Meet employees in Product Development and Tech

Zane Štrausa

Business Coordinator in Technology Management Support team at SEB Global services centre in Riga

Zane’s story: learning is the key to thriving

Zane’s story at SEB began just a little over a year ago, as looking for new challenges, she joined its tech department. She still jokes about being the ‘least techy person’ there. In her everyday work, Zane supports the department’s managers in things related to HR and teambuilding. Zane took of co-leadership in SEB’s volunteer organisation not long ago, and now organises exciting and meaningful employee engagement activities with her team of volunteers.

Zane, how did your career path at SEB begin?

I’d heard many positive things about SEB as an employer for quite some time. The company's culture was a significant factor for me looking for a new job, because of my past negative experiences in that regard. It’s very challenging to work in a place where you can’t be yourself, and your growth is limited because of that. It was because of the culture and career development that I applied for a job opening at SEB. The first job that I applied for is not the one I’m holding now. Sometimes pieces fall in the right places and opportunities start happening all at once. As soon as I applied for one job, there was another that was a much better fit for my preferences and experience. This is how I ended up here, and after a year of working at SEB, I can say that I am where I’m supposed to be.

What do you like the most about your work?

What I like the most is that there’s no routine. There’s something new every day: new projects, new challenges. I’ve still got a lot to learn in this process. Right now, I’m using my project management skills on a regular basis, and in our team, we’re trying to find ways to introduce the ‘agile’ approach to our processes. I have the time and opportunity to learn things, to research interesting topics. I can’t imagine my everyday work without ChatGPT. It helps a lot while generating ideas and creating communication. I like that there is a balance between daily tasks and creative ones. 

What motivates you to learn, to acquire new skills?

I am ambitious by nature, I like achieving new heights, and I strive for excellence in my work. Because of modern technologies and new approaches to work, performing well on your tasks means being in the process of learning all the time. This motivates you to keep learning and gaining new skills. Here, at SEB, there are a lot of ways to develop. We have online learning platform, we’ve got access to Pluralsight and Coursera, and people use those possibilities regularly. We also have internal targets, spending at least four hours a month learning. This culture of education really inspires you and makes you want to keep up with the tempo.

Have you had the chance to use this new knowledge?

Yes, I try to put to good use everything I learn, and I share it with colleagues, too. We have special groups where we routinely share the helpful tools we find out about and other new stuff. Project management skills also helped me with my new challenge: not long ago, I became the leader of Drive4U, which is our internal volunteering initiative. There are two leaders, and we work in tandem. I hadn’t had any experience managing the group like this before, but I’ve decided to apply for the position, to test my leadership skills, and to help improve our company’s internal culture through meaningful activities. We learn in the process, and we can already see changes, which feels incredibly gratifying.

How do you think SEB’s working environment and culture help people grow?

I believe that the individual, their needs, and their potential are in the centre of attention. In the environment like this, receiving support from colleagues can contribute to achieve your growth potential. A lot depends on the person, of course: you do have to want to learn, to be open, and to take effort. If you put in the effort, your work will not go unnoticed, and opportunities will appear!

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Inga Ruduša

Head of Product Development in SEB’s Baltic Division

What do relationships mean to you personally?

“Everything I do is with and through people so relationships are the basis for everything” Inga explains. “My job requires aspects of building strategy and brainstorming about the future and solutions for our customers. Through the co-creating with the people, the vision is created. I’m leading quite a big team and I see myself contributing to my team’s growth; I only succeed if they succeed. My working day is full of meetings; very little silent sitting and much more focus on speaking and listening to people to understand and support them. Everything we do requires building personal relationships.”

In what way does SEB create a welcoming and friendly environment?

Inga says: “For me, my experience with SEB has always been very democratic. The company welcomes and appreciates opinions and I have never felt it is heavily hierarchical.” She adds: “It’s a really engaging environment and there is so much encouragement to contribute and co-create. In SEB, irrespective of your position, people are speaking directly to you and asking for your input in a warm way.”

How important is curiosity and growth at work?

