Julie Bishop, Thelma Plum And More: Klarna’s First Aussie Smoooth Session

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On Thursday night, Klarna hosted their first Australian Smoooth Sessions event with a performance from Australian singer Thelma Plum and a panel hosted by TV presenter Natarsha Belling featuring special guest speaker, the Hon Julie Bishop.

The event was held at The Calyx in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens and featured a plethora of Klarna’s iconic pink branding and even a giant ‘K’ in the center of the fountain.

Before the panel, which had the theme ‘the Art of Reinvention’, Belling sat down with former Liberal Party politician Bishop in an intimate conversation.

Bishop reflected on her life as “a series of sliding doors moments” where “it helps knowing who you are.”

Belling asked her about the current situation in Canberra, where Attorney General Christian Porter has been accused of an alleged rape – which he denies – and former staffer Brittany Higgins has accused a former colleague of rape.

“It makes me feel very empty,” said Bishop. This was an important opportunity for Canberra to reinvent itself.

“If Canberra is where the laws are made, surely Parliament House should be the model workplace and clearly it is not.”

“If we don’t change as a result of the last few weeks…then what will it take?”

The panel itself focused on the positive opportunities to reinvent themselves after the hardships of 2020.

Pictured above in order from left to right are panellists Nick Youngquest from Athletes for Life, Julie Bishop, Fran Ereira Klarna ANZ, Deborah Papazoglu from JD Sport, and Natarsha Belling

Papazoglu reflected that the retail industry “needed a nudge”, putting forward the idea that “constraints force creativity.”

Fran Ereira, Country Head of Klarna Australia, said that “Klarna is determined to be different. Through starting conversations like this, we want to send a message that it’s time for a shake-up, for a breath of fresh air that is genuinely focused on growing amazing retail businesses. ”

The panel offered an insightful insight into how brands and businesses can reinvent and continue to adapt.

Klarna’s Smoooth Sessions are a global thought leadership program and series of networking events featuring industry leaders from around the world.

All pictures courtesy of Klarna

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