Embrace Lifelong Learning

Post • 3 min read

Meet our Technical Trainer Michaela Vikman! As a cloud trainer she helps external and internal customers learn about and succeed in public cloud.

Where are you from and how did you end up at Nordcloud?

I am probably one of very few technical people who did not come to Nordcloud because of public cloud, instead I came looking for a training job. Once I started learning about public cloud I of course got completely hooked; starting out with Azure, then moving on to AWS and finally adding also GCP to the mix.

I grew up in Pietarsaari and then moved to Turku to study chemical engineering. After graduating I started working in a telecommunications company in Espoo and spent 18 years there before coming to Nordcloud. So everything IT related I have learned on the job and as I have had many different roles over the years I see myself as a good example of embracing lifelong learning. 

What is your core competence? On top of that, please also tell about your role and projects shortly.

My core competence is technical training, meaning that I deliver AWS and GCP courses for our external and internal customers. Sometimes those courses are held in Helsinki where I am based but I also spend a lot of time travelling and delivering public and dedicated courses in the Nordics and the UK. In the last year most courses have been virtual, which has been a new and interesting experience for me.

What sets you on fire / what’s your favourite thing with public cloud?

The fact that it is available for anyone. All the major providers offer possibilities to try things out for free or with very little money so anyone can give it a go. For companies the most efficient way to train a lot of people is usually through training courses, but e.g. unemployed people who maybe cannot afford instructor led training still have many other ways to learn.

What do you like most about working at Nordcloud?

I love that I get to spend my working time doing what I like the most: learning new things and then passing on that knowledge to others.

Also I really appreciate the freedom that I have when not delivering courses. Of course I have targets regarding what I need to have done by when, but how and when I choose to work is up to me. A side effect of this is that I might not get out of my pyjamas until lunchtime.

What is the most useful thing you have learned at Nordcloud?

Seeing the difference that training can make in a company has been very rewarding. Continuous learning is very valuable both for the company and the individual and Nordcloud offers employees possibilities for training and certification with certification bonuses as an additional source of motivation.

Especially on the dedicated customer courses where everyone is from the same company I also see how powerful it is when people get a common terminology and knowledge base to move forward with. Also from a non technical perspective the courses add value in that they bring people together in the same room for several days and encourages discussions that would not take place during a short meeting. 

What do you do outside work?

Outside work I love hanging out with my husband and friends and relatives. I also like doing sports and try to work out at least once every day. And of course there can never be too much eating and sleeping.

How would you describe Nordcloud’s culture in 3 words?

Open, relaxed and positive.

Best Nordcloudian memory?

The 2017 summer party at Allas Sea Pool. Coming from a large company it was pretty amazing to work for a company where everyone in the Helsinki office could fit into the same sauna. As the company has grown a lot since then we now need bigger venues for the parties but we continue to have fun together.

Reeta Pykäläinen
Related topics
CloudCloud

Get in Touch.

Let’s discuss how we can help with your cloud journey. Our experts are standing by to talk about your migration, modernisation, development and skills challenges.

Ilja Summala
Ilja Summala LinkedIn
CTO
Ilja’s passion and tech knowledge help customers transform how they manage infrastructure and develop apps in cloud.