Inger Ellen Nicolaisen

Inger Ellen Nicolaisen Sandåker (born 15 November 1958) is a Norwegian entrepreneur who founded the hairdressing chain Nikita Hair in 1984. She owns Raise Gruppen Holding AS which comprises of Raise Gruppen AS, one of Europe's biggest hairdressing concerns. Raise Gruppen AS owns Nikita Hair Norway AS, Nikita Hair Sweden AB, Hair Shop AS, Headmasters AS, Norsk Frisørskole AS and International Hair Academy AB,and employs more than 1000 personnel in Norway and Sweden.
Nicolaisen is the founder of the A Hand to Children foundation, and since 1994 she has actively worked to help children, with a particular focus on the Globus Namai children’s home in Lithuania.
In 2015, Inger Ellen Nicolaisen and her daughter Christinah Nicolaisen launched their own hair and beauty range, , made with natural ingredients sourced from Scandinavia. Together, they own the company IC Scandinavia Group AS, which operates in Norway, Sweden and the USA.
Nicolaisen has won, among others awards, The Art of Management in 2002, Businesswoman of the Year 2002, Entrepreneur of the Year 2003 by Ernst & Young and Entrepreneurial Spirit 2004 by the Global Business Forum. She is also known for appearing in the 2004 television series Kandidaten, the Norwegian version of The Apprentice.
She also launched her official blog in 2016.
She published the book Impetus (Drivkraft) on Damm Publishing in 2006, this book has also been published in Swedish.
Nicolaisen is living in Misvær, which is 8 mil southeast of Bodo.
Personal life
Inger Ellen Nicolaisen is a mother of 3 natural children and 11 adopted during her visits to the GLOBOS NAMAI children’s home in Lithuania, her first visit in 1995, an institution that cares children without family. Eight of her children are actively involved in her company in different areas.
Awards and prizes
Nicolaisen and her companies have received numerous honors and awards:
* Apprentice of the year, Nikita Hair Norway, 2014
* Apprentice of the year, Nikita Hair Norway, 2013
* Apprentice of the year, Nikita Hair Norway, 2012
* Hairdressing chain of the year" Nikita Hair Norway, in 2011
* "A Great Place to Work" in 2009
* «Salon Entrepreneur of the Year», Global Salon Business Award, Nikita Hair 2008
* «General Management», Global Salon Business Awards, Nikita Hair 2006
* «Salon Business of the Year», Nikita Hair, 2006
* «Entrepreneurial Spirit of the Year» Global Salon Business Awards, Nikita Hair 2004
* «Nomination Grand Trophy», Nikita Hair, 2003
* «Salon Business of the Year», Nikita Hair, 2001

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