Niko Jääskeläinen joins Columbia Road

Hi Niko, How did you get good at what you do?

I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Business and IT in Haaga-Helia with a focus on software development and service design. I also started working in a small software boutique during my studies which helped me gain lots of extra knowledge which I didn’t learn as part of my degree. We developed solutions for small to medium-sized businesses with close cooperation and kept the processes open and transparent with the clients. 

Where have you earned your spurs?

I got a grip of the basics of web development at university and continued to expand my skills in the workplace. I’ve worked on full-stack projects and have participated in all the different parts of a project lifecycle, from validating an idea with user interviews and insight gathering to maintaining an existing solution. Seeing my work through is extremely rewarding, and I hope to continue that at Columbia Road.

Why Columbia Road?

I came across Columbia Road’s culture book by accident and decided to read it out of curiosity, and it really left me with a positive impression. I liked how at Columbia Road the people are prioritised, and they’re encouraged to learn and take responsibility for their progression. I am also interested in expanding my skillset and knowing that in Columbia Road technology is used as a means to help improve businesses gives me that opportunity to learn how to use it effectively too.

Eero, what will make our clients love Niko?

“Niko is very pragmatic, and always makes sure he fully understands our client’s needs in order to help them in the best way possible. He wants to make sure his work creates excellent value for the client. Something which stands out about Niko is his genuine care for the customers whom he works with, and his excellent manner of communication with them. His skills are diverse, from full-stack development to knowledge and experience in service design as well as an eye for implementing visually pleasing user interfaces,” says Eero Martela, General Manager at Columbia Road.

What makes your heart beat a little faster?

The gym! It’s rewarding to see numbers go up as I keep progressing, even with small increments over time. Any progress is good progress, and it’s about consistency and commitment. I never skip leg day! I’m also fond of cooking and trying out different recipes from all around the world. Pasta dishes are my favourites so far.

How would you fancy working alongside Niko at Columbia Road? We're constantly looking for new skilful and nice people to join our crew! Take a peek at our open positions 👇