Founders, Norwegian Cultural Centre
Picture Anastasia Majestic
Tell us about yourselves, Olga and Jon.
We are partners in every sense of the word—in life, in business, and in vision. Coming from different backgrounds, one Russian and one Norwegian, we blend our strengths to create a life that is driven by passion, purpose, and exploration. We live at the intersection of culture, entrepreneurship, and personal transformation. Whether it’s building a cultural center in Singapore or planning film shoots in Norway, we’re always leaning into the unknown together, with curiosity and courage.
In 2020, you decided on a life-changing journey, relocating from Norway to the other side of the world; Singapore, to be exact. What sparked off this decision?
Singapore had been on our minds ever since our honeymoon there in 2011. The idea never left us, but life kept us rooted —work, children, commitments. By 2019, we realized that our kids would soon begin school, and it felt like now or never. We were also ready for a reset: after years in real estate, we sold everything, including our apartment and all our furniture, packed our suitcases, and leapt. Singapore is the perfect hub for us to travel around Asia with the kids. We wanted to use those years to explore the region more deeply and experience everyday life in different countries while still being based somewhere efficient, inspiring, and internationally connected like Singapore.
Let’s talk about Norwegian Cultural Centre (NCC). What is the main objective of NCC?
The heart of NCC is about cultural exchange. But it actually began from a very real need: after arriving in Singapore in 2020, the global COVID-19 lockdown hit and we suddenly found ourselves stuck, with borders closed. Our kids began speaking more and more English, and we realized we needed to help them maintain their Norwegian language skills.
That’s when we discovered that the long-standing Norwegian School (Norskskolen) in Singapore was about to shut down. We stepped in to help revive it, and out of that momentum, the Norwegian Cultural Center was born. Our aim grew beyond language education—we wanted to create meaningful cultural bridges. Today, NCC hosts language classes, concerts, digital and live events, film production projects, and our own branded art exhibitions called Borderless. It’s about preserving and evolving Nordic identity while connecting it to the world in dynamic and inclusive ways.
In your opinion, how important is it to preserve culture, tradition and language – especially to kids raised in a
different country other than their own?
It’s essential. Culture and language are not just tools for communication—they are vessels of self-worth, memory, and connection. Especially for children raised outside their heritage, anchoring them in where they come from helps them walk more confidently into who they can become. We believe cultural fluency is a superpower in today’s world.
Shall we walk down memory lane? How were your lives before Singapore and NCC?
Jon: Before moving to Singapore, I was doing consultancy work for large companies across Norway, primarily in the infrastructure and oil & gas industry. At the same time, I was building an entrepreneurial path in real estate, especially in Sandefjord, Larvik, and Holmestrand. I also once ventured into a bottled water business between Norway and China—which didn’t work out, but taught me a lot. After nearly two decades in this world, I felt ready for a more global lifestyle and wanted to create something new that merged my business drive with more freedom and meaning.
Olga: I worked as a Flow Assurance Engineer in the oil & gas industry for nearly 10 years. It was a good, stable career and gave me a solid foundation. However, I felt like I had reached the ceiling for my age in that industry and field. It stopped inspiring me. I didn’t want to stay because it has ceased motivating me to develop – so I decided to quit, take a pause, and really think about what path I wanted to choose next. That break became a turning point—it gave me the space to start transitioning into education, creativity, and cultural work, which felt far more aligned with who I truly am.
You have two children, and have decided to let the world be their classroom. Tell us all about that.
Our kids started out in traditional kindergarten, first in Norway and then in Singapore. But when the COVID lockdown happened, everything shut down—including schools—and we suddenly had to entertain and educate them at home. That’s when we built our own learning regime, more out of necessity than planning. Surprisingly, it worked really well for us, and when the schools reopened, we decided not to go back.
We found that homeschooling gave us a unique kind of freedom—freedom to travel, to adjust the pace of learning, and to develop skills we believe are essential for the future. Traditional school systems often feel outdated, and we wanted our children to be guided by curiosity, not just curriculum. With homeschooling, we also avoid negative social environments like bullying and noisy classrooms. Plus, we get to decide what our kids learn, without concerns about bias or outdated narratives. It’s been one of the best lifestyle decisions we’ve made as a family.
How’s life looking these days, Olga and Jon?
We’re in a dynamic season. Every day feels like a mosaic of roles and projects—planning for future expansions, managing investments, and parenting. We also make space for quiet moments, walks, time for yourself and honest conversations. We’re working towards our next big move to Asia later this year, with the long-term goal of living half the year in Asia and half the year in Norway. It’s a lifestyle we feel deeply aligned with—balancing family, work, and exploration across two places we love. We’re scaling our businesses in a way that supports this freedom while giving us space to grow creatively and professionally.
What’s next for Olga and Jon Vikan? Any new projects coming up?
One of the most exciting developments lately has been the unexpected growth of our line producer business within the Norwegian Cultural Center. What started as a side offering has quickly evolved into something we’re genuinely enthusiastic about. Over the past 2.5 years, we’ve also completed more than 20 projects together with our trusted partner, Shahroz Ali Khan in India. This collaboration has become a key part of our momentum, and we’re genuinely excited about continuing to grow in other countries in Asia. We’ve been attending major international film festivals like the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Berlinale, and are now preparing for Cannes next month and hopefully Busan Film Festival in autumn.
Another exciting initiative on the horizon is a confirmed collaboration with the CEPA Foundation to host a visiting group from Oklahoma State University in Oslo. We’re crafting a tailored cultural program that includes a presentation about the Norwegian Cultural Center, a discussion on sustainability and Norwegian values, and potentially a culinary tasting experience. It’s a beautiful opportunity to share what we do with future global leaders while building bridges between education, sustainability, and culture.
