People of Evermade – part 3
…aka the people who make sure things get done. This time we sat down with our project managers to discuss project work, stress management and bucket lists for out-of-office hours.
Say hi to Rémy, Riikka and Joakim!
What goes on in the minds of these master jugglers? Which one wants to fly like an eagle? And what kind of rules would they make everyone obey if they could?
Let’s find out!
Rémy Bertoli
WHEN DID YOU JOIN EVERMADE AND WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN FOCUS AREAS HERE?
I have been here about 7 months, first as an intern last autumn and now as a full-time project manager this year. I really enjoyed my internship here and wanted to continue right after finishing my master’s in France. My job is to bring teams together to make things happen and solve problems, but basically, I could say my job is to be a time and budget wizard.
WHAT IS CHALLENGING AND REWARDING ABOUT MANAGING DIGITAL PROJECTS?
Time – impossible deadline – is definitely the most challenging part of my work: schedule optimization and booking people efficiently can be really tricky. The most rewarding part is to see both the team and the client happy about our work, especially when we have succeeded in going beyond the client’s expectations.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WORK WITH PROJECTS?
I’ve always been good at handling a lot of information at the same time. I’m a social person and enjoy communicating with clients and the team – the work is a great fit with my personality. Leading a creative team is amazing, the people here are so creative and passionate, it’s also possible for me to give inputs. I feel like working on digital projects is a constant opportunity to grow, and work with state-of-the-art technologies aka really cool things – I love everything digital!
THE BIGGEST EPIPHANY YOU’VE HAD SINCE JOINING EVERMADE?
Evermade’s values! Evermade has changed the way I see work life and culture. It is possible to enjoy your work and feel like you’re working with friends instead of just feeling reluctant to go to work every day. The atmosphere is really laid-back and friendly, and at the same time we manage to deliver super professional work to our clients. Each member of the team is valued and considered an individual rather than just a resource.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
In a way I would say… diversity, being different and weird. I’m from France and for me Finnish culture is pretty different, people are way more individual. But then there’s the sauna… where everyone is naked and on equal terms. I’ve met more people in a sauna than elsewhere. Every country and individual has their own culture, different way of thinking, being, and living – that’s the best driver for innovation.
FAVORITE PLACE ON EARTH?
I can’t state only one place. I’m a “world-citizen”. I have been traveling in more than 15 countries and I’m not planning to stop there … I love the summer cottage culture in Finland though.
TELL US A RANDOM FACT!
I have been growing a collection of funny socks since I moved to Finland. Avocados, owls, cacti…
IF YOU COULD KNOW THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH TO ONE QUESTION, WHAT WOULD YOU ASK?
Are there other human-like species in this universe?
WHAT DO YOU HATE ABOUT FINLAND?
Mämmi. Oh and let’s say that you don’t have the best weather in the world…
IF YOU COULD MAKE ONE RULE AND HAVE PEOPLE FOLLOW IT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Wow. Dictator time. Sounds like a cliché, but everyone should take life on the positive side only – seize and enjoy every moment. Okay, another one! Everyone should like cheese.
Riikka Pakarinen
WHEN DID YOU JOIN EVERMADE AND WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN FOCUS AREAS HERE?
I came here in the beginning of last October from SOK Media. I always like to say that I’m familiar with digital agencies from both sides of the table. As a project manager my job is to see the forest in the trees but also each tree in the forest. I make sure that the big picture comes together as it should, and that the details that make it are top notch. I support the team with my own strengths and make sure the client is happy.
WHAT IS CHALLENGING AND REWARDING ABOUT MANAGING DIGITAL PROJECTS?
People present the greatest challenge – it’s my responsibility to make the team work like a charm and at the same time meet and go beyond the expectations of the client. The same techniques don’t go with all the people. I have to figure out how to get everyone involved and also have them feel leadership of the work. It’s really rewarding to see client’s eyes lighten up after seeing the finished site or service, and to sense the excitement in our team after a good case is won. The beginnings and endings are the best parts.
BEING A PROJECT MANAGER CAN BE EXTREMELY HECTIC. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR HANDLING THE PRESSURE?
