partner/story

OP Pohjola

INDUSTRY: FINANCIAL SERVICES

LOCATION: FINLAND

FOUNDED: 1902

EMPLOYEES: 14 000

“The collaboration provides a concrete example of how we promote sustainable development and the growth of expertise.”

OP Pohjola

The availability of skilled developers in a digitalizing environment that emphasizes sustainability.

OP Pohjola Challenge

The availability of skilled developers in a digitalizing environment that emphasizes sustainability.

kood/Sisu Solutions

Supports OP Pohjola’s ICT strategy and sustainability by training professionals for development in the finance and technology sectors.

kood/Sisu Solution

Supports OP Pohjola’s ICT strategy and sustainability by training professionals for development in the finance and technology sectors.

“OP Pohjola is Finland’s leading financial group, consisting of cooperative banks and their central institution, OP Cooperative. Our core mission is to promote the economic success and well-being of our customers and operating environment. I serve as the Head of the Software Engineering Department in the Development and Technology organization. In addition, I am a board member at the coding school Sisu.”

– Saija Antikainen, Director of OP Software Engineering

“We see software development expertise as an absolutely critical success factor. Sisu supports both our digitalization and our social responsibility.”

Saija Antikainen, Director of OP Software Engineering

Building responsible technology expertise in Finland

OP Pohjola is Finland’s leading financial group, whose core mission is to promote the sustainable economic well-being of its owner-customers and society. The company’s digitalisation strategy requires top-level software development, which cannot be achieved without skilled personnel. This is why OP joined the kood/Sisu founding network.

“We see software developers’ expertise as an absolutely critical success factor. Sisu supports both our digitalization and our social responsibility.”

Saija Antikainen, Head of Software Engineering Department at OP Pohjola and member of the Sisu Board.

OP Pohjola Group & Normet & Ponsse / Business Lounge / June 2024

OP Pohjola & Normet & Ponsse / Business Lounge / June 2024

“We see software developers’ expertise as an absolutely critical success factor. Sisu supports both our digitalization and our social responsibility.”

Saija Antikainen, Director of OP Software Engineering

A response to the talent shortage and sustainable development

Resources, a strong employer brand, and connections.

OP Pohjola sees its significant role in solving the talent shortage. Through Kood/Sisu, it can help build a new kind of education that provides a pathway into the software industry for people from diverse backgrounds. At the same time, OP brings resources, a strong employer brand, and extensive connections to the network.

“We already have our own OP Academy, but Kood/Sisu complements the skill landscape by offering a new educational pathway for those who want to change careers or build a new career in technology,” Antikainen explains.

A long-term partnership builds the future

Collaboration with kood/Sisu is not a sprint but a marathon. OP wants to be a long-term partner that supports the continuous development of education and responds to evolving skill needs. According to Antikainen, particularly interesting areas for development are financial technology, cybersecurity, and data expertise – fields where OP sees ongoing growth and demand.

“We want to be involved in building educational programs that genuinely meet industry needs. We have experts who can participate in content creation and mentoring.”

The Grand Opening of kood/Sisu / June 2024

Concrete benefits and expectations for the future

Although the collaboration is still relatively new, OP has already gained concrete benefits. The partnership has highlighted OP’s social responsibility, strengthened its employer brand, and provided an opportunity to be involved in creating a new form of education.