“Even today, I just learned about three new products!” Inga exclaims. “That’s a perfect illustration of how exciting SEB is and I’m always able to learn something new. I have spent 26 years with SEB and I’m always asked how I spent so much time here, but my main reason is that I was able to change and evolve in the same company. SEB is universal bank with international presence and as employee you can gain very broad experience, especially if you show interest and engagement.”

What has been the biggest driver of your personal development at SEB?

“At the beginning, it was my managers who saw something and believed in me more than I believed in myself. I had a positive push from those leading me to step out of my comfort zone, and it built my self-confidence” she says. “After I finished off a very large project I approached my managers and said I’m open to work anywhere they need me, and I’m curious to learn new areas, and that feeling was a strong driver for me.”

How do you feel challenges create opportunities at SEB?

“SEB is a very strong position bank with a big history, which creates a strong identity, but also legacy. It’s sometimes more difficult to question things we are doing because we’ve been doing them forever.” She explains with an example: “I had someone joining our team who was continuously asking why we do things a certain way. If your answer is “historically”, you start to question yourself. We should ask that question ourselves much more often, and when you are open and honest with yourself, this creates opportunities.”

How has SEB innovating for a sustainable future impacted you?

“I have been positively triggered by the new SEB purpose: “We exist to positively shape the future”. This is an extremely positive driving force to me. It’s much easier to find satisfaction when you your work in production and can see and touch a tangible result, but in the service business it can be more difficult.” Inga adds: “Our impact comes through the success of our customers. If we can create a better future for our customers and society, through our responsible advice and capital, we steer customers to make better choices which is a really appealing message to think about.”

What is something you feel is on the horizon that will be impactful in the world of finance or sustainability?

Inga feels that “there are multiple things that will come, some closer and some further down the road. Our expectations from customers will start to change drastically, to a focus on digital and mobile solutions, they will be looking for comfort and convenience. Another is a focus on sustainability, we have had to redefine our business models, our risk mitigation routines, anti-money laundering and so on. It will be exciting but also very heavily regulated.”

How do you practice sustainability in your everyday life?

“I would love to set ambitions for zero-waste in our family, but currently we are very far from it. We do small things, for example: recycle everything that can be recycled. And if some things can still be used they are either used by us, donated to someone in need or repurposed. I have also started my personal fight against consumerism. With 3 fast growing teenagers at home, I cannot really stop buying clothes. At the same time, I am super happy that we picked up the tradition of replacing physical presents (gifts) for adults in our extended family with donations to a good cause. This Christmas we will donate in support of the Ukraine.”

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Andris Korčagins

Head of Workplace unit Latvia, IT Team lead

Your career at the bank started during the Shadow Days. How did it happen?

In 2011, I noticed a Shadow Day banner on the then then-popular networking website Draugiem.lv and applied to be a shadow for Raitis Avots, then Vice President for IT at SEB Bank. The competition was fierce - more than 70 kids per slot - but I guess the organisers liked my covering letter. When I got the news from the bank’s marketing officer that I had been selected, I ran around the table several times with joy. Incidentally, this marketing officer and I later became colleagues. It was February, it was freezing cold - about minus 30 degrees outside. I had to be at the bank at 9 of the clock but I was already there at 8 of the clock so as not to be late. I spent a whole day with Raitis Avots, saw how the work is organised and learned a lot by seeing what the work is all about. I realised that the key is communication with colleagues, and the ability to connect the right person with the right task. When I was planning to start my own business, I had already had business cards printed, so at the end of the day I was quite proud to present them with my name: “If you ever have any questions, just call me.” I had Eminem’s “Lose yourself” in my head at the time, the part where he sings, “You only get one shot. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.” Every time I drove past the Bank of Iecava, I thought: if only I could work here one day! Four months later, I was offered a job as part of a project. Although it was just unpacking computers, I came to work every day in a suit. Because I worked in a bank, you know!

What were your first job responsibilities?

My first task was to unpack the computers and register their serial numbers. It was the time of massive replacement of computers, so there was no shortage of work. As part of this project, my colleagues and I visited the bank’s branches almost all over Latvia. Then, at the end of 2012, I was offered a permanent job. The idea of starting my own business remained somewhere in the shadows because I really wanted to try it out here.

