The Journey from intern to owner.
Some careers are carefully planned. Others begin with curiosity.
When Isabella Rask Nygaard joined RHANDERS as an intern in 2019 during her studies, she had no idea she was taking the first step on a journey that would one day lead her to become Chief Operating Officer (COO) and co-owner of one of Denmark's oldest luxury houses.
Isabella grew up in an entrepreneurial family, where building and running a business was never simply a profession – it was a way of life. From an early age, she witnessed the dedication, perseverance and sense of responsibility required to create something that lasts. She understands that great companies are not built overnight, but through thousands of small decisions, courageous choices and a constant desire to make things just a little better every day.
Perhaps that is why she immediately felt at home at RHANDERS.
She found a company where craftsmanship, quality and heritage are valued above quick solutions. A place where tradition and innovation are not opposites, but essential partners. Where a brand with more than 350 years of heritage continues to find its place in a modern world.
After completing her internship, Isabella chose to stay with RHANDERS.
Over time, greater responsibilities were entrusted to her. It began with smaller projects before expanding to retail operations, customer experience, e-commerce, finance, production and the company's day-to-day operations. With every new challenge, both her role and the trust placed in her continued to grow.
Today, Isabella serves as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and co-owner of RHANDERS.
Her journey reflects one of the company's core beliefs: ownership is not defined by family ties or titles, but by commitment, integrity and the willingness to take responsibility. At RHANDERS, partnerships are built on trust.
Together with RHANDERS' Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and owner, Rina Hansen, Isabella forms the company's executive leadership.
While Rina is responsible for the overall direction of the company, its creative vision and long-term development, Isabella leads the day-to-day operations and continued business development of the company – from retail and people management to digital customer experiences, operational excellence and channel growth.
Together, they represent two generations, two complementary strengths and one shared ambition:
To preserve RHANDERS' cultural heritage and uncompromising craftsmanship while continuing to evolve for generations to come.
For Isabella, RHANDERS quickly became more than a workplace. It became a place where she could help build something greater than herself. A place where trust grew into responsibility, and responsibility, over time, became co-ownership.
Images courtesy of Randers Amtsavis.
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Meet Rina Hansen, CEO and owner of RHANDERS.