. Tune in!

List...

What actually makes two strangers match? Nicolai Tangen is joined by Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Match Group, the company behind Tinder, Hinge and a dozen other dating apps, for a conversation about how modern romance really works. They get into the algorithm doing the matchmaking, what separates a profile that works from one that doesn't, what Gen Z has changed about dating, and why loneliness has become such a big part of the story. Along the way, he shares what he's learned about building companies, and why Norway caught his attention. Tune in, this one's good fun!

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This week's Friday Wrap-Up looks back at Nicolai Tangen's podcast conversation with John Armitage, his former boss and a man he calls one of the most important people in his life. Marthe and Nicolai discuss what Armitage taught him about analysing companies, why the best investors tend to be humble, and why Armitage calls permanent capital a trap. They also cover NBIM's recent view on the decline of shareholder rights, and why Nicolai says it matters for long-term investors like NBIM. Nicolai also opens up about why he thinks we should all say thank you more often, and the...

Nobody has taught Nicolai as much about investing as John Armitage. First as his largest client, later as his boss for five years at Egerton Capital. For this episode the two meet in London, where John walks through his approach to investing: what makes a company worth the time, why pricing power matters more than almost anything, the red flags that make John sell, and how a position gets built slowly. John also talks about 30 years at the same firm, and why AI should help you think rather than think for you. Tune in!

In Good Company...

Back in Oslo this week, Marthe Skaar and Nicolai Tangen sit down together for a Friday Wrap-Up to talk about his podcast conversation with Dr. Kai Yu, founder and CEO of Horizon Robotics. They look at the role Horizon plays in the self-driving car industry, how China's tightly linked supplier networks create an edge that is hard to copy, and what a chip supply chain this concentrated means for risk in the fund and the markets. Nicolai also talks about why he reads constantly, and a book he thinks everyone should pick up. Tune in!

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Horizon Robotics CEO: Car Chips, Mind-Off Driving and China's Speed

Who makes the brain inside a self-driving car? Nicolai Tangen sits down with Dr. Kai Yu, founder and CEO of Horizon Robotics, the company supplying the chips and software behind one in three intelligent cars on Chinese roads. They discuss why he never wanted to build a car of his own, the competition in a market that launched 580 new models in six months, and the road to hands-off driving by 2028 and fully mind-off cars by 2035. Kai Yu also shares his Zen philosophy of focus and why he...

On this week's Friday Wrap-Up, Marthe Skaar catches up with Nicolai Tangen, joining from San Francisco, to break down his podcast conversation with Alexander Stubb, President of Finland. They discuss Stubb's view that the world is at a major geopolitical turning point, why he believes the Global South will shape what comes next, and how tech giants like Nvidia and Apple now rival entire countries in size. Nicolai also shares what he's learned visiting Microsoft, Nvidia, and other tech companies on the West Coast of the US, and makes the case for "sauna diplomacy." Tune in!

Listen...

How are democracies adapting to the new technology? In this episode, Nicolai Tangen talks with Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, about defence, diplomacy and the shifting world order. They discuss why Finland kept its defences strong long before joining NATO, how the war in Ukraine might end, what AI is doing to democracies, and why Stubb believes the Global South will shape what comes next. He also reflects on failure, resilience, and what a successful life actually looks like. Tune in for an insightful conversation!

In Good Company is hosted by Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank...

On this week's Friday Wrap-Up, Marthe Skaar calls in from Singapore to catch up with Nicolai Tangen, joining from New York, to break down his podcast conversation with Jon McNeill, author of “The Algorithm" and a leading voice on simplifying business processes. They discuss his rule to question every requirement before automating, and why speed has become a competitive necessity. The conversation also turns to the growing debate over AI safety, fueled by Anthropic's Dario Amodei's call to slow down development. Nicolai reflects on his trip to the Canada Investment Summit, and shares a humbling annual tradition with friends. Tu...

Nicolai Tangen sits down with Jon McNeill, CEO and Co-Founder of DVx Ventures and author of The Algorithm: The Hypergrowth Formula That Transformed Tesla, Lululemon, General Motors and SpaceX. Having spent three years as President of Tesla reporting directly to Elon Musk before serving as COO of Lyft, McNeill draws on that experience to lay out his five-step formula: question every requirement, delete unnecessary steps, simplify, accelerate, and automate last. They discuss Tesla's near-collapse during Model 3 production, its industry-beating profit margins, and how McNeill spots talent through curiosity. Tune in!

In Good Company is hosted by Nicolai...

