In this BONUS episode, we explore the journey of scaling technology teams and maintaining alignment between engineering and business objectives with Toni Sallanmaa, CTO at Funidata. Toni shares invaluable insights from leading the development of Sisu, a cutting-edge student information system serving over 100,000 Finnish university users, and discusses practical strategies for growing engineering organizations while preserving company culture.
The Genesis of Leadership in Technology
“I understood what I was really responsible for. I’m interested in the business we are running—the business adds meaning to the work.”
Toni’s approach to technology leadership was fundamentally shaped by a pivotal moment early in his career when he first gained influence over system development and technology choices. After working with large-scale systems for 20 years, this moment of responsibility revelation transformed his perspective from purely technical to business-focused. He emphasizes that infinite curiosity drives success in tech businesses, and understanding the business context gives meaningful purpose to technical work.
Bridging the Gap Between Tech and Product
“Don’t separate Tech from Product. We established a common language between product and technology people.” Continue reading CTO Series: Toni Sallanmaa on Scaling Engineering Teams and Aligning Tech with Business Goals
