WINTER OLYMPICS LEADERSHIP SERIES 2026 - Featuring Karin Norgaard

With the eyes of the world on Italy for the 25th edition of the Winter Olympics, which events are you looking forward to? In the spirit of previous leadership series here on my blog, I've asked a dozen leadership and marketing experts to respond to five questions with the hope that both the questions and answers lead you to think about leadership, personal branding, and the Olympics in new and interesting ways.

For today's post, I'd like to introduce Karin Norgaard, based in Denmark. With a background in law and more than 25 years of experience in public relations and communications, Karin is currently the founder and CEO of Think PR, a Copenhagen-based communications agency specializing in strategic PR, positioning, and storytelling across the Nordics. She works with both B2B and B2C brands, translating complex topics like tech, sustainability, and life science into narratives that drive media coverage and stakeholder engagement. 

SHARE THIS: The Olympic Games have the power to unite us because we can all find something inspirational or something we can relate to in each athlete’s story, whether it’s a story of success or of disappointment. –Tatjana Schoenmaker (South Africa’s most decorated Olympian) #OlympicsLeadershipSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: What is your favorite WINTER Olympics sport, and why?

KARIN NORGAARD: Definitely ski jumping. There’s something breathtaking about watching athletes literally launch themselves into the air, trusting physics and courage to carry them. It’s equal parts madness and magic - which, in my experience, is not far from leadership.

QUESTION: What WINTER Olympics sport most “visually” demonstrates teamwork, and why?

KARIN NORGAARD: Curling. Where else do you see athletes feverishly sweeping ice with brooms, in total synchronization, while shouting like their lives depend on it? It’s strategy, trust, and micro-communication at Olympic level, and it looks fantastic on camera.

QUESTION: According to Suzanne Robb, COO of Alloy, “Define what victory means to you, and keep that vision in mind. You’re the one who gets to determine when you’re making progress, what success means, and what your focus should be. When you get a win, take time to celebrate. In business as if life, you’ve got to run your own race.” With this quote in mind, which Winter Olympics event or result stands out in your memory, and why?

KARIN NORGAARD: For me, it has to be Steven Bradbury’s gold in Salt Lake City 2002. He was nowhere near the favorite in short track speed skating, but then, in a twist worthy of Netflix, every other skater in the final crashed. Bradbury just glided through the chaos to Olympic gold. It’s the ultimate reminder that sometimes victory is about persistence and being ready when opportunity knocks (or when everyone else falls over).

And if I bring it closer to home: Denmark isn’t exactly known for dominating the Winter Games, but when our women’s curling team took silver in 1998, it felt like a fairy tale. Proof that even underdogs with brooms can sweep their way into history!

QUESTION: During the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, entertainer and businessman Snoop Dogg used the hashtag #FollowTheDogg and shared his Olympic experiences on social media. My favorite story and related photos were when he and friend Martha Stewart dressed in equestrian clothing and attended the dressage competition. According to reports, Snoop’s involvement was intended to attract a new audience to the Olympics. If you were in charge of the Winter Olympics, who would you invite to attract a new audience, and why?

KARIN NORGAARD: I’d call in the cast of "Succession" to do live commentary on ice hockey. Picture Roman snarking about penalties, Shiv breaking down power plays like corporate mergers, and Logan Roy booming “You can’t win without a killer instinct!” from the commentator’s box.

And for ice dancing? Meryl Streep in full "Devil Wears Prada" mode; pursing her lips, raising an eyebrow, and delivering icy one-liners after every routine. The judges’ scores would suddenly feel like high fashion verdicts. Instant viral Olympics.

QUESTION: The 2026 Winter Olympics will be the first Olympic Games under the leadership of International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry. She is a former Zimbabwean politician, sports administrator, and former Olympic swimmer and world record holder. She is also the first woman, first Zimbabwean, and the first African to serve as IOC President. According to Reuters, “Kirsty Coventry smashed through the IOC’s glass ceiling in March 2025 to become the organization’s first female President in its 130-year history.” What are your thoughts about this development for the world’s biggest multi-sport organization – and its future?

KARIN NORGAARD: Her presidency is a milestone. First woman, first African, first Zimbabwean — that’s not just history, that’s momentum. The Olympics thrive on stories of barriers broken, and Coventry embodies that spirit off the field. My hope is that she uses her athlete’s mindset to make the IOC braver, faster, and more open to change.

SHARE THIS: The Olympics thrive on stories of barriers broken, and Kirsty Coventry's appointment as President of the IOC embodies that spirit off the field. ~Karin Norgaard #OlympicsLeadershipSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

A final reminder, as you watch the competitions, make a note on your calendar to swing by #DebbieLaskeysBlog each day through February 22nd for leadership and marketing inspiration. A small interruption to the series will take place on February 20th to celebrate "National Leadership Day," then  the Olympics series returns on February 21st. A series recap will be featured on February 22nd. Enjoy the Olympics!

Image Credit: Olympics.

Meet Karin at this link:

http://www.thinkpr.dk