Why were you so attracted to SEB?

This may be partly explained by a previous emotional attachment to the bank. My mother is a lifelong SEB customer, still from the days of Unibanka (the name of the bank in Latvia before it was taken over by SEB), so I was often in the Bauska branch and liked it. Even when I first came to Valdlauci, it was the special aura of the office that attracted me. I am grateful to my boss at the time, Raitis Avots, and the current SEB Bank board member, Kārlis Danēvičs, for setting an example of how I wanted to be in terms of communication and dealing with colleagues. They were great at dealing with situations where colleagues were struggling, where emotions or resentment took over – they were great at making sure that the colleague was happy after the conversation and not left in despair. This is very useful now that I have become head of the department where I have worked for over 10 years. I do not like the feeling that the boss is someone higher who gives orders. I want to achieve a real team feeling and spirit of working all together. 

What does the Workplace Department do?

This department ensures that staff has a functional workplace – a computer and associated software, monitor, and other equipment that works is maintained and updated in a timely manner. The department is responsible for this in all three Baltic States. The second part of the work is to communicate with our partners, manufacturers, and suppliers. The third part is to coordinate and supervise the daily maintenance of the physical IT equipment for our customers – the employees in the Baltic States. To understand the scale of this work, we are talking about more than 4,500 computers that need to be functional, with up-to-date software and everything they need for their daily work. 

How did your interest in computers begin?

It probably started with the first computer my mother gave me. At that time, the internet was not so widespread, there was no internet in our house, for example. There was one at school, so I joined a club run by my godfather, who was a computer science teacher at Iecava Secondary School. At home, I did experiments with my computer. After a while, I repaired and upgraded my friends’ computers. At some point I realised that I could make money with computers. Later I enrolled at the Riga State Technical University as a computer systems engineer. To be honest, I did not learn anything new there, because I had already “broken through” everything myself. In my third year, I began working at SEB alongside my studies.

What makes you emotionally attached to SEB Bank?

The internal culture, the staff, and the sense of community. Everyone is working towards the same goal, and it shows in the bank. When I provide a service to my colleagues, the first thing I think is: how would I like to receive such a service? What kind of work would I like to have? For me, that is the “key” to good service. We must have been on the right track because this year we received two awards in the nominations for the best internal staff and teams of the year - one for our team in the “World Class Service” category and one for one of our team members in the “Best Support” category for outstanding responsiveness in supporting internal colleagues.

What is the Bank’s role in society more broadly?

We are a socially very active and responsible organisation. That is very important to me. We promote economic development, invest in social initiatives and raise awareness of sustainability issues. For example, the bank donates computers to those who cannot afford them. In the last six years, more than 1,000 computers have been donated. I appreciate that the bank is not just about making money, but much more. I am proud of my job. My friends tell me that I already have so much green blood!”

What still motivates you after ten years at the bank?

The fact that I can make my colleagues happy, that I feel useful. A new computer on the desk may not be a big and lasting thing, but it brings joy. People say thank you and that gives me satisfaction. You could say that I am motivated by the fact that I treat people humanely and get that attitude back. I am also motivated by the fact that I am involved in the construction of the new bank building, where I am responsible for the technical equipment of the workstations, the working environment, and the functionality of the audio and video equipment according to the highest global trends. 

What are the main reasons why you would recommend SEB as a place to work to others?

This is a socially responsible company that respects human values. And there are excellent colleagues here. There is a good balance between working and resting hours because the working hours are flexible. The most important thing is to get the job done.

What do you do in your free time?

Being a patriot of my country, I am on active duty in the National Guard. I also participate in mini-rallies, I like to test the limits of fear by participating in Downhill (helmet, armour and downhill on ski hills). I also do boxing, which has been a bit neglected lately. That sounds like a lot of different hobbies. However, I have found that the more you do, the more you accomplish.

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Zane Meņģelsone

Business developer, Customer data and Digital development department

How did you start working at SEB?

