He describes himself as “a nerd who waves hands” – a humble way to capture his unique position at Siili Solutions. As the AI & Data Community Lead, he bridges the gap between technical acumen and business strategy, managing six teams while spending most of his time connecting consultants, management, and partners.
“I'm a completely introverted guy, but in the Nordics, being able to combine technical skills with communication abilities puts you in a unique position as a community leader.”
With more than a decade of experience building practical AI solutions across corporations and startups, Rico brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise and the ability to translate complex AI concepts into business value.
Why Siili? The attraction of the impossible
After establishing himself as a Tech Lead at a major Nordic consultancy – where he was the only AI Tech Lead among 2,000 employees – Rico made the leap to Siili. The decision wasn’t easy, taking six months of discussions before he finally joined.
What tipped the scales was a conversation with CEO Tomi Pienimäki. For Rico, Siili’s commitment to transformation felt genuine: “We have some sort of inner motivation that makes us want to make this happen.”
And the challenge of transforming a long-established, publicly listed company into an AI leader was irresistible: “It's almost impossible in a way, especially for a publicly listed company that has a long history, long DNA and culture from something else to transform itself. I feel like that's the most – it is such a cool opportunity.”
Between two worlds: Business and tech
Siili brings together technology, data, and design to engineer advanced digital solutions. Rico’s role is deliberately positioned at the intersections between management and consultants;
“I'm representing consultants to management and management to consultants, and I feel that, hey, I can be like a sort of diplomat in that sense.”
While his official responsibility is leading 60 people across six teams, Rico spends much of his time on strategic initiatives – partnerships, offerings, and ensuring the right work reaches the right people.
“I feel that's where I can make an impact. And that's also where I feel like that's the way to make our employees happy – by finding interesting work for them.”
On embracing dynamic growth
Siili is in the midst of an ambitious transformation toward AI-powered software development – and Rico thrives on the pace.
“Siili is very dynamic. For those people who are hungry, especially these young ones who love fast-paced environments, who love this sort of 'we are moving fast' – we are literally a thousand-person company with startup energy right now and I love it.”
This dynamism is exactly what's needed for a company determined to become the leader in AI-powered development and AI transformation. Siili's AI and data division is in hypergrowth mode, requiring constant adaptation and innovation.
“It's a company for adventurous and hungry people. And those are the ones we're actually looking for. We've come far, but this is only the beginning. We are accelerating very strongly.”
Why Siili needs skilled and passionate people
Siili collaborates with leading technology firms like Nvidia, Microsoft Azure, AWS, and GitHub, leveraging advanced tools and platforms to enhance their AI capabilities. When it comes to hiring, Rico's vision is clear. Siili wants to be the AI and data leader, and that requires a specific type of person:
“We need domain experts. We want skilled people who know their stuff because we want to be the best of the best. So we need the best of the best people.”
But skills alone aren’t enough: “We want people who are passionate about AI and data. People who are flexible, want to do things, want to build and test and try out. In other words, those who are able to adapt in a dynamic environment.”
Rico also sees advantages in hiring younger talent: “We might actually prefer these young people who are hungry and fast learning. Because this scene is evolving so fast. We want people who are able to adapt very fast.”
Advice for the next generation
For students and recent graduates, his advice is simple: “Theory can take you only so far. People who can actually take the theory and build stuff. Build your own stuff. That's how you learn. Hopefully you will fail a lot and hopefully you will figure out – with most of the things you build, that's exactly the way. Then you've tried something difficult that was not just following the playbook or just copy pasting.”
Rico sees coding as table stakes: “I keep telling this message that it's nice to be able to vibe code – that's nowadays the minimum requirement. But this alone doesn't make you an expert today.”
The changing face of expertise
Rico has witnessed firsthand how AI is reshaping what it means to be an expert. Where once expertise meant memorizing documentation and mastering specific technologies, today it's about adaptability and problem-solving.
“Nowadays expertise is more about consultative skills, being able to solve problems, adapt, and take on new technologies. While before, you were the best of the best if you knew all the Python documentation by heart.”
Rico uses tools like ChatGPT constantly: “probably a hundred times a day at least” – as a sparring partner rather than a crutch. “It speeds things up and I get some sort of therapist or coach. It's a coach in a way.”
While acknowledging that the current AI hype resembles previous tech bubbles, Rico remains optimistic about the long-term trajectory: “For AI, for data, everything is pointing up – it's been ongoing growth and it keeps on growing. There's nothing but brightness.”
Finding balance in the deep end
Despite his intense pace, Rico makes time to decompress: “I love free diving. That's my way of spending holidays and get to relax.”
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