Almedalen tips & tricks

Finding your way through the program

Yes, the full program is here. But finding the good ones? That takes a bit of digging.

Here's how I filter:

• Prioritize the people & panelist over the program title. Titles and company matter, but a strong, read-up moderator is also gold.
• Check the time. A 20 minute panel won't be able to go into depth. (But also, there are absolutely 45-minute back-pats too)
• Use double calendars. I tag my sessions as Priority or Interesting, with different colors. If the priority one is a snooze, I've got a Plan B ready to go.

🧠 Pro tip: Some of the best sessions aren’t on your radar - they’re on someone else’s. Ask around and stay flexible.

How to talk to someone you "shouldn't"

You spot someone from across the garden party: a politician, a CEO, or someone who just radiates COOL ENERGY.

Here's the trick: just go up and say hi.

Almedalen is the kind of place where the social dampers are off. No one flies to an island full of panels and rosé to hide. Introduce yourself. Ask for a fika, an ice cream, a five-minute walk. Or send a DM or email, if you can't walk up to them.

PS. I once sat through an hour long panel about insurance regulations in EU just to say hi to a CEO I really wanted to work with when the panel was over - and it worked.

Things you'll be glad you did

• Take pictures. Of people, slides, and signage. Helps jog your memory later.
• Plan enough for what you need. If you're a generalist like me, everything is tempting to listen to. But you can't be everywhere all at once. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize.
• Find your recharge zone. Identify a spot with coffee, bathrooms, snacks, and chairs. Trust me, you'll return.

What NOT to do

• Bring fancy shoes. Cobblestones don't care. I'll be in Birkenstocks.
• Stay out of guilt. A disengaged audience is rough on speakers. Politely leave if it's not for you.
• Name-drop your schedule to brag. Everyone has FOMO, so don't make it worse. The real flex is listening to someone else's takeaways first.

Bonus tips from a real Almedarling

• "Glass i hamnen" is code for "I've been here before." Suggest it over "should we take a meeting?"
• Sign up for mingles early. Yes, even now. Some already have waitlists.
• Invitation-only and you're relevant? Be un-Swedish & just ask to be included. Seriously.
• The TCO waffles are iconic. Near the park. Enough said.
• Hate mingling and want some tips & tricks to make it less hard? We've collected ours under the headline "Mingle Monday".
• And if you haven't yet, use crewcial for help with networking. It's the tool I wish I had years ago - and why I'm building it now.