From a Developer to The CEO of Metosin

In this episode, we sit down with Valtteri Harmainen, the CEO of Metosin, to explore his unconventional journey into the world of technology and leadership. You might remember Valtteri from his talk at ClojuTRE, where he shared how he "created his own Clojure job". We delve into his early life in Finland, his accidental entry into programming, and how he ultimately landed in the CEO role at Metosin

This isn't just a tech story; it's a personal one. Valtteri recounts how a functional programming course that never happened sparked his interest in Clojure, and how his initial programming project involved fixing a university system that "doesn't work". His path wasn't straightforward, going from philosophy and cognitive science to usability and eventually to programming by necessity. This led to a career that saw him move from developer roles to leadership positions, a pattern he says he kept experiencing: "I ended up in some kind of leadership position"

We discuss his experiences at various companies, including his time at a startup that grew rapidly during the pandemic. Valtteri also shares his transition to Metosin, where he pioneered the account manager role and then stepped into the CEO position. His view on leadership has changed, realizing that "people are not as easy as writing code". He values honesty and transparency in leadership acknowledging that "everything is a compromise" when making decisions

Looking ahead, Valtteri shares Metosin's vision for the future, emphasizing a holistic approach that includes not just technical skills, but also business acumen and people skills, which are described as a "triangle". He explains that while they are strong in Clojure, the real problems companies face are more often related to people, processes, and organization rather than technology. This approach enables Metosin to work with clients on all levels. Valtteri also shares a few laughs about the unexpected challenges in communication, mentioning how "people are the weirdest part" of the entire process.

This episode is a deep dive into the career path of an unconventional leader in tech and the evolution of a software company.

Key Topics:

• Valtteri's journey from philosophy to tech

• The accidental start of a programming career

• Learning functional programming and Clojure

• Transition from programmer to leader

• The importance of people skills in business and tech

• Metosin's future and its focus on a holistic approach

• The challenges of leadership and the value of transparency

This episode provides a comprehensive overview of Valtteri's career and Metosin's approach to software and consulting, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in technology, leadership, or the human side of business.