About Bjørn Riley-Boge

Systems builder, process leader, and advisor

I translate between needs, practice, and policy. And I believe in honesty, curiosity, and systems understanding.

In my daily work, I operate at the intersection of needs, practice, and policy – acting as an interpreter between users, consultants, and decision-makers.

My first experience offstage came at age 16, when I crawled under the seats at Chateau Neuf to lay cables for what is today Live Nation. Since then, I have performed at Wembley Arena with Ole Evenrud – and led the Music Venue Project with direct reporting to the Minister of Culture.

Every Voice Counts

At Stovner Rockefabrikk, I once told the staff, “All civilization starts with cleanliness. Our most important employee here is our cleaner.” Years later, I brought the management from KLP Eiendom there.

Their first comment was, “Wow, it’s really clean here!” That broke the ice and opened the conversation that laid the foundation for what is today Øvingshotellet, with 110,000 annual users.

All this experience has taught me one thing:

Every voice counts. What works in practice, we find together – when we speak a language that is truly understood.

Mr. Fix-it

In some circles, I’ve been called a SwissArmyKnifeNinjaEnabler. Others compare me to “The Cleaner” from Pulp Fiction – the guy you call when things have really hit a dead end.

I take both as compliments. Because in complex projects – with many interests, fast pace, and unclear needs – you often need someone who can translate, unite, and clear the way. Someone who knows where the details snag – and isn’t afraid to put on a suit, safety shoes, or a tour bus mentality when needed.

Sometimes we have to endure a few sore toes along the way. But when everyone has been heard – and the building actually works – then we know we did it right.

Interpreter & Pilot

For nearly 40 years, I’ve worked to create spaces for people—literally. It began with frustration over the lack of good music rehearsal rooms and gradually evolved into a method now used in everything from school buildings to cultural venues.

In complex development processes—where professionals, users, and owners speak different languages—I often act as an interpreter: translating needs into concrete requirements, visions into realistic plans, and technical jargon into clear decision-making materials.

Just as often, I serve as a pilot: someone who knows where the hazards lie and can safely guide the project past them.

I translate needs, technical terms, and visions into clear requirements and plans.

ErgoMap

I am often called in when everything feels stuck – when the project lacks direction, decisions aren’t made, or no one fully understands what really matters. I help identify the core need – and bring people together around a common goal.

I developed the ErgoMap™ method specifically for this: creating clarity early. By involving users and owners in a structured and ergonomic needs analysis, we reduce the risk of rework and misunderstandings – laying the foundation for solutions that truly work.

Great buildings start with wise conversations. I help make them possible – as a pilot, as an interpreter, and as an advisor for the buildings of the future.

Six Thinking Hats

As a certified instructor in Six Thinking Hats, I also use this tool when appropriate to foster structured and effective dialogue in groups with diverse perspectives. Together with ErgoMap™, it creates a powerful combination for clarity, creativity, and decision-making.

Communication

My experience is that the biggest barrier in a project rarely involves technology, money, or capacity. The greatest challenge often lies between people’s ears – in the form of uncertainty, habitual thinking, or language misunderstandings. Here, I often lean on Daniel Kahneman’s insight: We often think fast – but in complex processes, we need to think slow. Together.