The Digital Engineers of Nitor: Software Developer Marion knows the strength of a close-knit work community

Hiya Marion! How are you? Can you give an overview of your typical work week?

I’m doing very well, thanks for asking! We are keeping busy with my client, and a recent addition to my daily routine has been dealing with buying a house. There’s a lot going on, but I feel great, and work is going well.

I usually spend a few days of the week on-site with the client, and the rest of the time I’m here at Nitor’s office. I rarely work remotely as I enjoy being around people. Aside from work, I keep active with hobbies like crossfit and weightlifting. I also make time to relax with board games and video games. All this helps keep the mind rejuvenated. 

That sounds like a nice balance! You’ve been with Nitor since 2022. Could you tell us a bit about your career background?

Before Nitor, I worked on IoT software for industrial applications. The work wasn’t vastly different from what I do at Nitor, but project company employees usually work under the same roof rather than client sites.

Before joining Nitor, I’d heard some cautionary tales about life at consulting firms; people either work closely with their designated client or toil away on their lonesome. I heard concerns that colleagues might not be as tightly knit as in a project company where people share a workspace. So, the biggest surprise when I arrived at Nitor was how strong the sense of community here is.

How does that sense of community come through in your daily work?

Nitoreans understand how important it is to foster a sense of togetherness, as we’re often deeply involved in client projects and frequently work at client offices. We have a lot of Slack channels where people talk about the most in-depth tech topics and things completely unrelated to work. That has made it easy for me to dive into new topics and get to know people. It was a treat to realise that I’d gotten to know many colleagues quite deeply even before we’d had a chance to meet in person.

It is highly important to Nitor that people have opportunities to gather together under the same roof, whether it’s for work-related monthly meetings or just for team holiday parties or Halloween gatherings. Nitoreans are active in organising events for both clients and colleagues, which helps maintain a positive atmosphere and strengthens our sense of community.

Marion is a fullstack developer with skills ranging from accessibility in the frontend to managing complex business logic in the backend. She is unafraid to step up to any challenge and responsibility, and is a beacon of positivity in our team.

- Erkki Pulliainen, Chief Information Officer

Truly sounds like an amazing group of people. In your view, what defines a Nitor Digital Engineer?

When I joined the fray, I knew Nitor had highly skilled people from a wide range of backgrounds, but even so, the amount of expertise was a surprise. Nitor’s Digital Engineers are always striving to enhance their knowledge and help colleagues grow. For clients, it means working with experts who are constantly striving to develop their skill sets. When you think of a Digital Engineer, you might conjure an image of a code-crunching superstar tapping away in isolation, and skill-wise, that’s somewhat accurate. But to me, the best thing about Nitoreans is people’s openness and interpersonal skills.

A Digital Engineer should have plenty of experience with various technologies and projects, while striving to share knowledge with others. How this manifests at Nitor is that you never have to face challenges or problems alone. I particularly appreciate that our timesheet system includes an entry option titled Helping Others. Helping colleagues isn’t just a secondary task whisked away to the side; it’s been elevated to be an essential part of our work. Psychologically, that’s really important.

That’s an excellent addition! How does this sense of community make Nitor a better consulting firm in your opinion?

People are encouraged to develop themselves and their skills here, as well as share their knowledge with other Nitoreans. It’s true that we have a house full of top-tier digital professionals with a wealth of knowledge across various fields. Everyone is always ready to share their expertise and help colleagues, which enhances the skills of the entire company. Embedded in Nitor’s work ethic is the understanding that knowledge doesn’t just magically appear into one’s mind – people need opportunities to delve into new areas and develop their skills. In turn, that also imbues people with a greater sense of confidence when tackling clients’ challenges.

Thanks to Nitor Core, 10 percent of work time can be allotted to individual skill and knowledge development, and sharing the results of those experiences benefits the whole company. This organisation truly invests in opportunities for people to grow, and I find that very meaningful. It’s also a great benefit for our clients.

What qualities stand out to you in your fellow Digital Engineers?

Especially people’s courage to delve deeper. Digital Engineers are willing to push the boundaries of their comfort zones. We don’t get stuck in what’s familiar and safe but aim to approach things without prejudice.

Nitoreans share a mindset that we are never fully formed as individuals. While everyone takes pride in their expertise, there’s always a desire to learn more. Interpersonal skills also play a big role, as openness not only improves the work community and client experience, but also cultivates higher-quality development. This, of course, translates to higher-quality products and solutions for our clients.

When knowledge flows freely and people can openly offer new perspectives and ideas, it often leads to innovative ways to advance projects and complete tasks. We can also extend the best parts of Nitor’s work culture to our clients, so that alongside our ample technical expertise we can offer new tools to avenues like internal communication.

How did it feel to share Nitor’s sense of community on camera?

Honestly, just the thought of going in front of a camera was terrifying. But when I was asked to participate, I remember thinking that this was exactly the kind of situation where I’d be stepping outside my comfort zone. It’s something I always tell others: go do things that feel a bit uncomfortable or a bit too exciting. I knew it was a chance for me to grow.

I remember my blood pressure was through the roof, and I probably lost 50 years off my life during that day of filming. But the feeling of accomplishment after giving it my all and completing the task with pride… It was a great experience that I gained a lot from.

Well done pushing the comfort zone! Thanks, Marion!

Thank you!

In this campaign, we’ll introduce Nitoreans in different roles. Every Nitorean is a Digital Engineer: a pragmatic and solution-oriented helper who doesn’t settle for assumptions. Instead, they take one step further to seek the right questions and even better answers.