As Softhouse celebrates 30 years, our community stretches from that very first faxed company name in Malmö all the way up to Luleå. Here, at our northernmost office, we meet regional CEO David Granström. He is driven by building solutions that make a real difference, but when the workday ends, computer keyboards are often replaced by a different kind of keyboard. David has played the piano for more than 40 years and is more than happy to entertain a crowd on stage together with the afterski band Vinter Rock.

Building teams and embedding culture into the walls

Before stepping into the CEO role in Luleå nearly two years ago, David ran his own business. But life as an independent consultant had its limitations. He missed being part of something bigger and longed to build a strong team that could stand the test of time.

In early 2023, Neava Technologies became part of the Softhouse family, and the cultures clicked almost immediately.

Solution Architect Wesa Riihinen, one of Neava’s original founders and now a proud member of Softhouse, remembers those early conversations well.

“When we first met to discuss the acquisition, my immediate thought was that Softhouse had strong values and great people. And that has definitely proven true — I’m still here and enjoying every minute of it.”

One of the most important local milestones after joining Softhouse was renovating the office itself.

“It was important that the brand became visible in the physical environment. Once the Softhouse name and our vision were on the walls, it became easier to fully embrace it. We weren’t Neava anymore. We were Softhouse,” David explains.

Family spirit “north of the wall”

Luleå is our northernmost outpost, and when David describes everyday life there, he is very clear:

It’s fun, the view is fantastic, and… it’s far away.

“We’re truly north of the wall,” David says with a smile. “The physical distance to our closest colleagues means we have to be more intentional and work harder to stay connected with the rest of Softhouse.”

Despite the geographical distance, the sense of belonging within the wider group remains strong. That was something Håkan Olovsson quickly noticed when he joined as Consulting Manager during the summer of 2024.

“The strongest feeling for me is that you genuinely belong to the Softhouse family. For a company of around 300 people, it’s remarkable that it still feels so warm and personal. We’re anything but corporate and square.”

Code nerds, laughter, and a seafood feast aboard Laponia

The culture is built in everyday moments.

Håkan highlights the shared Friday breakfasts at the office as one of the highlights of the week, where colleagues openly exchange knowledge and experiences from their assignments.

When describing the team, he chooses three words:

Joy. Competence. Creativity.

Wesa, who describes himself as a code nerd with an endless desire to learn new things—whether it’s antique sewing machines, brewing beer, or the next major AI trend—has an equally fitting description of his colleagues.

“They’re fun, creative, and highly skilled. But then again, I helped recruit many of them myself, so I had the privilege of choosing exactly those kinds of people,” he says with a laugh.

The community is carefully nurtured.

Alongside knowledge-sharing sessions during “Tech Thursdays,” the office social committee keeps the calendar full of activities ranging from billiards tournaments and chocolate tastings to ramen dinners and the highly appreciated annual seafood feast aboard the archipelago vessel Laponia.

Stronger teams through tougher times

Building strong teams also means staying together when conditions become difficult. The consulting industry has faced a challenging market over the past few years, requiring significant adjustments to meet increasing customer demand for senior expertise. But in the middle of those challenges, the Luleå office demonstrated remarkable resilience.

Today, employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction are both high, and that is what David is most proud of.

“The fact that we’ve managed to build an even stronger and more united team, both among employees and leaders, makes me incredibly proud,” David says. “Our customers consistently praise not only our technical competence but also our professionalism as consultants. We’re in a very strong position now and fully prepared to continue growing during the coming year.”

The team is also looking ahead with curiosity. While AI dominates almost every conversation, David feels that many organizations are still standing at the starting line.

“For a lot of companies, it still feels a bit like the Wild West.”

Helping customers navigate that landscape is a challenge the Luleå team is more than ready to take on.

Curiosity builds the future

As Softhouse celebrates 30 years, David sees it as the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect on the past, and better understand where the company is heading next.

In an industry where the past three years have arguably changed more than the previous twenty-five, the future feels both exciting and unpredictable.

But when it comes to explaining why Softhouse has thrived for three decades, David has no doubts.

“I think it comes down to curiosity and the entrepreneurial spirit to keep thinking differently. If you stop doing that, you don’t survive for thirty years.”