Thinking non-linearly and forming new connections

Honorary Sciana Fellow Bogi Eliasen reflects on his time as co-chair of Cohort 4 and his experience within the programme

Bogi Eliasen is an associated partner and director of health at the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies. In this role, he explores the future of genomics, data, digital functions, and their integration with health. Bogi previously worked at the Faroe Business Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was an advisor for over 25 years for politicians, the public sector, and private companies. He also built and steered initiatives such as FarGen, Nordic Health 2030, and Movement Health 2030. In 2019, Bogi received the HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) Future 50 global award. He was a co-chair for Sciana's fourth cohort and is now an Honorary Fellow.

Sciana spoke with Bogi during Cohort 4's fourth in-person residential meeting in November 2023. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Sciana Network: Your first Sciana appearance was as a guest speaker at the fourth and final meeting of Cohort Two in November 2019. We're speaking at Cohort Four's fourth and final meeting, and you are co-chair. How would you reflect on your Sciana experience to date?

Bogi Eliasen: First of all, I would like to say that I've been very impressed by this way of developing a new mode of how you develop leaders. So, this is not a typical course, but I think it's necessary to spend time in order to make changes and work with people in that way. I had never heard about Sciana before. I was invited, or there was a meeting in Copenhagen where I was invited to give a talk for a lunch with one of the working groups, and then I was invited back here. Then I was asked if I would like to co-chair with Ilona [Kickbusch] this [cohort], and after a little bit of thought, I took on that, but I didn't really know what I was getting into, to be honest. But this is the way I work normally.

When you begin with a group [that] is also fresh, you start on a blank sheet. People don't know each other. Some might know each other a little bit, but you both need to bring them together and you need to bring their qualities out. So, what stands [out] for me is really how you can go in with a group and be a part of taking a challenge, matur[ing] it, push[ing] it and let[ting] them grow as leaders and tak[ing] responsibility and actually own[ing] it themselves.

As we have seen here, it is going from being a big question mark on what the social contract [is] to actually standing with three concrete products that can be used by everybody in it. So, it's a remarkable way of having a thing to work with that then gives you the leadership skills.

SN: Reflecting on Cohort Four's Sciana Challenge, which is building a new social contract for health and wellbeing and the work you've seen so far, what has stood out for you, and why do you think this work is important?

BE: What really stands out is what happens when you get the magic to work in groups. But one should also remember that this doesn't come easy. Everybody needs to put in an effort to put away egos to really want to work together. So, also to see how they [...] started to try to mould together and also how they resolved challenges when they came into challenges with it. [Because of COVID-19 and meeting online beforehand], there has been more preparation, [and] to see how much energy and how fast things go with a little preparation when we then are here in Salzburg is quite amazing. But I think most of all, it is this participatory, complimentary, kind and dignified leadership that comes with them and that they all - when they presented it - were very proud of.

SN: In your role as co-chair, how have you sought to guide Fellows, and what lessons in particular have you been looking to impart?

BE: So, given my day job, I've been pushing, especially on what we can expect in the future, what we need to prepare for and also the new requirements we can see coming out. You can't just think linearly [any]more. So, how do you grasp things? You need to understand both technology and behaviour. You need to understand super specialisation and holistic thinking at the same time. So that has been one part, but the other part has also been just to push with a little bit of nudging, too. [...] most of the time, they were sitting with answers; they just needed a little bit of nudging to see it. So, it's both a gentle coaching and then - how can I say - more brutal future-looking.

SN: In addition, what have you learned from participating in the Sciana Network, and what have you been able to take and apply to your work?

BE: I must say that I talk about this model almost everywhere where I am. I really think this is a very, very good fit-for-purpose way to have people learn and adapt and use [it] right away. It doesn't give you a formal diploma. No. But it makes you grow as a person. So, I have also learned a lot because these are all very, very highly skilled leaders who have very, very demanding jobs who still prioritise to come here and work with it. So, from each of them, I've learned specific skills, which is a gift in itself. So sometimes I wonder if I wasn't the one who got [the] most out of it in that way.

SN: Looking forward, what are your hopes for the Sciana Network, and what would your message be to all Sciana Fellows?

BE: So, Cohort 4 is really dedicated that this is just the beginning. So really, [it's] to have a collective that begins to use each other much more, and now we have around 100 Sciana Fellows all together. So, I'm in Germany now where I actually use the Fellows, connect with them, [and] talk with them quite a bit. Cohort 4 wants to really push this both in countries and across countries to push their products or solutions for use but also really to begin to use this network of leaders [...] And I hope that will be realised. And I will also keep on pushing with them to realise this.