Piotr Romanowski: A humanist thriving in the future of automotive tech

Piotr thrives on long-distance endeavors, both professionally and athletically.

“Educated as a humanist, with an innate, unbridled passion and curiosity about the world of new technologies.”

That's how he describes himself. Working as Manufacturing & Automotive Principal (which include promoting the company’s services and solutions, securing new business opportunities, and managing various automotive alliances) you might assume Piotr enjoys long drives above all else. However, his greatest passion is long distance and endurance (marathon running and triathlon).

An unconventional background leading to outstanding achievements

Despite his degree in Philosophy, Piotr has always been intrigued by technologies and IT industry’s novelties. He taught himself basic coding in Bash and Python, which led to his first team manager position in a call center, overseeing consultants selling mobile devices. This knowledge and experience paved his way to his first IT company, where he learned web and mobile application quality assurance. Within two years, he landed a junior software engineer role at Tieto, working on Android mobile platforms for a major semiconductor and electronic device manufacturer. The rest is history - progressing through roles such as test team lead, line manager (building a C++ competence pipeline), delivery manager and lead business developer, just recently (June 2024) he got promoted to Manufacturing & Automotive Principal, which allows him to spread his wings in his exciting journey through the automotive business.

Blending automotive innovation with a love for endurance sports

Passion is the key factor that drives Piotr’s daily work. As the person responsible for managing the automotive alliance ecosystem at Tieto, he finds great pleasure in working with prototypes and early-stage projects. “At every stage, you know your work will eventually contribute to an exciting product. You can literally see a car on the road with code your team has delivered. That’s an amazing feeling!” he says with glee. Whenever Piotr enters a new car, he first explores the infotainment systems to see how they’re implemented, sharing his insights with his non-IT friends.

It's undeniable the automotive industry is undergoing rapid changes, with cars becoming increasingly sophisticated software-driven devices. Piotr keeps up with these trends. "Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs) are transforming the automotive industry. These vehicles manage operations, add functionality, and enable new features primarily through software, creating massive opportunities for OEMs and other companies to integrate the latest technologies and enhance user experiences," he explains. “That’s our role as software developers to offer them the best user experience possible."

Towards software-defined vehicles: rethinking the automotive industry

The project that makes Piotr’s heart beat a little bit faster is the Automotive Demonstration Platform, Tieto’s very first automotive demo. Described as “a beautifully crafted suitcase packed with various hardware and automotive software,” this project has given Piotr great satisfaction and has sparked engaging discussions with prospects and customers. It also serves as an eye-catching conversation starter at conferences and industry events, showcasing the tangible results of his team's efforts. For Piotr, that’s the source of growth and motivation for further work.

Piotr draws parallels between his work and his other passion - endurance sports. “Winning a project with a new customer requires preparation, patience, and trust in the process, much like training for a sub-3 marathon. Consistency and good preparation are key. Success isn’t guaranteed, and you need to be ready to analyze and learn to improve for the next time,” he notes.

Building connections between people, business, and technology

Piotr lives by the motto: "I want to connect people and business to make things happen." His interactions with partners worldwide have taught him to embrace differences and challenge his own beliefs, providing a broader perspective. For Piotr, the crucial lesson is learning how to fully understand others perspective and acknowledge what’s valuable for other people (including customers).

He values flexibility and openness, recognizing that change is the only constant. Working for a company that shares this perspective allows him to maintain a work-life balance, dedicating himself to his role as the father of an 8-year-old daughter.