In this episode, host David McClelland sits down with John van Uden, Chief Technology Officer at Nordea Bank, to explore what it takes to lead major technology transformation while navigating new cultures, countries, and corporate dynamics. After a move from Canada to Finland, John reflects on his first year in one of the Nordic region’s largest banks. From tackling regulatory challenges like DORA to driving cloud adoption across a diverse and legacy-heavy tech estate, John shares how he’s building trust, simplifying complexity, and aligning stakeholders across borders. They discuss the nuances of Nordic corporate culture, the importance of establishing “Team One,” and how language—spoken and unspoken—can shape everything from strategy to stakeholder engagement. John also opens up about the risks of over-indexing on work and the value of immersing fully in a new culture both professionally and personally. Beyond the tech, John shares his approach to stakeholder relationships, setting early goals, and building organizational maturity without undermining progress. His advice? Eat lunch with everyone, live within the risk culture, and never underestimate the power of being consistent. With banking under pressure to modernize while staying compliant and resilient, how can CTOs hit the ground running in new environments without breaking what already works? And what does leadership really look like when you're trying to build momentum across borders?