From Student Assistant to CEO and Co-Owner: Anita Larsen Celebrates 20 Years with IPW Systems
Anita Larsen, the public face of IPW Systems in Kolding, celebrates two decades of dedication to people and technological development. She values strong professional networks and local academic ties every bit as much as her love for Kolding.
There’s got to be an easier way to do this.” For 20 years, that’s been Anita Larsen’s mantra while working in the complex world of compliance systems.
Anita is a powerhouse who gets things done. Once a student assistant, she now heads up IPW Systems—an IT frontrunner in quality management software.
Even as compliance demands and ISO certifications place increasing pressure on companies, Anita is determined not to overcomplicate things.
“I’m a solution-oriented fixer which is a tricky balance in our field, because yes—there are strict rules. So how do you make the complex simple? That’s the real challenge.”
Luckily, she doesn’t face that challenge alone. She and her two equal partners at IPW each oversee different areas of the business—and actively use one another for feedback and supervision.
“It’s a privilege to work in a partnership where we complement each other so well. It means I effectively have the benefit of a board as well as internal sparring. My involvement in external networks has also been vital to my development as a leader.”
About Anita
- 46 years old and mother of two boys aged 9 and 14
- Born and raised in Varde, lives in Kolding
- Holds a Master of Science in IT (Cand.it)
- CEO and co-owner of IPW Systems, employing 51 people
- Celebrates her 20-year anniversary with IPW Systems on 1 June 2025—18 of those years as the company’s CEO
- Learn more at ipwsystems.com
Strong links to local higher education
Networking also plays a big role in attracting new talent to IPW. While the IT industry often struggles with recruitment, IPW has managed to independently find the right profiles.
“We occasionally use local headhunters, but rarely for tech roles. It helps that Kolding serves quite a large area and isn’t in direct competition with Odense or Aarhus. That said, we do put in serious effort to stay connected with local educational institutions.”
Supporting student life and expanding higher education opportunities in Kolding—particularly in STEM and IT—is a personal cause Anita continues to champion. She also pursues this through her role as Vice Chair of Business Kolding.
“At IPW, we have many apprentices, interns, and student assistants, because we have to be our own talent pipeline. One recent example is an intern who discovered us through Business Kolding’s internship portal while preparing her move from Aalborg—she’s now a full-time consultant with us.”
A pricey lottery ticket
It was her education that first brought Anita to Kolding—despite her rural West Jutland upbringing, where pursuing higher education was rare. During that time, she worked part-time at IPW—even as she finished her master’s degree in Aarhus.
“In the spring of 2005, I was offered a full-time position after graduation. In fact, I had three job offers on hand, but I chose IPW—and from there, things moved fast. I handed in my thesis on a Friday, bought a car Saturday, and started work Monday. Safe to say, I hit the ground running.”
At the time, the company consisted of two owners, one developer—and Anita Larsen. She initially worked as a sales and implementation consultant, but when she asked for a CEO to help bring more structure, the board offered her the job instead.
“I definitely didn’t see that one coming. I was 27 and green as grass, but I said yes—on the condition that the chairman of the board would mentor me and that my business card wouldn’t say CEO. He agreed, and turned out to be a great support during that first period.”
A few years later, Anita was offered co-ownership.
“I think they saw it as a smart way to keep me around. I remember talking to my dad about buying what might turn out to be a very expensive lottery ticket—but at least it was one where I had some say in the outcome.”
Full speed ahead—while staying grounded
As IPW has grown rapidly in recent years, Anita’s role has become more strategic. Still, she remains closely connected to customers by facilitating IPW’s popular peer groups.
“I like those direct relationships—they help me stay in touch with the market. But I still care deeply about daily operations. That’ll probably never change.”
As the company expands, Anita has also taken on the role of cultural leader.
“It’s a challenge to maintain our flat structure. My door is always open, but I sense that especially new employees don’t quite see me as ‘one of them.’ I hold a different kind of power—even if I don’t feel it myself, I know it’s there.”
Here too, Anita has strong support from her co-owners and the entire IPW team.
“Looking ahead, I see us becoming a market leader in compliance systems within a few years and across several countries. We have no ambitions to be the biggest, but I’m confident we can be the best.”
