Innovations and development

‘As Lead Developer, I can both get my hands dirty and take a step back to look at the big picture,’ says Erno Mononen of his role at OP.

Having previously researched the most microscopic parts of our universe at the University of Helsinki, particle physicist Terhi Järvinen decided to jump over to OP as a Data Scientist after finishing her PhD. She currently works in the money laundering prevention unit at OP, where analysing and interpreting data play an important role.

Agile Coach Ari-Pekka Skarp came to OP recently, promptly diving into the middle of a major organisational reform. Since the outset of 2019, Mr Skarp has been an integral part of OP’s transformation towards an organisation-wide agile mode of operation.

You have probably often heard of an agile teams succeeding in its goals and achieving great results. Hardly ever does anyone hear the full story of the long list of trials before the final success.

“Coding is what I love and want to do,” says Antti Laitala, Lead Developer at OP Lab Oulu, to sum up his passion for the craft.

For Tiina Seppänen, Test Specialist at OP Design & Software, professional drive has always been guided by an engaged approach to work as part of a competent and multi-talented team.

“Over a million people use a service I have participated in developing. Looking at it that way, it is quite incredible,” Lead Developer Mikko Koskinen sums up his thoughts on his first project in the role.

“In my career development, the biggest role has been played by the teams I have had around me. I've been very fortunate to have been surrounded by competent people,” Tuomas Tohkoja says, commending the colleagues he has been working with over his years at OP.

“OP has this special gift that you do not need to get stuck in a specific area, but you always have versatile options to choose from. Banking, insurance and asset management services and the internal development work offer something to do for everyone,” says Juha Hänninen, who works as Scrum Master at OP's Design & Software Unit.

“I had the kind of itch that this would be something great,” says service designer Natalie Söderlund, thinking back to how she felt three years ago, when she began working at OP and started to promote design thinking in the house.

“OP carries out a large number of tangible projects through to the end. It motivates me that our work reaches customers and is published,” says Marko Kyröläinen, who works as a technical product owner at OP Design & Software, summing up the rewarding nature of his work.

“The story presented to me, with all of its challenges, sounded so interesting that I decided to embrace it,” says a good-humoured Tomi Nurmi, summing up the precise reason he decided to accept the role he was offered as a test automation product owner.

Juhani Koskinen, 26, joined OP just shy of one year ago. Mr Koskinen is one of more than thirty Data Scientists at OP, known collectively also as Financial Intelligence. Mr Koskinen chose his current career in data science out of a belief in changing the world through data. In his work at OP, he is able to combine his interests in productised data analytics, software development, and the development of work skills for the future. An industrious man, Mr Koskinen is also in the process of launching his own business and has arranged for a four-day workweek at OP.

‘Right now, I’m working on the most important project of my career. To me, it’s important that I can help all user groups be acknowledged equally in the planning and design of digital services,’ says UX Designer, Chapter Lead Heli Jeskanen of her work with OP Accessible, and on topics related to accessibility in general.