“Passion drives us forward year after year.” CEO Joanna Hoffren, e-Sollertis Oy

Passion drives me forward year after year

I graduated from university in 2009 with a Master’s degree in Computer Science. I had no idea what I would do, but I especially enjoyed developing processes during my studies. In January 2010, I wrote a job application letter to a company that provides data center services. I said I wanted to develop their processes. The letter hit the right spot – and now, 15 years later, I still work for the same employer, as the CEO of e-Sollertis Oy.

I have seen the pain points of growth up close. Our company once grew 780% in one financial year. There was quite a bit of turbulence a couple of years after that. The IT industry is changing rapidly, and the growth has also been offset by adapting to the new world.

Passion for work drives me forward year after year. Without it, I wouldn’t have made it through those years. Without passion, no new products or innovations would have been created. Passion is when you want to offer the best possible service to the customer with the resources available. It is when you create solutions for customers without counting the hours – and you study year after year so that you can always offer better.

One of the most amazing years was 2017, when I hired my friend and founded the Diginaiset brand under Sollertis. Through that, we started offering digital marketing services. We got an enthusiastic group together and made a bunch of videos on social media – including our yoga with old modems. Several customers said that they were waiting for our videos because they made them feel so good. The best comment was from a customer who said: “Joanna, you know that we all want to be digital women.”

Kainuu is calling IT women

I am from Kuopio. When I first stayed in a cottage in the Kuhmo countryside, I felt like I had come home. The wild and rugged nature of Kuhmo attracted me again and again. When I was expecting my child, I decided to leave city life behind. To make this possible, we introduced new ways of working in the company, including building work teams and developing a functioning remote work culture.

Nowadays, I mainly work remotely from my home office. Remote work is made possible by the fact that all systems are accessible via an encrypted connection and the company’s operating processes are uniform for the entire staff. The flow of information in the company is ensured by weekly team meetings and virtual afternoon coffees. Although remote work works great, it is also nice to see people face to face – that is why I regularly visit our Kuopio office.

The good thing about Kuhmo is that in a small town you can find everything you need for everyday life. I feel that my child’s needs are also taken into account very well here. Kuhmo is a safe environment for a child to grow up. Nature has brought amazing encounters over the years – I have met a bear and a beaver, watched a lynx run across the ice and seen a moose swim across a lake. There is a magic in those moments that you can’t experience in the city.

If you want, you can take a peek at more of my life through my Älykodin avaimet blog.

Text and photos:
Joanna Hoffren
CEO
e-Sollertis Oy