Raja Skogland

Questions? I am 1 DM away. 

Community builder at heart, hyper connector, fundraising/growth advisor, serial entrepreneur and investor in 100+ startups.

My team of experienced exited founders, investors, board members, investors and partners from reputable consulting companies and I have created step by step programs to help:

- Go From Idea To Investors 
- Go from post seed to Series A
- Fundraise & Scale
- Build personal brands and communities to attract talent, clients and investors
- Become a certified board member, build an exclusive and strong European network and land your next board position.

We also connect vetted founders, investors, leaders and board members to co-create together.

Interested in getting more info?

Send me a DM.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Founder

The ecosystem of experts, investors, and serial entrepreneurs supporting your growth,
taking you from 🌱 to 🌳 and then🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

We help startups, scale-ups, and SMBs raise money and build profitable, scalable businesses.
We also invest in B2B Nordic companies that are post-revenue.

👉 www.thevisionaryvc.com to reach new heights.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

I started The Visionary Board because as a founder, investor, and board member, I kept finding myself in the same rooms...

Same people.
Same conversations.
Same names circulating when board and advisory opportunities came up.

It looked a lot like a "board mafia", opportunities shared within trusted circles, even when those profiles were not always the best fit.

At the same time, I was investing in founders who needed something very specific.
Experienced, trusted board members who understand scale, growth, speed, risk, and innovation. Not theory. Not titles. Not big egos in the room. Not bureaucracy.

So, I brought together a team of European experts in governance and venture building to launch The Visionary Board, to make board roles more accessible, merit-based, and relevant for modern companies.

A room where board members, founders and investors are trained, trusted, and connected.
Where founders, investors, and leaders actually find each other.

Nearly 100 people have been trained since 2024!

I am incredibly proud of our alumni network who are our best ambassadors ♥️

They hire each other, invest in each other, create together, and advise one another - across borders.

Thank you to everyone who has joined us so far!

What started as a problem I wanted to solve, has become an active European community of highly driven people co creating, sharing opportunities, inspiring each other and actively building the career they aspire to.

The best part? I made 100 new friends, that I am happy to support beyond the board program and our community.

Looking forward to welcoming the next cohort in sunny Porto in May!☀️

Developing & Connecting European Board Members, Investors & Founders | Accelerated 1,000s | TOP 100: Europe’s most influential women in the venture capital space | Board member l Investor (100+) l Oslo - Geneva📍

Last November, I attended a Pre Davos event through DIONZ, a network I am part of. That’s when I understood what really happens in Davos.

Davos is not about status, the big names and big stages. Even if that’s what we see at first.

It is about highly vetted networks, curated rooms, and the SIDE conversations where trust is built and decisions are made...

I have always invested energy, time, and money in joining strong networks.

Long term value over short term access.

Joining ecosystems before the return is obvious. Because this is how you end up in rooms where the future is co created and the best opportunities happen before they become headlines.

This year, I am attending the DIONZ at WEF 2026 Event and joining conversations on prosperity, responsibility, and what we choose to build next.

If you are considering Davos, my take:

Do not come alone. Come with a network.

Come to give before you ask, come to share, and aim to build relationships before business.

—
Who is in Davos? 🇨🇭
See you in the mountains!

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Your business is not supposed to be fun all the time.

If you need constant excitement, you built a hobby, not a company.

The moment it starts annoying you, that is where discipline replaces dopamine and that´s when you start scaling. Do you relate?

I wrote about this phase and what founders can do. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and tips! 

👉https://lnkd.in/esZQ3H_6

—
Every week, I share my best actionable advice with 3000+ founders, board members and investors on my Substack. 

Join if you want unfiltered content.

Startups and scaleups hire me as an interim head of sales to help them with strategy, build the pipeline and closing big deals.

I help professional speakers get more paid gigs by turning their expertise into a clear, bookable speaking business.

I’m a public speaker with 130+ paid gigs, and the founder of BecomeASpeaker, a speaker academy and one-stop growth platform for speakers who want consistency, not randomness.

Most speakers don’t struggle with talent.
They struggle with positioning, visibility, and sales.

That’s where we come in.

Through BecomeASpeaker, we help speakers:
	•	Clarify their positioning and keynote promise
	•	Build speaker reels, presentations, and bios that actually convert
	•	Turn LinkedIn into a speaker funnel instead of an online CV
	•	Create a simple sales and outreach system
	•	Work more effectively with agents and expand into new markets

I’m currently interviewing 100+ of the most successful speakers and speaker agents in Europe for my podcast, distilling what actually works into practical systems we implement with our members.