When I was 16, my mother brought me my first junior payment card, which happened to be a SEB banka card. I thought – if I could work in a bank one day! Sometime later I submitted my CV specifically to SEB banka and after a while, I ended up in the card department. The idea of working for a bank must have been strong enough. This year I can look back on my 16 years of experience at SEB banka where I started as a customer service specialist, which helped me to get to know and profoundly understand the customers’ needs. Now, when developing new products or solutions, this is very useful. I can look from a customer’s perspective at how customers will take this or that innovation. This experience was very valuable.

What does it mean to work as a business developer?

The team I work for is in charge of the bank’s core system, which is maintained by the bank’s customer service specialists. On a day-to-day basis, this means that I provide support in using the system. My tasks include testing solutions, setting up new projects, and writing queries to colleagues at IT and regular meetings. For example, in our morning meetings - stand-ups as we call them - we test ideas, and new approaches and discuss problems together. Here you can feel how important it is for people of different generations and backgrounds to work together. I would like to add that my work is never routine – no two days are alike. 

What advice would you give to those thinking of working for a bank?

I have always recommended SEB banka as a place to work - also for young adults and trainees. Firstly, because of the variety of experiences you can have here. Secondly, because of an emotionally safe and pleasant working environment with supportive colleagues, which is especially important at the beginning of your career. For this reason, I think SEB is a great employer that offers a wide range of development opportunities. This is mainly thanks to the bank’s management, which encourages and supports its colleagues. I have experienced this support myself - the managers listen to my advice and have helped me grow both professionally and as a person. I should also mention the important, cool feeling of being appreciated and having your work valued.

Why should you try your hand at technology and IT?

Because this is an area of infinite potential - new technological possibilities and new needs are emerging all the time. This creates a constant challenge and opportunities to always offer something new. And this great demand means good growth opportunities for young professionals. The importance of an open team that welcomes new colleagues on the one hand and prevents experienced staff from getting “stuck” on the other. 

IT and technology are about innovation. How does this manifest itself in your daily life?

Innovation is a broad term in our work because it implies something qualitatively new and unprecedented. A bank is like a big ship – a gust of wind will not rock it, it is stable. However, when a new need or proposal is ripe enough and the “ship” is headed for a new course, it is very thorough. For us, it is important to be convenient and accessible for our customers, so innovation is an integral part of our daily routine. The Bank has an Innovation Centre [established in Latvia in 2018, there are similar centres in Lithuania and Estonia] where experts from different areas work to identify the latest changes and “capture” ideas that could be turned into solutions that people need. 

What encourages you most in the innovation process?

I have always focused on the customer and on providing the most convenient and useful service possible. Putting the customer’s needs first is the best encouragement to make decisions and launch new things. Simply then you know that this is something that is necessary.

What would you say is the most valuable innovation of your team?

I have been working in this team for less than a year, and the most striking of our innovations are the so-called paperless branches that are being rolled out across the Baltic. This means that we do away with all printouts in our customer service: all documents, their circulation, and storage are digitised. What cannot be done remotely can be done in our branches, where we offer customers the possibility to sign documents on a tablet. This is a project towards sustainability, which is very important to SEB banka in all its activities.

Does working for a bank make you feel useful to the wider society?

Sure. The above-mentioned project is just that. On the one hand, we are reducing paper consumption, and on the other, we are setting an example for our customers. We also encourage them to think and act sustainably. Therefore, this is one of those projects where you feel you are having an impact on society. That is very satisfying, that is the added value of this work.

If you had to name three reasons to work at SEB, what would they be?

First, a safe and stable working environment. Secondly, opportunities to develop and grow - if you are willing to learn and do more. My first job at the bank was in customer service, then in cards, then in business development. There are many offers; you just have to be willing to take them. I would like to point out that each of these positions has given me a tremendous amount of input and motivation and has actually given me new energy for the next phase of my work. It’s like changing jobs without changing jobs, which prevents you from falling into a routine and falling asleep in your current position. The third important point is the international experience because we work in all the Baltic countries.

Are you proud of your employer?

Yes. And there are several reasons for this - the sustainability aspect, which is particularly important for our bank, the employer’s support for employees, and the broader responsibility towards society. For example, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, we got an extra day off to volunteer. SEB’s investment in the training of its employees is another manifestation of this. For example, as part of a competition launched by the bank to co-finance five or six employees to study for a second bachelor’s or master’s degree, I received funding for a master’s degree, which was a very motivating and useful bonus.

