Kipinä is expanding its team – welcome CTO Jari Huilla!
Kipinä Software is growing and evolving, and now our team of top-tier professionals is expanding further: Jari Huilla will start as Kipinä's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at the beginning of April.
Jari's exceptional journey into technology began with coding at the age of 9, and his professional career kicked off impressively at age 15 at the Nokia Research Center. More than 20 years have passed since then, encompassing entrepreneurship, startups, growth companies, projects ranging from small to large, and roles from coder to leadership positions.
Jari is a familiar face from companies like Vincit, where he worked for 12 years in roles such as project manager, full-stack developer, and tech director. He brings a vital realization along the journey:
“Even more important than doing things right is doing the right things.”
In technology projects, this means continuous prioritization and value-driven execution, rather than pursuing perfection for its own sake. “As a consultant, you should always consider which features are being built to ensure the client's investment truly yields a return. Experienced professionals also know how to challenge the scope and methods of execution when appropriate.”
What sparks ‘Kipinä’ right now?
“I have to mention generative AI,” Jari says. What is most exciting about technological development right now is that we are genuinely on the verge of a major transformation. Jari observes and spars through this shift in the daily routines of clients, alongside Kipinä's experts, and at a societal level.
What made you choose Kipinä?
The paths of Jari and Kipinä crossed in the autumn of 2024, when discussions with Laura Riuttanen—whom Jari already knew from the past—deepened regarding shared values and perspectives.
"Kipinä immediately gave me a feeling of openness and transparency. Few smaller houses have this kind of honesty. Here you can really focus on doing things well without gimmicks. When I decided to join the Kipiné team, I got carried away!"
In addition to his strong technological expertise, Jari brings to the CTO role a clear vision of how skills should be developed and shared. "I want to enable our experts to dedicate time to continuous learning—not just in theory, but as an integral part of their daily work." In his role, Jari aims to ensure that Kipinä's team and expertise gain even greater visibility within the industry and among our clients.
Growth that matters
Jari views Kipinä's future as one driven by competence and high impact: "I want us to engage in even more critical projects—not just solving technical issues, but actively shaping practices and culture together with our clients."
Experience has taught us that often the problems in software projects are not related to technology, but to project management and understanding business needs. "Kipinä is particularly strong in the competition because we know how to look at the big picture - through Senior Tech Leadership we have the knowledge and, more importantly, the courage to tackle the right things at the right time."
Jari's 3 tips for successful software development
1. Prioritize continuously.
Ensure that someone in the project is always able to identify what is most important next. Everything cannot be done at once.
2. Understand business needs.
The best technical solutions emerge when there is a clear understanding of the client's business model.
3. Break down silos.
Challenges rarely lie within the code itself, but rather in organizational structures. Cross-functional collaboration is key.
Who is Jari outside of work?
In his free time, Jari balances technology by woodworking, doing home and cabin renovations, and spending time with his two young children. If time permits, you can find him at a climbing gym or out on the disc golf course.