Meet Karina: From Denmark to Dynamics

Over the coming weeks, we’re sharing stories from the leaders of the Novature companies. Who are they? What drives them? And how does their leadership shape the culture we’re building at Novature?

“It’s easier to be forgiven than to ask for permission. Just go and do it, I’ve got your back.”

Karina Nielsen is CEO of Ciellos, since March 2025 part of Novature. Her leadership style is rooted in trust and action. Her motto “It’s easier to be forgiven than to ask for permission. Just go and do it, I’ve got your back” says it all. She believes in taking initiative without overthinking or waiting for approval. That doesn’t mean anything goes, but it does mean people are allowed to make mistakes as long as they keep moving. It’s an approach that gives teams the freedom to grow, experiment, and take ownership. Because for Karina, leadership isn’t about control, it’s about trust.

The bucket list

As a child growing up in Denmark, Karina made a bucket list. Not vague dreams, but real goals: live in another country, become a CEO, and write a book. Two out of three are already checked off, and the third is well underway. In October 2025, a chapter she wrote will be published in a book about female leaders in technology. Her approach? Tech-first. “I recorded a Teams meeting with myself, had it transcribed, and used Copilot to structure the chapter. I love using new technology this way.” And once she got started, she realized: there’s more than enough for a whole book. That one’s just a matter of time. 

Karina has been living in Atlanta since 2007. She moved there temporarily, or so she thought. The plan was to move to the US for two years and set up and kick-start the US business and then back to Denmark. “But the financial crisis hit. While things were slowing down in Europe, the U.S. market still had huge potential, and within six months we knew: we’re staying.” 

Ciellos 

“I always have to be moving – otherwise I feel restless”. Karina used that dynamic when she moved to the U.S. with her family. She worked a lot, traveled, and slowly grew deeper into the Microsoft ecosystem. Ciellos today is the result, now a key player in the Dynamics community with primary people locations in US, Canada, Albania, Macedonia, Portugal, Colombia, Brazil and Ukraine. In March 2025, Ciellos joined Novature Group, and Karina now serves on the Group’s board. From that position, she continues to bring her leadership philosophy to life. “Within the Novature Group I see a whole new level of opportunity in the Dynamics channel – and how we as a group can support partners in all aspects and all primary geographies. I am very excited about the future prospect!” 

Today, Karina leads a global organization spread across 30 countries. The war in Ukraine partly caused the expansion into so many countries. When war broke out in 2022, Karina switched into action mode. “The first reports came in on a Wednesday night. My whole leadership team didn’t sleep until Monday morning. We had to get our people to safety.” Her team organized transportation, covered costs, supported families, and relocated colleagues across Europe. “After five days, the borders started to close.”

The power of diversity

How do you effectively lead a team spread across 30 countries? “We don’t see each other every day, but COVID taught us how to connect digitally. We make space for small talk, visit local teams regularly, and celebrate each other’s holidays, whether it’s King’s Day in the Netherlands, Midsummer in Denmark, or Independence Day in Ukraine.” In Ciellos, they hold quarterly all-hands meetings with local flair and even dress up and do pumpkin carving contests around Halloween. “Not everybody celebrates Halloween, but we respect different cultures and views and find ways everyone can join.” To her, leadership is about trust and action. “I’ve always had a very high level of trust in people, and in myself. I believe people are inherently good. I encourage action. If you try, I’ve got your back. Don’t overthink, just do it.” She uses tools like Garuda profiles to support this mindset. “We’re all different, and that’s a strength. I love starting things; others love finishing them. If we understand that about each other, we can do so much more as a team.”

Women in Dynamics

Her view on diversity is broad. “Our youngest team member is 19, the oldest is 69. What drives them varies wildly, and as a leader, you must tune into that.” She also supports initiatives like Women in Dynamics. “I’ve never experienced being held back for being a woman. But I know that’s not the case for everyone. I want to show it is possible. And, honestly, sometimes being a woman helps. I can say things that might come across as aggressive from a man. It gives me a different kind of influence.” 

She’s also passionate about bringing more young people into the Dynamics ecosystem. “For a while, the talent pipeline dried up. Microsoft launched the Business Central Talent Program, and we’ve onboarded many through that. AI is attracting younger talent, but many don’t yet understand business processes, as they come straight from university. If we don’t invest in teaching them, we risk a major talent gap.” 

Set the bar high 

So how does Karina stay sharp herself? Running. In hot and humid Atlanta summers, she heads out early in the morning. On July 4th, she ran the Peachtree Road Race for the 10th time. It is the world’s largest 10K event, with over 100,000 people. “It is like a moving street party. Such amazing energy. I’m super competitive, with myself, mostly. Whether it’s business or sports, I always set the bar high.”