Hi everyone!
My name is Ivan and I am a full-stack developer. I work across our apps and web services, bringing new features to life and ensuring that everything runs smoothly. If you have used any of our products, especially the newer ones, there is a good chance I had a hand in building them. So far it’s been an incredible journey, and I’m excited to keep pushing the boundaries of what we create.
Building Impactful Products: A Culture of Ownership and Collaboration
I moved to the UK from Finland back in 2019 and have been with Sipcentric, and later Simwood, ever since. Even though I had not done anything related to SIP and telecoms before joining, I was instantly drawn to it, and honestly, it was probably one of the best decisions of my life.
I instantly fell in love with the team and work environment. From day one, I was encouraged to take ownership and contribute to decision-making. I felt like I was actually making an impact on the final product and contributing to it in a meaningful way. I was also really glad to see these values fully transition when we merged with Simwood (and I’m sure the closeness of values was a major reason that made the merger possible in the first place!).
If you check the other blogs from my coworkers, you will notice a common thread – everyone shares the same passion, dedication and sense of belonging. Charles, our CTO and my manager, is more than just a colleague – he is a true mentor and a leader. He has always been there for me, not just professionally, but also personally, offering guidance, support and encouragement whenever I’ve needed it.
I have tried to think of a great example that would capture what it means to work in Simwood, but choosing one just feels insufficient to truly convey it. So I’ll do my best to explain it as clearly as possible below.
Tech, Flexibility, and Freedom: Thriving at Simwood
In my day to day I work in a wide variety of areas and technologies – from frontend and backend to mobile and desktop, and even AI! One thing to mention is the amount of freedom and autonomy I have – as someone who is a night owl, it is great that I can work at times that suit me rather than having to stick to traditional hours. Maintaining a healthy work life balance is not just accepted, it is actually actively encouraged.
One of the biggest ways I take advantage of this flexibility is through remote work. Being able to work from anywhere allows me to structure my day in a way that maximizes productivity while still making time for personal interests. Whether it’s going for a midday walk, taking breaks to study Japanese, or even sometimes traveling without disrupting my workflow, this level of autonomy makes a huge difference in both my well-being and efficiency.
In terms of technology, we use a wide range of cutting-edge tools to build and scale our products. From technologies such as React and Typescript for our front-end and NodeJS for our back-end, which allows us to be both agile and efficient, to more recently building proofs of concept using the latest AI technologies, we are levelling up our products to ensure we are delivering the best for our customers. The flexibility and freedom we have to experiment with different technologies keeps things exciting and allows us to keep improving.
Beyond Code: My Hobbies and Passions
Innovation is at the core of what we do at Simwood. We are constantly exploring new technologies, approaches, and methods. Of course, there’s also a fair amount of bug fixing, refactoring, and modernizing, but there are also plenty of new and exciting projects, each offering opportunities to learn and grow.
And I love learning — not just in tech and programming but also in languages, math, sciences, history… There are far too many subjects I’m interested in to list here! I have many hobbies (some might say too many), but my main passion right now is the Japanese language and culture. I enjoy both the pop side – like manga, anime, and music (I recently discovered a love for Japanese EDM and eurobeat after many years as a metalhead), as well as more traditional aspects, such as history, art and customs.
I also play the guitar and recently picked up drawing again (something I hadn’t done since middle school). And while I don’t game as much as I used to, I still enjoy playing video games from time to time — though in the past, I spent an unspeakable amount of hours on games like Counter-Strike and Dota!
Connection to Company Values or Vision
A common question I frequently hear is “Where do you see yourself in five years?”, and while I’m not sure if I will be living in the same place or even the same country, one thing I do know for certain is where I want to work – right here.
Simwood truly cares about its employees and values them. Unfortunately, in today’s world it;s not uncommon for companies to see their employees as not much more than numbers, but that’s not the case here. The culture of trust, autonomy, and genuine appreciation for the team makes all the difference. I cannot put into words how grateful I am to be part of such an incredible team.
It’s rare to find a place where you can truly connect with the values of the company and feel genuinely supported in both your professional and personal growth. At Simwood, that connection is real. I’m excited to continue contributing to our shared vision and look forward to the incredible things we will accomplish together.
