At Digisalix, we believe good talent doesn’t always follow a straight line – sometimes it takes the scenic route through music halls, economic models, and, eventually, lines of code.
This summer, that scenic route brought us Mitja, a former professional musician, current applied mathematics and finance student, and one of our sharp new software engineering trainees.
We caught up with him between projects to chat about his unusual path into tech, the beauty of mathematical problems, and why ChatGPT shouldn’t be your boss.
First things first – who is Mitja?
I’m a 29-year-old guy from Kontiolahti, currently working as a summer trainee at Digisalix. I study applied mathematics and finance at Aalto University. Before Digisalix, I worked in economics research, and before that I was a professional musician. Music’s still a big part of my life; it’s a passion I haven’t put down, even if I’ve swapped the stage for a screen.
So how do you go from music to machine learning?
I had to take a programming course during my economics degree. Turns out, I really enjoyed it and kept taking more programming courses. One summer I ended up doing research on urban transport at Aalto, which involved a lot of coding, and after that I knew that I wanted to go all-in on programming.
And what types of problems strike the right chord for you?
I’m drawn to problems that are rooted in mathematics but need algorithmic thinking and computing power to crack. That combination of theory and practice is where things get really interesting.
What made you apply to Digisalix?
I found the job ad on the Tietokilta job board, and it stood out immediately. It was witty, down-to-earth, and had personality. The idea of working with maths and algorithms was something I’d dreamed of. And once I met Kalle and Tommi in the interview, it felt like a good fit – easygoing but smart.
What’s been the most surprising part of your role so far?
The level of trust. I’ve had the chance to join client meetings and even visited a client on my own – something I didn’t expect to do as a summer trainee. I’ve gotten to see the bigger picture of the software business, not just the coding part.
“The
level of
trust.”
What excites you most about Digisalix?
The variety. The work’s never dull – we get all kinds of problems from clients, so there’s a constant need to learn and adapt. It keeps things fresh and my brain sharp.
If you could choose the next big challenge, what would it be?
Quantitative finance or pricing problems would be cool to try. But honestly, the most exciting challenges are usually the ones you didn’t even know existed before they landed on your desk.
For the techies out there – what tools are in your belt?
I mostly use Python since it’s everywhere, and the community support is brilliant. And when it comes to balancing maths and implementation, I see them as two sides of the same coin. When you’ve nailed the theory, the code tends to follow naturally.
Any advice for future machine learning specialists?
Don’t outsource your thinking. It’s tempting to ask ChatGPT to just give you the answer, but if you don’t understand how that answer works, you’ll be lost when something breaks. You should be in control and ChatGPT should be the assistant, not the architect.
And when the laptop closes, how do you recharge?
Guitar is a daily habit – and I’ve recently picked up singing lessons again, which I’m excited about. I also try to hit the gym three times a week. It’s a good counterbalance to sitting in front of a screen all day.
Final note:
Mitja’s journey is a great reminder that great tech minds don’t always come from traditional backgrounds. Whether it’s music, mathematics or machine learning – curiosity and craft go a long way.
Welcome aboard once again Mitja!