Is it possible to compete with Chinese car companies? In this week's Friday Wrap-Up, Marthe Skaar sits down with Nicolai Tangen to break down his podcast conversation with Brian Gu, Vice Chairman and Co-President of XPeng. They discuss why Gu calls XPeng a "physical AI company" rather than a carmaker, China's race toward fully autonomous, mind-off driving, and what Chinese competition means for companies globally. Nicolai also shares what's been keeping him busy in London this week, and how he likes to unwind after it all. Tune in!

Listen to In Good Company with Brian Gu...

When will humanoid robots outnumber humans? Nicolai Tangen sits down with Brian Gu, Vice Chairman and Co-President of XPeng, who describes XPeng as a "physical AI" business rather than just a carmaker. They discuss XPeng's ventures into flying cars and humanoid robots, both built on the same core technology as its vehicles, and a Chinese EV market where new-energy cars now outsell combustion ones. Brian also reflects on his path from a chemistry PhD alongside a future Nobel laureate to a career in tech. With Norway as its flagship European market, XPeng's ambitions keep growing. Tune in! 

I...

In this week's Friday Wrap-Up, Marthe Skaar sits down with Nicolai Tangen for a debrief on the podcast episode with the CEO of John Deere, news about the fund and the markets, and what's on Nicolai’s agenda for the weekend. Nicolai reflects on what surprised him most from the conversation wit the CEO of John Deere: how far AI has come in agriculture, and what it takes for a company to keep reinventing itself over nearly two centuries. He also opens up about a personal regret that has stayed with him over the years. Tune in!

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What does farming look like when the tractor drives itself? Nicolai Tangen sits down with John May, CEO of John Deere, to explore how a 190-year-old tractor maker became one of the most advanced technology companies in agriculture. They discuss AI-powered computer vision that cut herbicide use by 60%, the shift toward subscription-based farming technology, and John Deere's ambition to make US corn production fully autonomous by 2030. May also opens up about navigating a tough farm-income cycle, rebuilding trust after the "right to repair" dispute, and his leadership philosophy of putting the customer first, shaped by his own rural upbringing...

Introducing a brand-new podcast series: The Friday Wrap-Up! Tables have turned. Marthe Skaar, Chief of Communications and External Relations at NBIM, sits down with Nicolai Tangen, for a debrief on the latest podcast episode, news about the fund and the markets, and life behind the scenes. In this first edition, they revisit Nicolai's conversation with Sir Paul Marshall, co-founder of Marshall Wace, as Nicolai reflects on what he took away from it: why humility matters more than ever in asset management, and how Marshall's thinking on AI echoes his own. He also opens up on a more personal note...

What does it take to build one of the world's most successful hedge funds, and keep innovating for nearly 30 years? Nicolai Tangen sits down with Sir Paul Marshall, co-founder of Marshall Wace, to unpack the firm's journey from a $50 million startup in 1997 to a firm managing $90 billion today. They dig into TOPS, the pioneering AlphaCapture system that reshaped how buy-side and sell-side interact, the "man plus machine beats a machine" philosophy that shapes how Marshall Wace blends human judgment with AI, and why disagreeableness and agency now matter more than a fancy degree. Paul also opens up on his...

Nicolai Tangen sits down with Rasmus Errboe, CEO of Ørsted, the world's largest offshore wind company, to discuss the company's evolution from a Danish oil and gas business into a pure-play renewables leader. They talk through the US government's stop-work order on an 80%-built project, the lawsuit that followed, and the record €8 billion capital raise that supported Ørsted's turnaround plan. The conversation also covers what has driven offshore wind costs up and down over the past decade, and how Errboe has approached leadership during a demanding period. He also reflects on a personal decision from earlier in his life that...

In this special episode of In Good Company, Nicolai Tangen revisits the question he asks all his guests – what's your advice to young people? McLaren Racing's Zak Brown explains why you need mentors at every stage. Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan reflects on a career that rarely went to plan. Investor Paul Singer offers his thoughts on education, and Chris Hohn gives perhaps the most personal answer of all. You'll also hear from Karin Rådström, Dylan Field, Christel Heydemann, David Rubenstein and Amanda Blanc – and to finish, Nicolai shares his own advice to all of you. Wisdom worth pressi...

We've curated a special 10-minute version of the podcast for those in a hurry.  

Here you can listen to the full episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/susan-cain-why-introverts-make-great-leaders-staying/id1614211565?i=1000779980999

What does it take to thrive as a quiet person in a world that rewards the loudest voice? Nicolai Tangen sits down with Susan Cain, author of the bestsellers Quiet and Bittersweet, whose work gave millions of introverts a voice. They explore why authenticity will be the great advantage in the age of AI, what defines the "highly sensitive" 15 to 20 percent of...

