Erlend Olsvik: Never fully educated - too thirsty for knowledge

With a strong learning culture and over 30 international professional groups, the opportunities to learn within the company are vast.

Erlend has taken full advantage of these opportunities.

- We have professional groups for everything from AI to UX and Design, IT security, Open-Source software, sustainability, and green code—to name a few. It’s easy to start your own groups, creating a rich variety of them.

These groups provide spaces for collaboration across offices and countries, fostering social learning where people can both learn from others and share their own knowledge.

- The groups are created by and for employees who independently find the best way to serve their members. They organize gatherings, presentations, and lectures—both digital and physical when it suits.

Erlend has been most active in the Java development group, as that was the language he worked most with when he started at Tietoevry.

- Eventually, I became the competence area leader for 'Software Engineering,' which includes the Java group, and later also for 'AI, Analytics & Data.' As group leaders, we work to plan content and encourage dialogue in the groups. The key is that group members should be active contributors, and leaders should facilitate social learning while also actively contributing themselves.

You learn as long as you live

Erlend is one of those people who will likely never consider himself fully educated—he’s too thirsty for knowledge. Tietoevry’s biannual competence week fits him perfectly in that regard.

- Every six months, we have 'Keep Learning Week,' which is a week packed with presentations from different groups. Last year, there were talks on everything from 'Human-Centric AI and Accessibility' to career development and Java development. Employees can sign up for the lectures they find most interesting.

Being able to decide which areas to develop in is important to Erlend.

- We’re a big company with many opportunities, and it’s important to seize them. You get good support from leaders, but it’s also necessary to take initiative yourself.

More opportunities

Currently, Erlend is working on an exciting project for Sparebanken Sør, aiming to further develop their web and mobile banking. He’s been involved in the project for four years, taking on a variety of tasks.

- In this project, I’ve worked with technical solution architecture, backend development, testing, and project management. I’ve had great freedom to explore different roles and challenge myself, which I really enjoy.

The project has also aimed to ensure good usability and accessibility for everyone, including children.

- We’ve created a self-service solution that allows parents to open accounts for their children, in a concept called 'Family Banking.' It’s rewarding to help create solutions that are more accessible to more people. Digital exclusion is important to counter.

Flexible office

A few years ago, Erlend moved to Tønsberg, making daily commuting a bit challenging. A flexible employer has solved this issue.

- I’m at the Fornebu office 1-2 times a week, depending on the need. Our client is in a completely different city, so I mostly come in to work closely with and socialize with my colleagues. Sometimes I work at our Sandefjord office, or I work from home. Being able to decide where and, to some extent, when I work is a luxury I greatly appreciate.

When asked what he considers the best reason to work at Tietoevry, Erlend goes back to the opportunities.

- There are many opportunities in terms of professional development, projects, and roles you can take on. What’s also positive is that leaders support your development. They want you to learn new things and face new challenges. That’s the kind of leadership you want in your career, and there are many leaders like that here at Tietoevry.