Executive roundtables
Executive roundtables for Nordic fintech leaders in Stockholm
What happens at an Operator Network round table, who sits at it, which topics have come up, and how to get invited or lead a discussion.
The short answer
An Operator Network round table is a small, in-person discussion for senior people in Stockholm fintech and tech: one topic, one table of 8 to 25 peers, and about an hour of real discussion, led by participants rather than a speaker or a vendor. It runs under the Chatham House rule, nobody pitches, and no company can buy a seat.
You take part by applying to a round table on Luma, or by being invited to lead a discussion. See upcoming events.
How a round table runs
- One topic. Chosen because people in the role recognise it immediately and almost never discuss it openly.
- A qualified room. Round tables are role-based (a CFO round table, a CMO breakfast, a CEO + CFO breakfast), and every registration is reviewed.
- Reading in advance. When the topic draws on research, the reading goes to confirmed participants before the day, so nobody spends the hour catching up.
- Discussion leads, not speakers. A few participants lead. Each prepares a short summary of trends they see in their seat and three questions they genuinely want peers to answer.
- About an hour of discussion, under the Chatham House rule: what's said can be used, but not attributed.
- Afterwards. Discussion leads who want visibility are photographed and featured in the post-event material. Nobody else is quoted.
Why some rooms have a 100 kr fee
The CFO breakfast in September 2026 asked approved guests for 100 kr before sending the address. It isn't a revenue model. It's a commitment signal, so the people who register are the people who turn up.
Who sits at the table
Each round table is built for one role or one pairing of roles, so that everyone carries comparable responsibility. A CFO round table is for the CFO, or the person financially responsible, at their company. A CMO breakfast is for the person who owns marketing. The CEO + CFO breakfast on 4 September 2026 had 18 approved registrations and 15 people checked in on the day, with the discussion led by Fairlo's Head of Finance and Gilion's CFO & Deputy CEO.
Most people at the table come from the Operator Network's core community of more than 100 founders, executives and rising leaders, in a wider network of 200+ people in Stockholm. Some rooms also invite people from outside the network who fit the role. More on who is in the community.
Formats and sizes
| Format | Size | When | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast round table | 15–25 people | Before the working day | One sharp question for one role |
| Dinner | 8–12 people | An evening | A longer, more personal conversation |
| Curated discussion | A small group | Varies | Board-level questions, under the Chatham House rule |
| Build day | 40+ builders in teams | A full day | Technical leaders, hands-on with real APIs |
Topics so far
- Is growth a judgement call? CEO + CFO breakfast, 4 September 2026, Embassy House. The original invitation framed it around research on how pressure from the CEO's office shapes CFOs' reporting judgements. Hosted by Cardboard, with invitations through the Operator Network.
- Enduring speed while building trust and Trust is your product, and also your constraint. CMO breakfasts, March and June 2026, hosted by Heijbel Growth with Legora, Mindler and Natural Cycles.
- Where AI agents meet live financial infrastructure. The Embedded Finance Build Day, 25 August 2026, where seven of 15 teams independently chose to work on supplier bank-account fraud.
Why a round table, not a panel
- Peers, not a stage. On a panel, a few people talk and everyone else listens. At a round table, the people with the hardest version of the problem are in the conversation.
- An hour, not ten minutes. At a conference, most conversations end when the next session starts. Around one table, there is time to get past the polite version.
- In person. Research published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found a face-to-face request was 34 times more likely to get a yes than the same request by email (Harvard Business Review, 2017). Trust builds faster across a table.
- Visibility on your terms. Leading a discussion in a small, senior room is good practice before a bigger stage, and the write-up afterwards is yours to share.
The rules of the room
- Sponsorship
- None. Seats, introductions and agenda time are not for sale.
- Pitching
- None. Nobody presents a product.
- Attribution
- Chatham House rule. Only discussion leads who agree are named afterwards.
- Hosting
- The invitation always says who is hosting. When a company hosts a room for its own guests through Alexandra Studio, the company is named as host and the Operator Network appears only as "in partnership with".
- Guest list
- Reviewed for every room, so the table stays qualified.
How to take part
- Apply. Round tables are listed on Insider Events and on Luma. Apply to one that fits your role.
- Register for a room. Upcoming rooms are on the Operator Network calendar. Registrations are reviewed, and the address is shared once you're confirmed.
- Offer to lead a discussion. If you have a topic your peers should be talking about, say so when you apply or email Alexandra.
Want a roundtable with your own buyers?
That isn't something the Operator Network sells. Alexandra Studio designs roundtables for fintech companies around the accounts they name, co-hosted with a brand those buyers trust and run under the company's own name. Read how to use executive roundtables for B2B pipeline.
Questions people ask
What is an Operator Network executive roundtable?
A small, in-person discussion in Stockholm for senior people in fintech, AI and SaaS: one topic, one table of 8 to 25 peers, and about an hour of discussion led by participants rather than a speaker or a vendor. It runs under the Chatham House rule and nobody pitches.
Who can attend an Operator Network roundtable?
Round tables are role-based, for example for CFOs, CMOs or CEOs and CFOs together. Attendees come from the Operator Network's community or are invited for that room, and every registration is reviewed so that everyone at the table carries comparable responsibility.
What does it cost to attend?
There's no membership fee. Some round tables carry a small commitment fee so that the people who register turn up, for example 100 kr for the CFO breakfast in September 2026.
Are the roundtables sponsored?
No. The Operator Network doesn't sell seats, introductions or agenda time. When a company hosts a room for its own buyers through Alexandra Studio, the invitation names that company as host, so guests always know who invited them.
Can I lead a discussion at a roundtable?
Yes. Each round table has a few discussion leads, chosen from the participants. A discussion lead prepares a short summary of trends they see in their role and three questions they would like peers to answer. Discussion leads who want visibility are photographed and featured afterwards.
Where are the roundtables held?
In central Stockholm. The most recent breakfast was held at Embassy House on Medborgarplatsen, and the Build Day at A House at Slussen. The exact address is shared with confirmed participants after registration.