What does it take to thrive as a quiet person in a world that rewards the loudest voice? Nicolai Tangen sits down with Susan Cain, author of the bestsellers Quiet and Bittersweet, whose work gave millions of introverts a voice. They explore why authenticity will be the great advantage in the age of AI, what defines the "highly sensitive" 15 to 20 percent of the population, and how our culture shifted from valuing character to valuing personality. Susan explains why introverted leaders often deliver stronger results, the hidden cost of "toxic positivity", and how she calibrates her own days to avoid...

Across every episode of In Good Company, Nicolai Tangen ends up asking the same quietly revealing questions: when do you get up, how do you sleep, what do you do to switch off? In this special bonus, he gathers some of the most fascinating of those answers — ice baths and ocean swims, silent retreats and breathing tricks, one-meal-a-day fasting, a morning glass of vegetable juice, and the science of the perfect nap. Fifteen of the world's top chief executives, investors and champions share the personal habits that keep them fit, sharp and at the top of their game.

हम वाकई कितने करीब हैं हमेशा के लिए जीने के? लॉन्जेविटी (लंबी उम्र) आज दुनिया के सबसे चर्चित विषयों में से एक बन गया है—इसमें भारी निवेश हो रहा है और ज़्यादा जीने के तरीकों को लेकर राय की कोई कमी नहीं। विज्ञान को हाइप से अलग करने के लिए निकोलाई टैंगन बात करते हैं सर वेंकी रामाकृष्णन से—रसायन विज्ञान के नोबेल पुरस्कार विजेता, रॉयल सोसाइटी के पूर्व अध्यक्ष, और Why We Die के लेखक। दोनों समझते हैं कि बुढ़ापा असल में है क्या, क्यों इंसान की अधिकतम उम्र में मुश्किल से ही कोई बदलाव आया है, सेल्युलर रिप्रोग्रामिंग की संभावनाएं और उसकी सीमाएं, और लंबी उम्र वाले समाज से जुड़े नैतिक सवाल। वेंकी उन आसान आदतों के बारे में भी बताते हैं जो सबसे ज़्यादा मायने रखती हैं: नींद, संयम और व्यायाम। जीवन, मृत्यु और उनके बीच की हर बात पर एक साफ़-नज़रिए वाली बातचीत के लिए ज़रूर सुनें!

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Venki Ramakrishnan: The Science and Hype of Living Longer 

How close are we, really, to living forever? Longevity has become one of the hottest topics in the world, drawing huge investment and endless opinions about how to live longer. To separate science from hype, Nicolai Tangen turns to Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, Nobel laureate in chemistry, former President of the Royal Society, and author of Why We Die. They unpack what ageing actually is, why the maximum human lifespan has hardly moved, the promise and limits of cellular reprogramming, and the ethics of a longer-living society. Venki also shares the simple habits that matter most: sleep, moderation, and exercise. Tune in for a clear-eyed conversation on life, death, and everything in between!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've curated a special 10-minute version of the podcast for those in a hurry.  

Here you can listen to the full episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/venki-ramakrishnan-the-science-and-hype-of-living-longer/id1614211565?i=1000777814000

How close are we, really, to living forever? Longevity has become one of the hottest topics in the world, drawing huge investment and endless opinions about how to live longer. To separate science from hype, Nicolai Tangen turns to Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, Nobel laureate in chemistry, former President of the Royal Society, and author of Why We Die. They unpack what age...

How close are we, really, to living forever? Longevity has become one of the hottest topics in the world, drawing huge investment and endless opinions about how to live longer. To separate science from hype, Nicolai Tangen turns to Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, Nobel laureate in chemistry, former President of the Royal Society, and author of Why We Die. They unpack what ageing actually is, why the maximum human lifespan has hardly moved, the promise and limits of cellular reprogramming, and the ethics of a longer-living society. Venki also shares the simple habits that matter most: sleep, moderation, and exercise...

We've curated a special 10-minute version of the podcast for those in a hurry.  

Here you can listen to the full episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-good-company-with-nicolai-tangen/id1614211565

This live recorded episode of In Good Company features Eliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat, the world's leading open source investigative collective — a self-taught college dropout who began tracking the Syrian war from his kitchen table. Together with Nicolai Tangen, he unpacks how his team unmasked Navalny's poisoners and tracked the downing of flight MH17 using nothing but publicly available data. Eliot explains the d...

