For someone who doesn't like raising her hand, Julie remarkably often finds herself outside her comfort zone. And she seems to thrive there.
Julie herself says she prefers to stay a bit in the background, away from the spotlight. You wouldn’t think so, given everything she’s taken part in since she joined Tieto Tech Consulting almost two years ago.
"I'm the type who likes to take responsibility – even though I don’t necessarily enjoy the attention that comes with it."
Because of this sense of responsibility, Julie was the natural choice as team leader when a new team was being formed. It came a bit out of the blue, she says.
"I’m the one with by far the least experience on the team. There are two seasoned veterans, one who’s been in the game for ‘only’ 10–15 years, and then there’s me – the rookie. Yet, I was chosen to lead."
She found it strange to take on that role at first and was unsure about what authority she would have among such experienced colleagues.
"It was great to see that we all have mutual respect for each other, so being a team leader has gone really well."
Leadership and technology
As a team leader, Julie works at the intersection of technology and leadership – a combination she enjoys.
"I really want to stay hands-on technically and continue using my education. At the same time, it's exciting to grow as a leader. The team is too small for me to spend all my time on leadership anyway, so this mix is perfect."
Julie’s team works with Equinor – one of Tieto’s largest clients.
"It’s obviously exciting to work with such a large and important player, but what I value most is that I feel like we’re essentially one unit – not just client and provider."
More roles and responsibilities
Julie hasn’t just stepped up as a team leader. She also serves on the board of the Young Professionals program at the company and has revived the Women at Tieto initiative.
"The Young Professionals network spans across our business units. We meet every month for social events. In addition, we have weekly ‘timeouts’ where we, for example, buy some snacks and take a breather. We also organize a summer party and Christmas dinner and are now planning a trip to Gdansk."
She’s also involved in the Women at Tieto network, which blends professional and social gatherings.
"We want to ensure that women feel comfortable and happy working here. A couple of us from the Bergen office started some new initiatives, and the response has been amazing so far.