Exercising (crossfit!) and making sure there’s enough me-time. Although, I like to be always available in Slack and email: I prefer to actually know what’s happening rather than getting to work in the morning unprepared. Not the biggest fan of surprises, to be honest. But yeah, if there’s stress, there’s no way you’re gonna handle that if you don’t first take care of yourself.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM PROJECT LIKE, WHAT ABOUT THE CLIENT?
I would love to work with international clients and even bigger projects. Also, it’s always great to work with clients who aren’t quite sure what they’re going to do but at the same time have the right attitude towards doing. Clients that are outspoken, bold and ready to change.
THE BIGGEST EPIPHANY YOU’VE HAD SINCE JOINING EVERMADE?
You have to know what really matters. Even if a project is big and valuable to us, it’s people who matter the most. I want to make sure that people around me have mental capability and can concentrate on work they love to do, cause you know: we only live once and life is not just about waiting for weekends and holidays.
SUPERPOWER OF CHOICE?
Invisibility. Sounds like I want to stalk people… Well, actually I’d like that.
WHAT’S NEXT ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?
I want to overcome myself somehow… Perhaps jump off an airplane. With the parachute! And an instructor.
YOUR SPECIAL TALENT?
I remember all the song lyrics I’ve ever heard. I would say that I know 95 precent of the songs that play on the radio. And I don’t even know how!
IF YOU COULD KNOW THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH TO ONE QUESTION, WHAT WOULD YOU ASK?
How can we defeat super bacteria and prevent them from wiping us off this planet?
IF YOU COULD MAKE ONE RULE AND HAVE PEOPLE FOLLOW IT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
No littering! Especially now that we’re gonna have a puppy.
Joakim Larres
WHEN DID YOU JOIN EVERMADE AND WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN FOCUS AREAS HERE?
I joined Evermade in October 2017 after almost ten years in the ad agency world where I did everything from print to television, online, radio and outdoor advertising. Project manager is the official title here. I make sure that everything works and that the right people communicate with each other at the right time. Budgets and schedules are on me as well. I also do sales, and like to take part in planning, designing and concepting. I enjoy getting things done with the team, keeping motivation up, and creating positive vibes.
WHAT IS CHALLENGING AND REWARDING ABOUT MANAGING DIGITAL PROJECTS?
Even though we have our own experts of things related to tech, as a project manager you have to know a lot about it to be able to discuss with clients. I don’t have deep experience of the technical/development production side, I´m used having that done by subcontractors. But now I’m kind of on the other side of the table and it’s really interesting and rewarding to learn new stuff. Developers are still quite a new and exotic species to me and I haven’t yet fully figured them out, but I´m getting there. I like to keep things organized and find it rewarding to experience how a well made plan executes and the team really works together. Although curveballs usually cannot be avoided and then you really need to be able to think on the fly.
BEING A PROJECT MANAGER CAN BE EXTREMELY HECTIC. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR HANDLING THE PRESSURE?
It’s all in your head man. You just have to process it the right way and find your inner zen. In practice, I like to write things down, prioritize and just get them done. Hiking in a forest, windsurfing or riding a motorcycle are really good ways to clear your head. Also I think having a bit of life experience helps relate to the pressure in the right way. For me it’s more chilled at work than at home, where I have 3 young kids raving about constantly. Work is the place to relax and chat with adults, haha.
WHO INSPIRES YOU?
People who are brave enough to follow their dreams.
FAVORITE PLACE ON EARTH?
Summer cottage. Or the top of a mountain.
SUPERPOWER OF CHOICE?
I bet flying would be kinda cool. Is that what everyone else said?
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE, IN WHICH TIME WOULD YOU LIVE?
The 60’s and the hippie era. Peace & Love!
IF NOT HUMAN, WHICH ANIMAL WOULD YOU BE?
A high-gliding eagle that lives on a mountain top. Or the fluffy baby eagle.
MAKE THREE WISHES!
World peace. End of poverty. The environment gets saved. And a shitload of money. That’s four, can I have four please?
IF YOU COULD MAKE ONE RULE AND HAVE PEOPLE FOLLOW IT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Don’t be mean!
Here they are trying to blend in to the background, but can’t, because they’re way too awesome.