Before focusing fully on the speaking industry, I spent 12+ years building and scaling startups, holding roles such as Managing Director and Head of Sales, and leading teams of 100+ people. That background shapes how we approach speaking: as a business, not a hobby.

At BecomeASpeaker, we don’t sell motivation.
We build systems that make speaking predictable.

If you’re already speaking and want:
	•	more consistency
	•	better positioning
	•	higher fees
	•	fewer random bookings

you’ll probably feel at home here.

You can explore BecomeASpeaker through the links in my Featured section, or reach out if you’re curious whether it’s a fit.

Max Gouchan

What do you get when the former CEO of Norway’s largest bank, one of Scandinavia’s most iconic PR founders, and Norway’s top reputation expert sit down for dinner and drinks?

Unforgettable conversations.

For my international network, here’s who these “bad boys” are:

Rune Bjerke – Former CEO of DNB, Norway’s biggest bank. One of the most influential business leaders in Scandinavia.
Hans Geelmuyden – Founder of Geelmuyden Kiese, the largest PR group in the Nordics, known for bold communication and sharp thinking.
Nils Apeland – Norway’s leading expert in reputation, communication, and speaker industry. Founder of Talerlisten, the country’s main speaker agency.

Some moments as a public speaker hit a little harder than others.

Being a public speaker is one of the best ways to build solid networks and friendships. Because when you speak at conferences, you get to really bond with the other speakers backstage and the day before the conference!

Last week I sat with Rune Bjerke, Hans Geelmuyden and Nils Apeland, and suddenly the whole evening was just about sharing stories.

Honest, raw and absolutely wild stories about business, politics and life.

Not as “famous names.”
Not as speaker and audience.
But as colleagues through Talerlisten.no.

These small, intimate “backstage conversations” are the moments I’m most grateful for.

The moments nobody sees, but that give inspiration for days after.

Very grateful to be part of this speaker world, and helping others getting into it to.

#publicspeaker
#speakerlife
#leadership
#storytelling
#communication
#talerlisten
#businessinsights
#becomeaspeaker

Help public speakers get more (and better-paid) gigs, and I coach new speakers who want to break into the industry. Gen Z speaker: How to better recruit, lead and communicate with the younger generations.

Last week I was in Harstad, speaking at Harstadkonferansen, in front of almost 400 business leaders and politicians: This stood out as the common thread among the best speakers:

They were personal.

Like Elaine Eksvärd practically introduced us to here whole family. 

Rune Bjerke telling a funny story about his first job at the bank, with a very humble twist.
 
They showed photos that gave a glimpse into their family lives, their kids, partners and parents.

I also have a photo of me from high school, and one of me, my dad and my brother, where I share a powerful story (kidding, that story is actually about an air fryer, but that’s not important right now).

So think about it: are you letting the audience really get to know you? Are you really letting them to connect with you while you are on stage?

I see this again and again. 

Speakers who truly connect with the audience often give them a glimpse into their life as speakers and allow themselves to be personal on stage.

Thanks for the invite Øystein Ulvær and the whole team behind the conference!

This was super fun and well organized!

Photo: Øyvind Aarvola


#publicspeaking
#keynotespeaker
#speakingtips
#storytelling
#leadershipdevelopment
#communicationSkills
#speakerlife
#presentationtips
#professionalSpeaking
#stagepresence
#thoughtleadership

Do your slides suck?
Be honest… you’ve probably sat at a conference, watched a speaker with insanely beautiful slides and thought:

“WOW… how do I do THAT?”

Then you opened PowerPoint or Canva, tried for 20 minutes…
and quietly gave up.
(We’ve all been there.)

I’ve always gotten compliments for my slides on stage, those who’ve seen them know they’re clean, powerful, visual, and straight to the point.

And the truth is simple:

I have used professional designers for years.
And now I’ve hired one in-house at Becomeaspeaker.no, and she’s incredible.

We’ve already delivered a bunch of decks, and the reaction from everyone is the same:

“WOW.”

(Yes, three letters. Every time.)

So hey, if you want to upgrade your presentations, whether you’re:
a speaker who wants to look world class
or presenting internally and want your message to actually land

DM me.
Let’s grab a coffee and create that WOW feeling together.

#PublicSpeaking
#PresentationDesign
#SlideDesign
#KeynoteSpeaker
#LeadershipCommunication

How often should you actually meet your speaker agent?
Most speakers guess.
That’s why their gig flow is inconsistent.

I just recorded a value-packed podcast with Nils Apeland at the agency that represents me Talerlisten.no (Norways best speaker agency by far hehe and Nils is one of the best agents in Europe) (dropping the episode soon hehe it is at the editor now), and this came up:

👉 The sweet spot is 3–4 structured meetings per year.

