Digital Marketing Executive at 10Duke
Welcome to our series of blog interviews, where we get behind the scenes and find out what makes the people at 10Duke tick. For this edition, we spoke with Venla Salminiitty who is a Junior Software Engineer at 10Duke.
Hi Venla, could you share a little about what your role entails here at 10Duke?
I’m a Junior Software Engineer at 10Duke’s Finnish office and am currently completing my master’s thesis at Aalto University in collaboration with the company. Prior to starting my thesis, I worked on 10Duke Insights, a web-based analytics tool that provides software vendors with detailed insights into license usage and other aspects of their licensing operations. My thesis focuses on adapting the existing Enterprise version of Insights to be compatible with the multitenant environment of a new product that 10Duke is developing. The primary focus is on data isolation, which is critical when tenants share the same underlying configuration.
Alongside your role at 10Duke, you’re currently studying for a degree. What are you studying, what does the course involve, and what inspired you to pursue it?
Yes! I hold a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Aalto University and jumped straight into my master’s in the same department. I chose Product Development as my major, which was definitely the right choice because I like how the courses combine technical depth with creative problem-solving. I’ve always enjoyed math and physics, so I knew early on that I wanted to pursue a technical career.
What brought you to 10Duke and what are you working on at the moment?
I completed a databases and SQL course in 2023 during my bachelor’s studies and wanted to apply those skills in a professional setting. That same year, I joined the Insights project as a trainee, where much of the work involves querying database tables with SQL queries and selecting the best visualizations for the data.
Where do you get inspiration from to help you in your role?
I feel like I thrive when I get to do a variety of tasks, and my role at 10Duke has definitely delivered. I’ve worked on tasks ranging from backend development to customizing the Insights UI. The constant problem-solving makes the work very engaging. I’m also inspired by my colleagues. Working alongside skilled, supportive people is so important to me and makes my job rewarding.
What are 3 things you love outside of work?
I love baking! I’ve always enjoyed being in the kitchen, and having a sweet tooth naturally drew me to baking over cooking. My go-to treats for any gathering or party are cookies and cakes (usually involving chocolate or lemon).
Ice skating, I try to get out on the ice as often as possible during the winter. I tried a bunch of different sports when I was younger, but ice skating was always my favorite. I might not be as skilled as I used to be, but I can still pull off a trick or two!
Studio Ghibli movies! They were a part of my childhood and are still to this day some of my favorite movies. Howl's Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke are always top picks for me (I even have a Princess Mononoke poster hanging on my living room wall).
Thanks for your time Venla!
