Behind the Screens: Timo Kirkkala

Team Digitalist

Timo Kirkkala

15.10.2025

You know when there are those giant websites or complex integrations that seem impossible to manage or develop? Well, give it to Timo. If he doesn't have the solution off the shelf he'll find it. And after work he'll take his smiling persona to the basketball court or bicycle trips.

SKILLS & ROLE:

Role: Technical Delivery Lead
Core skills: SCRUM mastering, Technical architecture, Drupal, Documentation, Technical requirements & specifications, Project launch support, Sales support, Peer reviews, Testing, Backend coding (when time allows)
Tools: Brains, Keyboard, Git/Github, Lando/docker, Cursor (AI IDE), ChatGPT, Jira, Miro, Upsun (paltformsh) and cloud platforms, Slack, Microsoft Teams, coffee machine, memes

What’s your education?

Bachelor of business Administration from Haaga Helia University of Applied sciences.

What kind of work tasks are your favorites?

Refining the specifications with colleagues, coming up with clever solutions to complicated problems. Also SCRUM mastering and leading the SCRUM meetings.

What do you love most about your job?

Our people and dealing/communicating with clients are the best thing with this job.

Having already worked with this stuff for quite many years still every day feeling like a junior learning new things yet still often noticing the years I’ve spent with building websites have made me quite a professional 🤓 Also coding with AI yet still realizing I know how to do things. At Digitalist no two days are the same. Though constant context switching between SCRUM, architecture, peer reviews, random small code bug hunt or refactoring existing solution and client talks can be mentally taxing, it also keeps my brain sharp and stops the work from becoming dull.

What inspired you to join the team here?

The already familiar people whom I knew are super talented and great to work with. And getting to build something new in the field of open source tech with a big talented company behind us and possibilities for big clients with complex projects.

What tips or advice would you give someone starting a new job?

Don't be afraid to fail, that is the best way to learn and grow.

Don't be afraid to fail.

What would your perfect weekend look like?

A nice 6 hour gravel bike tour in the sunshine or spending time with my awesome significant other in the countryside would make a perfect Saturday. And on Sunday just lazying in my balcony watching the potatoes growing in the buckets.

What’s something surprising that not many people know about you?

Not much, I like to talk openly about myself 😀

What are you passionate about?

Basketball, nature, cycling, aesthetically pleasing things, food.

What is the best thing that has happened to you this year?

I’ve been the team manager of my daughter’s basketball team at Namika (HNMKY) for three years already but this year I started to play myself! I love being part of making it possible for those young athletes to play and grow. I even developed an application for the team, you can see it in GitHub or here

How would your best friend describe you in three words?

Honest, open, kind. And as bonus: funny (dad-jokes, this not described by friends nor daughter but by me). Note from the team: it's true.

If you could pick any superpower, what would it be and why?

Teleportation. Saves time.

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There's not a situation Timo couldn't handle when it comes to managing complex Drupal solutions or mastering SCRUM projects. He's honest, super talented, and has the best Finnish dry sense of humor. The world needs more Timos!

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