Not monthly check-ins.
Not “we’ll catch up sometime.”

Intentional, strategic meetings.

Here’s how to make those meetings actually work:

• Come with clear availability
• Share what types of stages you want more of
• Bring warm opportunities you’ve already identified
• Make it easy for the agent to contact and pitch you

Your agent sells better when you help them sell you.

The best speakers don’t “wait to be placed.”
They co-create demand with their agents.

More on this (and a lot more) when the episode drops soon 🎙️

Do you have an agent and how often do you meet them?

#publicspeaker
#speakingbusiness
#keynotespeaker
#speakerlife
#speakercommunity
#speakeragent
#becomeaspeaker
#professionalspeaker

Do you make people laugh when you’re on stage?

Relax, nobody is asking you to be a stand-up comedian.

But there’s a mountain of research showing that when people laugh and feel entertained, they learn better, remember more, and stay engaged longer.

So ask yourself:

When you’re on stage…
Do people laugh at least once?

If not, work on it.

Try adding:
• A small joke
• A playful comment
• A meme that fits your message

Call a friend who does stand-up , we all know someone who does stand-up these days.

Ask them to help you tighten one moment in your talk.

Or brainstorm with ChatGPT and generate 20 joke or meme ideas based on your topic.

People of all ages love memes.

People of all ages love to laugh.

And laughter doesn’t make you less credible, it makes you more human.

You don’t need to turn your keynote into comedy.
You can be a serious speaker with a powerful story.

But try to ignite that smile, that chuckle, that one moment of joy.

It changes the whole room.

Video below is just for illustration,  a reminder not to take yourself too seriously.
Life is short. Have fun with it.

Cheers,
Max
aka King of Bad Dad Jokes

#publicspeaking
#keynotespeaker
#communication
#leadershipdevelopment
#storytelling
#thoughtleadership
#becomeaspeaker

Sitting in a taxi from Harstad to the airport, surrounded by stunning northern lights, I had a moment of reflection.

How grateful I am for the thousands of hours invested into public speaking.

This job lets you:

• travel to some of the most beautiful places on earth
• speak about a topic you’re passionate about
• positively impact people, businesses and in many cases even the planet

Just like great speakers such as Elisabeth Nissen Eide and Sylvie Y. S. Chen do so well.

Was it easy to get here?
No, of course not.

But building a successful speaking business is actually easier than most conventional businesses.

You don’t need starting capital.
You don’t need inventory.
You don’t need to hire staff.

You just need to know what to do and be willing to put in the hours.

If you’re curious about stepping into the world of public speaking and getting paid to be on stage while traveling the world, send me a DM.

Happy to share the best, shortest and most cost-efficient path to get there.

#publicspeaking
#publicspeaker
#speakerlife
#speakingbusiness
#keynotespeaker
#becomeaspeaker
#leadership
#personalgrowth

Sunday funday! And Webflow developer wanted! Do you know anyone?☺️

Today in Sofia, Bulgaria recording content for our new website at Become a Successfull Speaker, and we are looking for a webflow freelancer!🤗 

I have used this studio and Pavel 3 times, highly reccomended and worth the trip plus Sofia is a beautiful city!

Happy Sunday everyone!😍

This scam is circulating again in the speaking industry,  and big thanks to Maria Franzoni for flagging it!

Here’s how it usually starts:

You get a long, emotional “invitation” to speak at an international event.

Charity. Church. Leadership. Inspirational.

Lots of flattery. 

Lots of “we’ve followed your work” and “you’re the perfect fit.”

Big promises about audience size, impact, and fully covered travel and fees.

But when you look closer…
there’s almost nothing you can actually verify.

No real logistics.

No concrete organiser details.

Just warm language and vague information.

And then comes the move:

They ask for your business info to “prepare the contract,” and suddenly there’s a refundable admin fee, a visa payment, a tax clearance process, document authentication, or a weird overpayment story.

Their money never arrives.

Yours does.

That’s the whole game.

These messages are designed to make speakers feel chosen,  that’s why they work.

Real conferences don’t operate like this.

Real bookers are specific, practical, and they never ask a speaker to pay money to get paid.

If something feels off, slow down.

Sense-check it with someone who knows the industry.

One quick conversation can save you a lot of trouble.

Stay sharp out there.

#speakingindustry
#publicspeaking
#keynotespeaker
#speakerscam
#speakerlife
#eventprofs
#conferenceindustry
#leadershipspeaking
#professionaldevelopment
#speakersafety
#thoughtleadership
#businessethics
#genzspeaker
#globalconferences
#speakingbusiness

My number one travel hack for public speakers and entrepreneurs
That gives you instant lounge access:

Get Revolut Ultra.
Seriously. This has been life changing for me.

