Data Management – Nokia – Jolla – Huawei. Annika Hautamäki has experience of responsibilities in the line of business. Another insight about her profile can also be drawn. It features a former top athlete, a current busy bee, a smiling optimist and a mother who tells how she gets excited about social media just like a teenager.
Annika, originally hailing from Hollola, ended up in software development almost accidentally. Sports took all the attention after upper secondary school, and it was more important than a career. Yet, her thoughts of the future included studying mathematical sciences. In upper secondary school, mathematics seemed to be easy.
– My friend, however, told me that mathematical studies at university level are completely different from upper secondary school mathematics, and basically it is not even math at all. Without further thought, I tossed the application documents for Computer Sciences at the Universities of Tampere and Turku. Tampere won this game too, Annika says.
Investing in her sports career continued and also brought success. Annika’s trophy case contains a Finnish Championship gold medal and some dimmer alpine skiing medals. Sports remained a steady part of her life even after her career was over.
From coder to productization
Annika’s and Unikie’s paths met at the end of last year as Huawei’s development projects were ongoing. In the end, Annika moved completely to Unikie. She started as the Talent Coach of Unikie at the beginning of May. Annika has much to give to productization.
– In the team, I especially appreciate the energetic, positive touch to the work and the clear vision. We have a clear understanding of the state of the markets and where to go.
Early years of Annika’s career were coding-oriented. Bit by bit, the focus shifted to definition and productization.
After Data Management (Solteq), she worked for Nokia for the first five years in the programming and definition of alarm systems for cellular network’s base stations.
– Accordingly, I knew C++ programming without doubt at some point!
In 2005, Annika became the Product Manager for 770 Internet Tablet. Afterwards, identifiers for her career path were OSSO and Maemo, remembered from the tablet products 770, N800, N900, N950, and especially from their “big brother”, Meego, and the N9 smartphone, which Annika called her fourth child.
– Even that was better than the rest in everything, she says, laughing.
After N9, Annika was making Sailfish, the Jolla’s operating system.
Technology needs women
Annika is an exception in the business, as only 10 percent of software developers are women. The most recent attempt to inspire women to code is the Technology Industries of Finland’s and Finnish Software Industry and Entrepreneurs Association’s three-week sprint, #diginaiset, which will be seen next fall.
– The campaign will underline the magnificent problem-solving skills of women, Rasmus Roiha, Managing Director of Finnish Software Industry and Entrepreneurs Association, denotes in the campaign bulletin.
Nowadays, a skilled female coder can dictate her conditions. However, that does not seem to be enough. What in the software development then shuns women? Better ask a digiwoman.
– Part of the reason is probably a need for sociality. Women feel comfortable in work communities, and software coding is thought to be a lonely job, while that is not always the case.
– Communication in the industry should also emphasize that coding is not rocket science. One learns a certain vocabulary as if one was studying languages. Afterwards, one must combine things, draw conclusions; use that language skill creatively.
Regardless of gender, Annika welcomes the applicants to Unikie. Several software development vacancies are constantly open.