This live recorded episode of In Good Company features Eliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat, the world's leading open source investigative collective — a self-taught college dropout who began tracking the Syrian war from his kitchen table. Together with Nicolai Tangen, he unpacks how his team unmasked Navalny's poisoners and tracked the downing of flight MH17 using nothing but publicly available data. Eliot explains the discipline at the heart of his work: never prejudge a situation, follow the evidence before forming an opinion, and guard against your own biases. The conversation also explores why speed matters when truth competes with lies, ho...

We've curated a special 10-minute version of the podcast for those in a hurry.  

Here you can listen to the full episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-good-company-with-nicolai-tangen/id1614211565

Canada's pension funds have become a blueprint for institutional investing worldwide, and John Graham runs the largest of them. Nicolai Tangen sits down with the CEO of CPP Investments, manager of $800 billion on behalf of 22 million Canadians, for a conversation spanning strategy and leadership. They explore the celebrated "Canadian model" and what imitators get wrong, why Graham calls diversification "an act of humility," and...

Canada's pension funds have become a blueprint for institutional investing worldwide, and John Graham runs the largest of them. Nicolai Tangen sits down with the CEO of CPP Investments, manager of $800 billion on behalf of 22 million Canadians, for a conversation spanning strategy and leadership. They explore the celebrated "Canadian model" and what imitators get wrong, why Graham calls diversification "an act of humility," and how CPP weighs private markets, the US, and China. A scientist before he was an investor, Graham reflects on leading through COVID, AI's uncertain role in investment decisions, and his belief that investing is "quantitative...

We've curated a special 10-minute version of the podcast for those in a hurry.  

Here you can listen to the full episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fortescue-ceo-breaking-into-mining-going-green-and/id1614211565?i=1000774940168

Nicolai Tangen sits down with Andrew Forrest, Chairman and CEO of Fortescue, to explore one of the most remarkable stories in modern business. From building a mining giant from scratch against a 60-year duopoly, to pledging to run the entire company on zero fossil fuels by 2030 with no offsets, Forrest has never been afraid to think big. They discuss his "crazy bra...

Nicolai Tangen sits down with Andrew Forrest, Chairman and CEO of Fortescue, to explore one of the most remarkable stories in modern business. From building a mining giant from scratch against a 60-year duopoly, to pledging to run the entire company on zero fossil fuels by 2030 with no offsets, Forrest has never been afraid to think big. They discuss his "crazy brave Plan A" philosophy, the role of AI in running smart energy grids, and his disagreements with some of the world's most powerful people over climate policy. Andrew also opens up about the accident that reshaped his priorities...

We've curated a special 10-minute version of the podcast for those in a hurry.  

Here you can listen to the full episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/holcim-ceo-europes-housing-shortage-decarbonising-cement/id1614211565?i=1000773973863&l=nb

Where would the modern world be without cement? Nicolai Tangen sits down with Miljan Gutovic, CEO of Holcim, to explore the transformation underway in the global building materials industry. They discuss Europe's shortage of nearly 10 million homes and what it means for construction, how Holcim is turning sustainability into a competitive advantage, the logic behind spinning off its North Ame...

Where would the modern world be without cement? Nicolai Tangen sits down with Miljan Gutovic, CEO of Holcim, to explore the transformation underway in the global building materials industry. They discuss Europe's shortage of nearly 10 million homes and what it means for construction, how Holcim is turning sustainability into a competitive advantage, the logic behind spinning off its North American business, and the booming opportunity in Latin America. Gutovic also shares his three leadership rules: control the controllables, fight complacency, and benchmark relentlessly. Tune in!

In Good Company is hosted by Nicolai Tangen, CEO of N...

निकोलाई टैंगन बात करते हैं Snowflake के CEO श्रीधर रामास्वामी से। Snowflake एक डेटा प्लेटफ़ॉर्म है जो दुनिया की आधी सबसे बड़ी कंपनियों को चलाता है। इस बातचीत में वे समझते हैं कि डेटा और AI की दुनिया में असल में क्या हो रहा है।

दोनों इन बातों पर गहराई से चर्चा करते हैं: Snowflake सिर्फ़ इस्तेमाल के हिसाब से पैसे लेता है (कंजम्पशन-बेस्ड प्राइसिंग), और यही बात इसे आम सॉफ़्टवेयर कंपनियों से अलग बनाती है। श्रीधर अब मानते हैं कि AI मॉडल बनाने वाली कंपनियाँ टेक इंडस्ट्री में सबसे बड़ा ख़तरा हैं—बाक़ी किसी से भी ज़्यादा। और AI एजेंट अब हर चीज़ बदल रहे हैं—डेटा पाइपलाइन से लेकर सॉफ़्टवेयर इंजीनियरिंग तक।

