• Danoffice IT
  • ESG

Balance in the industry and balance in the workplace. At Danoffice IT, we work tirelessly on our ESG goal to achieve a better gender balance both within our own organization and the industry as a whole.

Therefore, we have launched an initiative to put powerful women in the spotlight through a series of biographies through which these women will share their respective journeys to a career in the IT industry. The next woman up is our Export Compliance Manager & Anti-Bribery Compliance Officer, Carina Lauridsen Mehanovic, who has gone from a one-person role to establishing a strategic department at Danoffice IT.

A Clear Direction In Complexity

When you step into Carina’s work universe, you enter a landscape of regulations, international requirements, and shifting global conditions. This is where she thrives. Not because the complexity is low, but because she is driven by the ability to translate it into something that makes sense to others.

After more than six years at Danoffice IT, Carina has built a strong business understanding and a sharp eye for how to best support colleagues as they navigate requirements that can feel both heavy and highly technical. She does not seek to simplify the world, but to make it workable. “I would never just show up and say, ‘You can’t do this.’ My approach is to understand the processes, understand the need, and find the solution that is both responsible and practically achievable. For me, it’s about creating security, clarity, and direction. And about ensuring that Danoffice IT not only complies with requirements, but does so in a way that supports the business.”

Creating Solutions – Never Barriers

One of the most common misconceptions about compliance is that it’s the department that says no. But in Carina’s work, the goal is quite the opposite. She and her team work closely with the sales organization, delivery teams, and customers to find the solutions that make it possible to operate safely and efficiently across borders.

“You often encounter prejudices or misunderstandings about Compliance, where many think: ‘Oh no, they’re the ones who always say no or show up to point out all the mistakes.’ But that’s not how I see it. We strive to be the ones who help create a yes—the ones who help open doors for the business so we can move forward in a trustworthy and secure way.”
- Export Compliance Manager & Anti-Bribery Compliance Officer, Carina Lauridsen Mehanovic,

MyRoadToIT

 

Together with the campaign in the IT industry called MyRoadToIT, our series of mini biographies is centered around 3 standard questions to which women in the Danish IT industry provide their unique responses. Here are the “three standards” for Cate:

 

 – What do you do in the business these days and which difference do you feel you contribute to?

Carina heads the Compliance team at Danoffice IT, where everything from export control, sanctions, GDPR and anti‑corruption to quality assurance and risk assessments lands on her desk. Her role is to make complex legislation understandable, applicable, and practical for the entire organization. As Team Lead in Compliance, Carina enables both the organization and individual employees to navigate safely within a global regulatory landscape.
“My team and I translate complex regulations into practical processes that create security and momentum — in customer collaborations, contract negotiations, and delivery chains. What matters most to me is that legal requirements don’t become an everyday roadblock, but something my colleagues experience as manageable, because we are ready with guidance and a clear overview.”

 

 – Why do you find it interesting to work in the IT industry and what motivates you in your work?

For Carina, the IT industry is exciting because it is global, fast‑moving, and critical to both security and development. “Since the war in Ukraine, sanctions and risks have become significantly more complex — and therefore more relevant. IT can be sensitive and potentially dangerous in the wrong hands. So being part of ensuring that our products are only used responsibly gives great meaning to my workday.” Her motivation also comes from the collaboration with colleagues and the many small and large successes throughout everyday work.

 

– How did you end up in the IT industry?

Carina’s path into IT was almost accidental. She originally thought she would end up working in sales, but an unsolicited application to Danoffice IT ended up shaping her entire career. She started in Procurement, where parts of the export-related work were handled, and shortly after, she was pulled out to help build a dedicated compliance function. Back then, she was on her own — today, they are a team of four. “I didn’t know much about export control before I was suddenly working with it. But it made so much sense, and I quickly found my place.”

From The Only Woman In The Room To a Leading Professional Voice

When Carina first joined Danoffice IT, she was often the only woman in the room when presenting her cases to top management. Today, Carina sees far greater diversity, and the impact is positive — and she does not perceive gender as a barrier.
But if more women are to enter the industry, Carina believes role models at the top are essential.
“Having more women in senior leadership makes a huge difference. You need someone you can mirror yourself in.”
Her advice to young women: “You don’t need to be technical to work in IT. You just need to be curious and ready to learn.”

A Journey Shaped By Professional Pride

Carina is particularly proud of the transformation the compliance function has undergone:
from a one‑person role to a strategic department working in an advisory, preventive, and value‑creating way.“I’m proud of the entire journey — both my own and our shared development as a team and as a company.”

Did You Find Carina’s Experiences Interesting?

Be sure to also read about Henriette Normann‑Ekegren’s journey as ESG Manager at Danoffice IT in “Women in DOIT #1.”

You can also learn about Cate Omelchenko — an inspiring story about her journey from Ukraine to Danoffice IT in Ballerup.

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