From a podcast interview featuring Ingrid Christensen, President and Founder of INGCO International, a leading provider of translation and interpreting services.
In a recent episode of CEO Growth Talks, Ingrid Christensen, CEO of INGCO, shared her insights on leading a successful language services company and the journey that led her to publish her first book, The Language of Trust. Ingrid explained that the name "INGCO" is derived from her first name, a creative solution she came up with in a moment of urgency when starting the company. She has been in the industry for 25 years, and her company, which began as a small interpreting service, now offers a wide range of language services in about 200 language pairs annually, serving corporate clients and community organizations globally.
"Everything that I've learned about developing a team, I've learned from my team itself, by listening and watching and learning... hiring really smart staff that are super passionate about the work that they do and that truly align with our core values." - Ingrid Christensen
During the episode, Ingrid discussed the importance of trust in her work, highlighting a pivotal moment early in her career when she was able to calm a distressed family by interpreting for them at a hospital. This experience underscored the significance of communication in building trust, which became the central theme of her book. Ingrid emphasized that trust is essential not only in multilingual communication but also in leadership and personal relationships. Her book delves into how communication can build, maintain, and repair trust, which is crucial in both professional and personal contexts.
Ingrid also reflected on the challenges of leading a global, remote team and the personal growth required to scale her company. Writing the book was a way for her to step back and allow her team to flourish, which in turn reinforced the importance of trust within her organization. She shared that her biggest challenges often involved her own internal struggles with delegation and trust, but through this journey, she learned to rely on her team, which has proven to be vital to the company’s success. The book project not only enhanced her business’s brand but also opened new opportunities for her in public speaking and professional development.
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