News
SACC-MN Cheers on Sweden at World Cup Watch Party!
The Swedish American Chamber of Commerce Minnesota (SACC-MN) was excited to bring members and friends together at Brit’s Pub to cheer on Sweden during the FIFA World Cup.
The watch party created a fun and energetic atmosphere as Sweden supporters gathered to connect, celebrate, and cheer on Sweden. Events like this are a meaningful reminder that SACC-MN is not only about business connections, but also about building community and strengthening the ties between Minnesota and Sweden.
We are also excited to celebrate Sweden advancing to the Round of 32. Congratulations to the Swedish national team on this achievement, and thank you to everyone who joined us to make the watch party such a memorable event.
SACC-MN looks forward to continuing to bring our community together through future networking events and opportunities to strengthen the connections between Minnesota and Sweden.
Heja Sverige!
SACC-MN Board Meets to Advance Strategic Initiatives
The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce Minnesota Board of Directors recently gathered to discuss ongoing initiatives and future opportunities to strengthen business, cultural, and educational connections between Minnesota and Sweden.
The meeting focused on upcoming events, member engagement, strategic partnerships, university outreach, and new opportunities to support Swedish-American collaboration throughout the region. Board members also reviewed current projects and discussed ways to continue delivering meaningful value to members, partners, and the broader community.
As SACC-MN continues to grow, the Board remains committed to fostering innovation, expanding international relationships, and creating opportunities for businesses, professionals, and students to connect across borders.
We thank our Board members for their continued leadership and dedication to advancing SACC-MN's mission.
Building Connections Between Sweden and Minnesota
The Swedish American Chamber of Commerce Minnesota recently visited Duluth and Superior as part of a familiarization tour organized in partnership with APEX (the regional economic development organization serving Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin) to explore opportunities for collaboration, investment, and business growth.
SACC-MN Chair Astrid Mozes and Board Member Carl-Johan Torarp initiated the visit to strengthen connections between Swedish businesses and the Upper Midwest while learning more about the industries and organizations driving growth in Northern Minnesota.
The visit included business roundtables, networking opportunities, and tours of Exodus Global, Cedar & Stone Nordic Sauna, and the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, providing insight into the region’s strengths in manufacturing, transportation, and innovation.
As part of this partnership, APEX President and CEO Rachel Johnson also joined an SACC-MN webinar to discuss economic trends and future opportunities across the Northland.
What started as an introduction is already developing into a relationship focused on creating opportunities, shared learning, and stronger ties between Sweden and the Upper Midwest.
NSLI Alumni Programs Present
Our SACC-MN Chair, Astrid Mozes, is honored to speak to the 2025 Nordic Scholars.
Leadership doesn’t start in the boardroom. It starts much earlier, in how we invest in talent. It's about developing people who can navigate complexity and turn ideas into meaningful impact.
Programs like the Nordic Scholars initiative play a critical role in shaping that next generation. By connecting emerging talent with global business leaders and real-world experience, they don’t just teach leadership; they activate it.
For more information, please join our young professionals network on this link: https://www.saccmn.org/memberships
Rise to the Challenge by Marlene M. Johnson
In her powerful memoir Rise to the Challenge, Marlene Johnson reflects on her groundbreaking journey as Minnesota’s first woman lieutenant governor, a role she assumed after more than a decade as a business owner.
With deep Swedish roots and parents who were first-generation Americans, her leadership story is shaped by heritage, resilience, and a lifelong commitment to public service. Throughout the book, Johnson shares how she challenged political norms, opened doors for women and people of color, and worked to ensure leadership opportunities extended beyond traditional circles of power.
Guided by an open-minded and inclusive approach, she helped reshape civic leadership across Minnesota.
As Johnson writes, “Leadership is not about waiting for permission. It is about stepping forward, creating space for others, and having the courage to stand by your values.”
Her memoir ultimately serves as a message to young people and emerging leaders: pursue your passion, build expertise, and remain anchored in integrity. Meaningful change, she reminds us, comes from persistence, courage, and a willingness to lead differently.
Nordic Scholars Leadership Institute
The Nordic Scholars Leadership Institute (NSLI) is a nonprofit leadership organization dedicated to developing the next generation of American leaders through Nordic values of integrity, collaboration, and civic responsibility.
NSLI works with highly accomplished scholars and early-career professionals who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and deep expertise in their fields. Through a highly selective admissions process, the institute identifies individuals ready to move beyond strong academic performance and into principled leadership roles across business, government, innovation, and civil society. Ethical leadership, community responsibility, and long-term societal impact are central to its programs.
With strong ties to Sweden and the broader Nordic region, NSLI maintains close relationships with respected Nordic institutions and leaders, reinforcing a shared commitment to trust-based leadership and sustainable professional ecosystems.
“NSLI’s mission aligns closely with SACC Minnesota’s goal of strengthening Swedish American professional networks and preserving Nordic leadership values in the United States”, says Megan Penhoet, Founder of NSLI. "Together, both organizations contribute to building a durable, values-driven transatlantic leadership pipeline."
As NSLI expands into Minnesota, there is strong alignment with SACC Minnesota’s Young Professionals Program. Together, we can connect immersive Nordic leadership education with sustained engagement in the Swedish American business community, strengthening the next generation of transatlantic leaders.