Ingrid Christensen

INGCO International

CEO

Ingrid Christensen didn’t set out to build a global language empire; in fact, her journey began with a help-wanted ad spotted in a cafe while dodging post-college uncertainty. Fresh from the University of Minnesota, and a desire to escape the restaurant scene, she took a job as a scheduler for a language services provider. Little did she know this was the first step on a fascinating path. When her fluency in Spanish was revealed, she was nudged into interpreting, and that changed everything.

Ingrid discovered the profound power of language, finding herself present for life’s most intense moments – from a baby’s first cry to a person’s last breath. Witnessing firsthand the vital importance of clear communication, she deepened her expertise with a certificate in Translation and Interpretation from the University of Minnesota. Later, with an MBA from Hamline University tucked under her arm (and sometimes a baby on her hip!), Ingrid’s side hustle of interpreting for her network blossomed into a full-fledged business.
And so, INGCO International was born in 2006. Now, nineteen years later, Ingrid is a visionary entrepreneur and influential business leader. She leads the thriving global language solutions company, shaping its culture, mentoring its team. She is a passionate advocate for equitable communications through the power of language.

Beyond her role as CEO, Ingrid is a sought-after international speaker and panel moderator, known for creating dynamic and engaging discussions at global events. Her expertise includes posing insightful questions, actively listening to panelists, managing time effectively, and fostering audience participation. She has moderated panels at prestigious global conferences, collaborating with renowned speakers and earning accolades for her professionalism and ability to connect with both panelists and audiences.
Ingrid is the author of The Language of Trust (New Degree Press, March 2023), a thoughtful and reflective nonfiction book that explores the intersection of trust and business. The Language of Trust offers readers heartfelt motivations to focus on trust across organizations, tangible exercises to cultivate and develop confidence and competence, and a formula to rebuild trust when it breaks down.

For Ingrid, it’s simple: “The thought of being able to be someone’s voice when they need to be heard in another language is so energizing to me,” she says. “I can’t think of more important work to be doing”. In addition to her business activities, she spends her time on personal development, exercise, music, and friends, entertaining, and traveling the world to experience as many new cultures as possible