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Raivis Lazdāns

RPA team lead / Lead automation developer

What do robotics specialists do at the bank?

I have been leading the bank’s Robotic Process Automation team at the Baltic level since December 2022. As a small team, our main objective is to develop innovative solutions and identify areas where robots and artificial intelligence can make life easier and more efficient. Digital robots can mimic human actions to relieve our colleagues from routine tasks. A manifestation of these digital robots is the repetitive execution of relatively simple actions. However, the next step is the incorporation of artificial intelligence that allows them to deal with more complex situations in the future. During the process of automatically processing a scanned document, for example, a robot must be capable of distinguishing between a long stroke over a letter and a strip that is just similar to a long stroke.

Can you think of another example where robots are already working for humans today?

Robots are already preparing templates for various contracts. We also use them to communicate with our clients, for example, to remind them of documents to be submitted. As a result, our employees are not required to write to each customer individually via email or SMS, but it happens automatically and much more quickly. 

Do robots test themselves? That is, are they able to tell that they have made a mistake?

Compared to a human, however, a robot is more accurate because it is not tired on Friday evening after a long week at work or on Monday morning after a holiday. And yes - robots have a special safety mechanism built in that makes them constantly check themselves. This happens regularly, every minute, every evening of the day or at some other interval. As soon as the robot detects an abnormality, it notifies the human. The system is designed so that the robot does not skip any of the required steps. Unlike humans, robots do not skip steps - for reasons of fatigue and routine or to move on to a more important task. The results of work processes are more accurate and efficient when robots are involved.

How do you look for and find new solutions where robots can help colleagues?

As robotics was taking off six years ago, we held many meetings and discussions with colleagues to find out what the most pressing needs were and what opportunities there were for automation. We held brainstorming sessions and gradually came up with the first solutions. In the meantime, we have developed our brand within the bank to the point where colleagues themselves come to us with ideas and questions about how we can help. Sometimes these are fully developed ideas that just need to be properly planned and implemented. We regularly participate in process improvement workshops with colleagues from different departments of the bank and inform them about the possibilities offered by modern robotics solutions. 

What are your department’s future goals and ambitions?

One goal is to incorporate more AI into automation. In the world of AI systems, these solutions are getting smarter and are not just based on a "yes-no" principle. It is about deductive reasoning, the ability to "think" and solve more complex problems by mimicking human thinking. Another important goal is to integrate more data analysis into these processes, so that the robot can draw conclusions based on a larger amount of information than a human can. 

But surely you can go as far as the world’s solutions will allow in this endeavour?

Not quite, because most of the time we develop solutions ourselves, from scratch. Of course, there are things that we adapt here, but there are also things that we develop all by ourselves, taking into account our specific needs. So we are only limited by our own knowledge when it comes to the possibilities.

The next visible leap forward in this area could be the involvement of the robot’s voice in communication with the customer. Can we expect it in the near future?

To a certain extent, this is already possible, e.g., when you write a text with Google translation solutions and receive a translated version with it. For websites, there are automatic translations that are becoming increasingly "intelligent" and understand not only individual words but also the context of the text. The only thing left to do is to add language to the solution. The practical application of such a solution is the question here - as soon as it is mature, the solutions will be available.

How did you become interested in robots?

Like many people, my passion for computers began in childhood. One becomes more interested in it when one is able not only to use an existing possibility, but also to influence and transform it, for example a computer game created by somebody else. So the first steps were hacking computer games to get more possibilities. Next came the automation of computer games, the development of robots that played for humans over a very long and patient period of time. I studied business administration because I am passionate about working with people, not just robots. SEB gave me the opportunity to get more involved with robotics since they may have noticed my efforts to automate some processes that were not running as efficiently as they could. At the bank, I was first a card processing specialist, then a securities specialist. Although I initially taught myself robotics, SEB provided me with a solid theoretical foundation through a special training programme.

What is SEB Bank as an employer?