Last year I traveled across 17 countries, and many of those countries I visited multiple times. Norway 12 times, Malaysia 5 times, Thailand 4 times, Singapore 8 times.  

Last year alone I used airport lounges 4 to 5 times per month, minimum.

Here’s what I get for about 550 euros per year:

• Unlimited lounge access
• Premium access to Financial Times
• 20 ClassPass credits
Enough for one massage per month in Barcelona or a gym session when traveling
• Premium subscriptions included
Chess Premium
Headspace which I use every night for sleep
And yes, for those single, Tinder Gold

All in all, I pay around 550 euros a year, my subscription renews in two weeks, and this is one of the easiest no brainer decisions I make every year.

I’m literally writing this post from the lounge in Oslo, enjoying some good coffee and food hehe.

Tomorrow I’m on stage in front of 400 leaders in North Norway.

If you travel a lot for speaking, business, or work in general, I genuinely recommend it.

I’ll drop my referral link below.
If you sign up, we both get a little treat.
Why not?😏

#publicspeaker
#speakerlife
#entrepreneurlife
#travelhack
#businessonthego
#digitalnomad
#becomeaspeaker

Most speaking gigs are lost before they ever had a chance.

Not because the speaker wasn’t good enough.
But because they never picked up the phone.

One thing that really stood out in my conversation with Thomas Lone:

Speaking is a numbers game.

You can:
• Write great emails
• Polish your website
• Perfect your reel

But nothing replaces:
• Calling the right people
• Having real conversations
• Accepting that most calls won’t convert

Sometimes you’ll call 50 people and nothing happens.
Then one call changes everything.

That’s not luck.
That’s volume + relevance.

If you want more gigs, you don’t need better motivation.

You need more calls.

PS: Link to podcast episode in comments below

#speakingbusiness
#publicspeaking
#sales
#entrepreneurship
#personalbrand
#becomeaspeaker

Help public speakers get more (and better-paid) gigs, and I coach new speakers who want to break into the industry. Co-founder of Forecastly AI/Granate AI and Become a Speaker. Angel investor and advisory board member.

Travel is no excuse for missing workouts. Here’s how I make it work in hotels and Airbnbs

2024: 92+ flights
2025: 17 countries

Most of them visited multiple times.

Honestly, I’m scared to think about how many flights that actually is.

Being constantly on the road makes it harder to stay consistent.

But it also makes it more important.

Here’s how I train when I’m traveling all the time:

• I use Freeletics Premium through my Revolut subscription
Most workouts can be done anywhere
Hotel room, hotel gym, or Airbnb

• I focus on strength and muscle, not perfect routines

• I’m very intentional about protein intake when traveling
Huge difference for energy and recovery

• I do a 7-minute ab workout on YouTube
Short, intense, and easy to fit in

• When I want proper gym access, I use ClassPass

No complicated systems.
No excuses.

If you’re in good physical shape, you’re better on stage.

You’re better in business.

You’re better in life.

It’s not always easy.

But it’s always worth it.

All links below 👇

#speakerlife
#publicspeaker
#businessonthego
#discipline
#healthandperformance
#becomeaspeaker

One thing you can never do as a speaker on stage:


Go over time.

It’s the fastest way to lose trust with organisers, MCs, and every speaker coming after you.

Going over time signals you didn’t prepare, you didn’t practice, and you didn’t respect the flow of the event. And yes, people notice.

If you’re given 25 minutes, you don’t deliver 25:59.
You deliver 24:00 with confidence.

Here’s how professionals avoid the rookie mistake:

Practice your slides with a stopwatch at least once.
Time it as if it’s the real thing.
Adjust your pacing before the event.
Do it especially for conferences where the schedule is tight.
Do it especially when another speaker is up right after you.

Pro tip:

Keep one or two extra “bonus” slides after your final contact slide. If you finish early, you can say:
“Before we wrap, let me share a quick story with you.”

If you run out of time, you skip them.
Zero stress.
Full control.

Staying on time isn’t a small detail.
It’s professionalism.
And it’s one of the easiest ways to stand out as a speaker people want back.

#publicspeaking
#keynotespeaker
#eventprofs
#speakingtips
#professionaldevelopment
#thoughtleadership
#becomeaspeaker

taplio

The Battle

Raja Skogland

Max Gouchan

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreRaja Skogland's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMax Gouchan's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Raja Skogland

Max Gouchan

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Raja Skogland's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMax Gouchan's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreRaja Skogland's LinkedIn Performance