Mary Walshok is speaking at the Nordic Funding Day 2026

Welcome to a defining conversation on the future of innovation ecosystems between Mary Walkshok (founder of Connect) and Naimul Abd (CEO Connect Öst & SweBAN).

As a lead-in to the Nordic Funding Day 2026, a Connect X initiative by Connect Öst, we are honored to host a rare and timely fireside chat with Mary Walshok, one of the original architects behind the Connect model that has shaped innovation ecosystems around the world.

This is not just a retrospective. It is a strategic inflection point.

Together, we will explore:

• How Connect began — the founding vision

• Where we come from — the evolution of the ecosystem

• Where we must go next — how to continue to support innovation

At a time when innovation is happening faster than ever, geopolitics are shifting, AI is redefining industries, and capital needs to move faster, the mandate for ecosystem organizations is to move faster, collaborate deeper, and think bigger.

This conversation bridges decades of insight with the urgency of today’s challenges.

It sets the tone for Nordic Funding Day 2026!

We invite founders, investors, partners, and ecosystem leaders to join us for what will be one of the most important conversations in Connect’s journey.

🎯About Mary Walkshok

Mary Walshok is the recently retired Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Programs at UC San Diego where she was Dean of University Extension and a professor in the Department of Sociology. Walshok had a nearly 50-year career at the University, and throughout that time was a force for community engagement at many levels. She currently serves on the Conrad Prebys Foundation board and the Girard Foundation board. As a past performer and current enthusiast for the arts, she serves on the boards of San Diego Jazz Ventures, the La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Opera. Her civic activism includes serving on the board of CONNECT, of which she was a co-founder, the Institute of the Americas and ACCESS Youth Academy. The author of six published books, focused on regional economic and workforce development and the role of universities in sustaining competitive economies, Walshok has in addition, numerous academic publications and has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards over her professional career. A widow, Walshok resides in Del Mar California, and is the mother of one son, Colin Walshok, and has two grandchildren who currently attend Francis Parker School where she served as the first woman chair of their Board of Trustees in the late nineties.

🎙️ Moderated by Naimul Abd

Naimul Abd is CEO of Connect Öst, SweBAN – Swedish Business Angel Networks, and a serial ecosystem builder in the Nordics.

🌐 About Connect Talks

Connect Talks is a catalyst for ideas, inspiration, and impact. Hosted by Connect Öst, we bring top investors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to facilitate a dynamic exchange of experiences and perspectives with the Connect universe and the broader startup and tech community worldwide.

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For questions, speaking opportunities, partnerships, or learning more about Connect Öst, reach out to Naimul Abd.