Thentia’s leadership team is a diverse and exceptional group of professionals who have brought major influence to not only the company’s direction, but to their own teams. Those teams make up Thentia’s structure, functionality, and culture and contribute to our success. In our Leadership Spotlight series, we sit down with members of our leadership team to discuss everything from the importance of powerful leadership influence in the tech industry to of course, the path that led them to Thentia.
This month, we spoke with Olayinka Soetan, Thentia’s Manager, Platform Technology.
Originally born in Nigeria, Olayinka moved to Canada with his family when he was 19. He attended York University in Toronto, where he successfully completed his Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science. Olayinka has ties to the early days of Thentia, as he started with the company in 2018 when he was hired by Thentia CEO Julian Cardarelli. He has been a crucial part in shaping the company’s solution, Thentia Cloud, into what it is today.
Olayinka currently resides just north of Toronto with his wife and two sons, where he is very active at his church and within his community.
What do you think separates Thentia from the rest of the tech world?
Thentia is a Canadian startup that wants to disrupt the GovTech market in North America, which is unique in itself. Across the globe, government regulators face different laws, industries, and all have unique needs. To create a one-stop solution is a challenge, but it’s also something very exciting. Especially as a developer! There aren’t really any other suitable solutions available in this market, it’s quite fragmented. To be the first company to see that opportunity and be able to meet different needs of our customers and their industries is big and is one of the main things that separates us from the rest.
What is something you really enjoy about working on the Product side of the business?
I really enjoy working on the platform side of the business because we, as developers, can take a step back and evaluate what the asks are. We can look at feature requests from all different customers, then check out the business processes and use our findings to convert them into an effective solution that can be configured and customizable.
The ability to creatively solve the challenges of the industry is the main driver of the Platform team. It’s a double-edged sword; on one side it’s a big challenge and sometimes you go a bit crazy trying to brainstorm the solutions, but on the other it is a collaborative process of getting there which is really rewarding.
How do you stay motivated and how do you continue to motivate your team?
We like to problem solve as developers. When I was little, I enjoyed solving math problems, as I am a technical thinker. When it comes to our work at Thentia, the challenges we are solving will benefit our customers and the public in the end. Our work benefits people in a positive way.
Another motivating factor is knowing that our software is striving to be a leader in the market. Thentia Cloud is used to ultimately protect the public and help government agencies run more effectively. I am sure to tell my team constantly that their work really matters and it’s important; The ramifications in their work and what goes into it is going to help so many people down the road.
How or in what ways has technology made a positive impact on your life?
Technology has provided a way to make a good living for me and my family, but it lets me do what I am passionate about. When I was growing up, I realized that I will be working for a long time, so I figured out early on that I need to love what I do. Technology has impacted me positively in so many ways. I am looked at as the “go-to” tech guy at my church in Toronto, so it allows me to volunteer my time back to my community while still enjoying what I’m doing.
What do you love most about Thentia’s company and office culture?
I have been with Thentia since 2018 and have had the pleasure of working with Julian through the years from the start. I’ve been able to watch (and be part of!) how much our product has changed and how the company has grown over time. The culture at Thentia promotes a hard-working and fast-paced environment but we reward that too. A lot of people who work with us absolutely love what they do, and you can see that within the growth of the business.
Our workplace culture is a collaborative and helpful environment where people push each other to be their best selves every day. I have loved being able to attend team outings and office activities! It makes things more social and allows us to get to hang out with one another more often.
