- The most important year in EAT’s history

An Executive MBA at BI opened new doors for Tomas Alfred Røen. Today, he heads an international organisation working with both the UN and the EU to address some of the greatest global crises of our time.

Røen grew up in the Central African Republic, where his mother built up a clinic that later developed into a hospital, while his father worked in education.

“You don’t have to look far beyond Norway’s borders to realise how fortunate we are. The Central African Republic is a stark reminder of how different everyday life can be.”

Growing up in one of the world’s poorest countries left its mark, sparking his interest in global systems and international relations.

It was therefore no surprise when he chose this as his academic path – first a bachelor’s degree in International Relations at the University of Oslo, followed by a master’s degree in South Africa.

For a long time, the plan was a career within the UN system or the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Instead, love and chance brought him back to Oslo – and into academia.

An Executive MBA opened several doors for Tomas Alfred Røen at Oslo New University College. He went from being a lecturer to taking on a number of leadership roles, including a central part in the university college’s digital growth journey.

An Executive MBA That Opened Doors

At Oslo New University College, Røen began as a lecturer in International Relations, a role he held for 12 years. Alongside his academic career, he pursued an Executive MBA at BI Norwegian Business School in 2018.

"There came a point where I wanted to learn more and continue to develop – but I had to choose between advancing as an academic or as a leader."

"I chose the latter, and an Executive MBA at BI was the natural step," he explains.

The Programme Became an Important Map and Compass

The further studies at BI Norwegian Business School played a key role when, in 2022, Røen moved on to a new position as Director of Operations and Development at Sonans.

“The Executive degree was definitely one of the reasons I got that role,” says Røen.

The pandemic had caused a downturn in the market for private upper secondary education, demanding a new style of leadership.

“It was challenging and educational at the same time,” he explains.

The transition from a small and relatively unknown university college to a well-established institution also brought new challenges for Røen.

“We had to cut costs and carry out major staff reductions. In that phase, the BI programme became an important map and compass,” he says.

The Call That Changed Everything

In March 2023 came the phone call that changed everything: EAT was searching for a new Chief Executive. After several rounds of discussions, Røen accepted.

EAT works for a healthier and more sustainable global food system. The foundation is best known for the EAT–Lancet Report, an internationally renowned study launched in 2019. It is among the world’s most cited scientific articles and is actively used by the UN, the EU, and the C40 Cities network.

According to Røen, food accounts for roughly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions and is the single largest cause of poor health worldwide.

“Yet for a long time there has been no shared understanding of what we actually need to eat in order to meet the sustainability goals. That is what we are trying to address,” he says.

Where Purpose Meets Performance

EAT today has around 20 employees, headquartered in Oslo, with staff in the United States, France, Italy, and Sweden. The organisation collaborates with the UN, the EU, the World Business Council, and C40 cities including New York, Tokyo, Barcelona, and Copenhagen.

Røen’s Executive MBA has been a key tool in strengthening EAT as an organisation.

“Over the past two years, we have reinforced our financial position, our structures, and our delivery capacity,” he explains.

Although EAT is a non-profit foundation, it must be run with the discipline of a professional enterprise. Røen emphasises that sound governance and commercial insight are just as vital in the non-profit sector as in the corporate world.

“We operate at the crossroads of commerce and mission. The organisation has to be managed according to many of the same principles as a commercial company – otherwise, we won’t achieve results.”

Today, Tomas Alfred Røen is Chief Executive of EAT, an organisation with the ambitious goal of transforming the world’s food systems.

A Lifelong Network

More than six years after completing his degree, Røen still has close ties to his BI cohort – their WhatsApp group remains active.

“If I need someone to spar with, I always get a quick response. That community is invaluable.”

The top executive has also noticed the “Executive MBA effect” in another way:

“When I updated my LinkedIn with the degree, I received far more enquiries. The degree is a clear signal of competence – both in Norway and internationally.”