First and foremost, there are opportunities for growth. These range from career opportunities to training where you can develop your skills extensively. The internal culture here is geared towards encouraging employees to grow. Secondly, people at SEB are always open and helpful. This applies to colleagues and to the public. Thirdly, there is the freedom of flexitime. The option to work remotely is important to me because I live in Latgale. And one of the manifestations of this freedom is the robotics training I give to children in my hometown Livani.

What are your hobbies?

The orchard I grow at home is one of my hobbies. As a person who enjoys long-term processes, I find the garden to be very fulfilling. Another hobby that helps me relieve pressure is boxing and kickboxing.

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Kornelijus Pacevičius

Software Developer

When and how did your career in IT start?

My career in IT started when I joined Gediminas Technical University in Vilnius. I was looking for a job from the very beginning. There was a publishing house at the university that hired me as an electronic publishing specialist. Since I had studied software development, I wanted to try my hand in this field, and here I also had the opportunity to work at my university for a while. In autumn 2021, together with friends, we took part in the Hack4Vilnius hackathon organised by Vilnius City Council, which was a great opportunity to share experiences, make new contacts, and exchange ideas. Given the relevance of sustainability, our idea and proposal for the hackathon were to develop an app that “rewards” users for making sustainable choices and decisions. For example, if you use your own cup in a café or buy food without using the packaging, points are collected in the app. You can then use these to choose one of the offers from the programme’s partners. The jury at the hackathon really liked our idea and we were awarded first place. Incidentally, I later used this idea as the basis for my bachelor’s thesis.

What made you decide to study technology specifically?

During my senior year in high school, I decided to pursue a career in technology. I was never really fascinated by other professions. I also realised that engineering was a broad field in which I could specialise or focus on a particular area of interest in the future. This is how it happened - I gradually became interested in software development when I realised that this was something that excited me and that I would like to work with. Today I can say that this was the right approach and the right decision.

And how did you end up at SEB?

At the end of my studies, I applied for an internship programme offered by SEB bank. I applied to several places, but I was particularly happy about the SEB offer because, firstly, it was a paid internship and, secondly, it offered exactly what I was most interested in professionally. To be honest, I knew nothing about banking, so there were a lot of interesting things I learned and experienced during my internship here. In March last year, I started working full-time for SEB as a bank employee.

What can you say about SEB after your first year here?

There is a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere at SEB and the work processes are flexible. Of course, everyone knows what needs to be done and when, but deadlines are never an end in themselves. I have heard this from friends who have done internships in other countries. Another important value is the colleagues and the level of mentorship. The people who do this work are really dedicated and approachable, so it’s easy for new employees to integrate at SEB.

What area are you responsible for as a software developer?

The bank has a large product development area where there are several teams or tribes as we call them. As far as the structure of the teams is concerned, there are business developers, who take care of the business side, and IT developers, who bring new technological solutions to life and ensure their functionality. It should be emphasised that the two sides work as a team and complement each other. Each team is responsible for a specific area. In my case, it is the area of financing and loans, but speaking of my team’s responsibility, it is the area of corporate customers. For example, we are currently working on a system to calculate the amount of capital to be allocated to a customer, considering the financial information submitted and other data about that customer. In fact, it is about assessing customers as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

What would you like to achieve in this job?

Since I have only been here for about a year, I am mainly interested in consolidating my knowledge and experience in software development. I want to understand how the bank’s products are designed so that I can contribute my ideas to improve them. Fortunately, SEB offers a variety of online courses as well as conferences that provide both additional knowledge and a comprehensive insight into the latest global developments in the field. Furthermore, the bank has a good library if you want to study a topic in more depth.

What do you like most about this job?

I like the fact that we are, in a sense, offering people the very latest –  you could even say the future – solutions and opportunities with our banking products. Apart from that, I appreciate the opportunity to make the work of colleagues in the bank easier and more efficient through automation and digitalisation. It is very satisfying to hear that our solutions work. 

What hobbies do you have?

Watching films, and TV series, and sometimes playing computer games. I used to play the guitar. Last but not least, I am passionate about basketball, like all Lithuanians.

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