श्रीधर अपनी कंपनी Neva के बारे में भी बात करते हैं—उसे शुरू करना और फिर उसका नाकाम होना, और इससे उन्होंने क्या सीखा। साथ ही वे उन मूल्यों के बारे में बताते हैं जिन्होंने उन्हें तमिलनाडु से टेक इंडस्ट्री के शिखर तक पहुँचाया: मेहनत, हर हाल में ढल जाना, और हार न मानना।

यह दिलचस्प बातचीत ज़रूर सुनें!

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Snowflake CEO: How AI Agents Will Transform the Workplace 

Nicolai Tangen sits down with Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO of Snowflake, the data platform powering half the world's largest companies, to explore what's really happening at the frontier of data and AI. They dig into how Snowflake's consumption-based pricing sets it apart from traditional software models, why Sridhar now considers AI model companies a bigger competitive threat than anyone else in tech, and how AI agents are transforming everything from data pipelines to software engineering itself. Sridhar also reflects on the lessons learned from founding and failing with Neva, and shares the values of hard work, adaptability, and resilience that have shaped him from Tamil Nadu to the top of the tech industry. Tune in for an insightful conversation!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've curated a special 10-minute version of the podcast for those in a hurry.  

Here you can listen to the full episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/snowflake-ceo-scaling-data-ai-agents-and-the-new/id1614211565?i=1000773056685

Nicolai Tangen sits down with Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO of Snowflake, the data platform powering half the world's largest companies, to explore what's really happening at the frontier of data and AI. They dig into how Snowflake's consumption-based pricing sets it apart from traditional software models, why Sridhar now considers AI model companies a bigger competitive threat than anyone else in tech...

Nicolai Tangen sits down with Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO of Snowflake, the data platform powering half the world's largest companies, to explore what's really happening at the frontier of data and AI. They dig into how Snowflake's consumption-based pricing sets it apart from traditional software models, why Sridhar now considers AI model companies a bigger competitive threat than anyone else in tech, and how AI agents are transforming everything from data pipelines to software engineering itself. Sridhar also reflects on the lessons learned from founding and failing with Neva, and shares the values of hard work, adaptability, and resilience that...

We've curated a special 10-minute version of the podcast for those in a hurry.  

Here you can listen to the full episode:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jens-stoltenberg-how-norway-built-the-worlds-largest-fund/id1614211565?i=1000771963692

If anyone can tell the story of how Norway built the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, it's Jens Stoltenberg. As the fund marks its 30th anniversary, Nicolai Tangen sits down with Norway's Finance Minister and former NATO Secretary General to trace the decisions that turned oil revenues into $2 trillion in national savings. They discuss why Britain and Norway dive...

If anyone can tell the story of how Norway built the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, it's Jens Stoltenberg. As the fund marks its 30th anniversary, Nicolai Tangen sits down with Norway's Finance Minister and former NATO Secretary General to trace the decisions that turned oil revenues into $2 trillion in national savings. They discuss why Britain and Norway diverged so dramatically despite producing similar volumes of oil, the thinking behind the spending rule, and the risk of complacency when wealth feels guaranteed. Stoltenberg also explains his reasoning behind suspending the ethics council, the paradox of excluding defence companies Norway...

We've curated a special 10-minute version of the podcast for those in a hurry.  

Here you can listen to the full episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/snap-ceo-building-snapchat-ar-glasses-and-the/id1614211565?i=1000770874839&l=nb

In this episode, Nicolai Tangen speaks with Evan Spiegel, co-founder and CEO of Snap, the company behind Snapchat. Evan reflects on building Snapchat from a Stanford dorm room idea into a platform used by nearly a billion people worldwide. They discuss why Evan turned down a $3 billion offer from Mark Zuckerberg, Snap's bold bet on augmented reality glasses, and how...

In this episode, Nicolai Tangen speaks with Evan Spiegel, co-founder and CEO of Snap, the company behind Snapchat. Evan reflects on building Snapchat from a Stanford dorm room idea into a platform used by nearly a billion people worldwide. They discuss why Evan turned down a $3 billion offer from Mark Zuckerberg, Snap's bold bet on augmented reality glasses, and how AI is transforming software development from the inside out. Evan also shares his leadership philosophy, built around kindness, creativity, and long-term thinking. Don't miss this conversation with one of Silicon Valley's most unconventional builders.

In G...