From building integrations to seeing the bigger picture
I joined Solita as an Integration Specialist, focusing more on developing individual integrations in Azure. After a while, I felt I knew how to build the smaller pieces and wanted to take the next step.
Today, I work as an Integration Architect, specialising in Azure. My role covers everything from how customers should build integrations and set up their Azure environments to networking, development, automation, and integration design.
One of the biggest changes in my role has been moving from focusing on my own piece of the puzzle to looking at the whole picture. My job is now often to make sure that the developers on my team can work efficiently and that we deliver the best possible result together.
I also enjoy the combination of technology and the business behind it. A big part of my work is understanding what the customer is trying to achieve and translating those business requirements into technical solutions.
The best part of consulting is learning about the business
One of the things I enjoy most about being a consultant is getting to work with different customers and understand how their businesses work. At the moment, I work with customers in different industries, including real estate and transport infrastructure. The technical integration needs are often surprisingly similar across industries, while the business context can be very different.
I really enjoy the variety in consulting. I’m constantly learning about new technologies and how different organisations work. You get to take things you’ve learned from one customer and apply them in a completely different context.
Impact means giving customers peace of mind
One of the best signs that we have done a good job is when the customer doesn’t have to think about what we are doing. They should be able to trust the solution and focus on what they are experts in, while we focus on what we do best. If we can free up their time and give them peace of mind, that is a meaningful impact.
I also enjoy seeing the wider impact of the work. Earlier in my career at Solita, I worked with a major recycling company. It was rewarding to know that the technology we were working on could help make the recycling business more efficient and profitable.
Now that I have reached a more senior position, there is another kind of impact that I really enjoy: helping colleagues grow. Seeing someone else develop and succeed is one of the fun parts of my role.
You don’t have to know everything to take the next step
One thing that has supported my own growth at Solita is the culture of trying things even when you don’t know everything yet. When I took on my first larger architecture assignment, I knew I could do it, but I also knew I didn’t have all the answers. What made it possible was knowing that I had good colleagues behind me if I needed help.
You don’t have to be an expert in everything. Nobody can be. Knowing that you can ask for support makes it easier to take on something that is slightly outside your comfort zone.
There is a real eagerness to help and assist others. Even when people are busy, you know you can reach out and they will try to help if they can. Even if someone is extremely experienced in a particular area, it isn’t intimidating to approach them with a question.
I see the same thing in our everyday knowledge sharing. There is a lot going on in our Slack channels, with people sharing tips, ideas, and things they have been trying out. There are also info sessions where colleagues share what they are currently working on.
Instead of a career ladder, we talk about a career landscape
At Solita, there isn’t a fixed career ladder where you automatically move into a certain role after a certain number of years. Instead, we talk about a career landscape.
That means you have to think about what you actually want to do and how that fits with the roles and opportunities available. Your People Lead can help you with that conversation, but you have a lot of responsibility for designing your own career.
Curiosity is important because technology keeps changing. You need to be open to learning and adapting as new technologies and skills become relevant. But technical curiosity isn’t enough. We are a technology company, but we aren’t selling technology for the sake of technology. We are solving customer problems and creating business value.
That means being able to talk to people who aren’t technical, understand what they are trying to achieve, and figure out where technology can actually help.
Making real friends at work
One of my favourite projects at Solita was one of my first. I started out more as a Developer, and the project was a large Azure integration initiative that we built from scratch. There were four of us working closely together, with colleagues from different Solita offices. I ended up working on the project for around four years, so we had a long journey together.
What made it special wasn’t just the technology. We learned a lot together, and everyone in the team developed during those years. We worked very closely and shared knowledge, but we also built personal relationships. Now I’m good friends with the people I met through that project.
Getting away from the screen
Outside work, I’m currently quite into endurance sports, especially road cycling and running. I’m part of a cycling club in Gothenburg, and a lot of my free time goes into cycling at the moment. I’ve also managed to bring together a cycling group at the Gothenburg office!
Another thing I like is working with my hands. I have renovated my kitchen, and I’ve always enjoyed building and fixing things.
I like spending time outdoors too, whether that means hiking, skiing further north in Sweden, or just being outside. I like my computer and I like my work. But when I’m not working, I try to get away from the screen.
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