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June 4, 2025 · 4 min read timeNitor's Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) team is accustomed to tackling various technical challenges as they provide round-the-clock maintenance services for a diverse array of clients. But how do years of experience on the theatre stage complement a digital professional's expertise when social skills become as important as ensuring operational reliability? Quite profoundly, actually.
"Taking on this new role has added whole new dimensions to my work. There’s been a lot to learn while navigating the pathways between technology and people, while finding the appropriate boundaries for me to operate in."
So says Samu Warinowski, a Site Reliability Engineer and Service Manager at Nitor, whose team is responsible for ensuring the reliability of clients’ technical systems and assorted minor development tasks.
Turku-based Warinowski's client work centres around the development and maintenance of a large-scale logging service. The client operates in the telecommunications field, and the service helps the client’s technical teams store and monitor data, leveraging it for business cases.
Originally, Warinowski began working for the client in a more technical role, but has since stepped into a service manager position as well. This has allowed for a larger scope of interaction with the client, which in turn has imbued Warinowski with a more meaningful and varied day-to-day life as a Digital Engineer.
In his new position, Warinowski has learned to take a step back and focus on broader perspectives and scenarios that can help develop the client's business further. In fact, this new chapter has pulled him somewhat away from the technical context to help him “see the forest from the trees”, as the saying goes. Warinowski has also taken on a more proactive role in dialogue that drives the client's development goals forward.
“For many professionals in technical fields, it may feel more natural to focus on the technical side of client work. Personally, I get a lot out of being able to have my hand in the business and service management aspects as well”, Warinowski emphasises.
A broadened role brings energy to everyday work
Taking on the role of service manager has expanded Warinowski’s responsibilities into new and partially unfamiliar areas. In addition to ensuring the reliability of technical functionalities, his daily work now includes a more social dimension, thanks to closer collaboration with the client's business decision-makers.
“I’m involved in planning budgets and schedules. I also handle production logistics and report our successes and areas of improvement to the client on a monthly basis. Maintaining software from the combined perspective of a business-aware service manager and an SRE has been a truly enjoyable combination. In fact, I feel more energised by my work now that my responsibilities have expanded”, Warinowski notes.
Warinowski's confidence in this expanded role stems from a unique source: stage performance. Warinowski's long experience in theater has proven valuable especially in situations where technically complex solutions need to be communicated in a clear and concise way. Communication skills are particularly useful when translating client needs and challenges into technical execution. In other words, cultivating good communication to build shared understanding – the foundation of any meaningful collaboration.
“Theatre has taught me to handle pressure, communicate, collaborate, and express myself. These skills have proven incredibly valuable in working life, especially now when so much of my work revolves around communication”, Warinowski says.
When colleagues share knowledge, everyone gains
Warinowski describes himself as a lifelong learner, but he emphasises that the most effective learning isn't generally found in books or courses. At Nitor, the greatest benefits come from the work community: to Warinowski, brainstorming with colleagues and team workshops are far more effective than solitary screen time when it comes to learning and applying new skills.
“In terms of learning while working, for me one of the most impactful things at Nitor is how people are given space to learn and strengthen their knowledge in their own way. Some like to focus intensely on specific areas, while others prefer to take a broader, more holistic view. That makes us a diverse work community, where each individual brings their own complement to the whole”, Warinowski continues.
For Warinowski, the best part of working at Nitor is indeed the sharing of knowledge. The foundation of Nitor's community is an exceptionally deep and broad level of expertise, so you can always learn something new from virtually every colleague.
Fostering this trinity of community, understanding, and interaction is a core part of Warinowski’s work – both as a Nitorean, and in his dual role as an SRE and Service Manager.
“At the end of the day, technology is often the easiest part of the equation. Even at its most complex, it’s still just binary: ones and zeros, right or wrong. What makes things truly challenging is always human communication”, Warinowski concludes.
The article series highlights the experiences of Nitoreans in continuous learning as part of their daily customer work. At Nitor, professional growth builds on training, collaborative learning, mentoring, Nitor Core time, and interesting customer projects. This article series stems from a desire to show appreciation for learning while working, the fundamental pillar of everyday professional development.