In January this year, Nordic Minds was established as a spin-off from the Norwegian Cultural Center to continue our language classes. The vision for Nordic Minds goes beyond that—it will also serve as a platform for courses aimed at children that fall outside the standard school curriculum. This initiative grows directly out of our homeschooling experience, which has been so rewarding and impactful that we felt a strong desire to share it with others. We’re developing classes in areas like private finance, personal branding, mindset, source criticism, nutrition for a healthy body, and more.
Beyond that, we’re involved in a few other creative and entrepreneurial projects, but it’s still early days—so we’ll wait until things are more concrete before revealing too much. As always, we’re driven by curiosity and a desire to build with both purpose and freedom.
How can our readers get in touch with Norwegian Cultural Center?
The easiest way is through our website or social media. We love when people reach out and as a private company, we can act quickly and flexibly, and we’re always open to new inquiries or collaborations.
We believe great things start with simple conversations. If you’re in Singapore, you’re also welcome to join our monthly event, Lønningspils—a casual and social gathering for friends of Norway to connect and share stories.
Favorite book genre
Olga: I love classic romantic novels (“Pride and Prejudice” is the best) and self development reading.
Jon: I like biographies and books that blend spirituality with entrepreneurship. Anything that helps me expand my worldview.
Best book you’ve read this year
Olga: “Reality Transurfing” by Vadim Zeland – it’s a book that completely shifted the way I look at how we create our life.
Jon: I agree, that’s a book that really changes your perception of reality.
The last music you downloaded
Olga: I’m into Asian music—Korean, Japanese, and Chinese pop and hip hop. My latest discovery is a song from Tibetan artist called ANU – “Fly”. This song is such a powerful mix of folk influences, modern sound, and inspiring lyrics.
Jon: I still gravitate toward EDM, but lately I’ve been really into new EDM tracks with Arabic and desert vibes. It gives a fresh and energizing twist to my usual playlists.
The music that changed everything for you
Jon: Ehrling – Swedish tropical house. It brings in a carefree and uplifting energy I really enjoy.
Olga: G-Dragon – ‘”Untitled, 2014”
Things you’ll always have in your fridge
We have a pretty constant supply of basic ingredients like fruits, vegetables, bread, spreads like cheese (including Norwegian Brunost), ham, and smoked salmon, and yoghurt. Wherever we are in the world, we tend to keep these staples the same. We also subscribe to a matkasse (meal kit) service whenever possible for dinners—or eat out if it fits our schedule.
Morning routine
Our mornings are slow and intentional. We always start the day with a fresh cup of coffee and long, deep conversations about insights, vision, and goals. It’s a grounding ritual that sets the tone for everything else. The rest of the morning routine can vary, but starting together in presence and clarity is our anchor.
A typical day for Olga and Jon
No two days are alike, but they usually include creative work, project planning and follow up, some form of exercise, and shared family time. Our days are intentionally built around energy, not the clock. Weekdays are more structured—we begin our workday and homeschooling around 9 a.m.—but weekends are flexible.
What have you come to appreciate the last 2 years
Freedom, flexibility, and the magic of small steps. Also, discomfort as a signal that we’re growing.
Definition of success to you
Doing work that feels aligned, while living a life we don’t need a vacation from.
Biggest inspiration comes from
Travel, mindset, and visionary people who think big and outside the box.
One gadget you can’t do without
Olga: My iPad with iPencil—I love handwriting, journaling, and sketching.
Jon: Definitely my phone. I use it constantly for WhatsApp and email to stay on top of projects and communication.
Together: We both love our AirPods – because music is important for us
Country you can’t wait to go back to
Singapore!!
Favorite podcast(s)
Jon: I enjoy listening to the Norwegian podcast “Misjonen” with Antonsen and Golden.
Olga: I am not into podcasts.
Something you’ve recently discovered
That the more we simplify, the more present we become—and the more clearly we can hear and trust our sacral response. Being aware in the moment and guided by that inner truth creates space for what truly matters.
Philosophy in life
Olga: You never know until you give it a try.
Jon: Everything always works out some way or another—you just have to take the first step.
Your style icon
Olga: When it comes to dressing style, I admire Olivia Palermo. But when it comes to lifestyle, I consider myself my own icon.
Jon: I have people who inspire me but they’re not icons
Best things about Norway and Singapore
Norway gives us silence, nature, clean air and water, and deep roots. Singapore gives us motion, opportunity, warm stable weather, cosines, and greenery—plus it’s an incredibly convenient hub for travel across Asia. We love how both places support different parts of our lifestyle and values. And on a side note – neither of the places are troubled with traffic jams.
Favorite movie
Olga: I’ve been watching a lot of Asian cinema lately, and one of my recent favorites is “I, Myself” from Taiwan—such a touching and deep self reflection movie.
Jon: A film that really elevates and inspires me is The Imitation Game—a powerful story about vision, courage, and
changing the world by thinking differently.
What’s in your glass and plate for cocktail hour
Olga: I used to enjoy a Bellini, but lately I’m not very fond of alcohol. On the plate, I love tapas—small, flavorful bites that invite sharing.
Jon: A good cognac paired with cheese is my go-to for cocktail hour.
An indulgence you’ll never forgo
Travelling
Work of an artist you collect (or would collect if you could)
We already have several cherished paintings by Jon’s uncle, and we’re also into NFTs—compact, meaningful, and easy to bring with us wherever we go. We’d love to expand that collection.
