The Frendszies career development series continues with Timo Vesa’s inspiring journey! In this blog, discover how Timo progressed from an Integration Consultant to Chief Operating Officer (COO), navigating various roles and leadership opportunities along the way. His story reflects how Frends’ dynamic environment and supportive culture provide personal and professional growth.

Check out also the previous stories of Erkka, Dominika, and Heikki, and follow the Frends journey of growth and success!

Starting as an Integration Consultant

After 3.5 years in IT consulting, I joined Frends in 2010 as an Integration Consultant. I was drawn to Frends because I wanted to focus more on functional design rather than coding. Back then, Frends was a smaller, close-knit company with a family-like atmosphere of 30-50 people. This was a refreshing change from the large corporate environment where I had been earlier.

Expanding Responsibilities

From the start, I was involved in defining integrations rather than only developing them. Recognizing my ability to articulate customer needs, Frends soon offered me opportunities in project and service management. I found my niche in working closely with customers to define their requirements and then translating those into clear plans for our team. 

After a few years, my role expanded to include account management, presales, sales support, and resourcing. I was also involved in developing service delivery processes and internal systems. As part of an organizational change, I was offered a team lead role. This opportunity allowed me to develop my skills in managing people.

Transition to Sales and Leadership

After a few years, I felt I needed something new and could do more for the company. With a growing interest in customer interaction and business development, I requested a move to sales, which felt like the next logical step in my career. My wish was heard, and in 2017 I started to focus on integration sales, leveraging my background in service delivery to ensure that what we sold was effectively delivered.

My career continued to evolve alongside the company's growth. In 2019, I accepted the opportunity to become the Business Area Director and later, Head of Services and Accounts. These roles expanded my responsibilities and gave me a wider perspective on the business.

As Frends continued to grow globally, a leadership role in delivery became necessary. With my experience, I was appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 2023, overseeing Delivery and Operations across Finland, Poland, and Sweden.

What Keeps Me at Frends

My journey at Frends has been marked by a series of roles that built on my strengths and interests, from technical roles to sales and leadership. What has kept me at Frends for over a decade are the people and the continuous growth and change within the company. The supportive and collaborative work environment and the dynamic nature of our business make every day different and exciting. I have seen Frends grow from a small, family-like company to an international player, and I feel proud to have contributed to this journey.

Being part of Frends means being part of a team where everyone is encouraged to take the initiative and grow. We have a culture where opportunities are created by expressing one's own interests and skills and taking on new challenges when the time is right. The combination of great colleagues and the ever-evolving nature of our work keeps me motivated and committed to Frends.

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