Growing your career in Finland: insights from Dinuka Lankaloka

At Herizon’s recent Fireside Chat, we sat down with Dinuka Lankaloka, Lead Product Designer at Basware. With over a decade of experience across startups and corporates in both Sri Lanka and Finland, Dinuka has gathered unique experience from his early days as a mechanic to becoming a founder, designer and ultimately a design lead.

We discussed everything from navigating Finnish work culture to growing into leadership roles, handling layoffs, and staying relevant in today’s fast-changing world. We collected the best bits and practical insights for you below.

From Mechanic to Product Designer

Dinuka’s professional journey didn’t begin in the tech world at all. “My very first job was as a mechanic. I love cars, so it was something I really enjoyed!” But his path took a sharp turn when he and a group of high school friends founded a startup. What started out as a small website agency soon pivoted into a SaaS business, and Dinuka, with his computer science background, became the front-end-heavy developer on the team.

That’s when design began calling. While developing, he kept noticing ways the product could be improved—made simpler, smarter, more intuitive. “I told the others that we need a designer here, and I’m going to be that person.”

This was the beginning of a new chapter. Having played around with Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and Flash since he was young, the transition felt natural. He first took on UI work, then discovered the bigger world of UX. “I really enjoyed shaping our products and improving the overall experience. That’s how I realized this is what I want to do in life.”

From there, Dinuka moved through a variety of roles: joining a corporate to design a procurement platform, working in AI and data startups during the early days of AI innovation, moving to Finland to join an event-tech startup, and eventually landing at Basware, where he now leads product design.

Startups vs. Corporates: What you learn from each

Having worked in both startups and corporates in Finland, Dinuka has seen how different the worlds can be—and how each shapes you.

In startups, he says, you often wear many hats: “I’ve been a developer, designer, sometimes even the PM. It can be messy, but you learn fast. You try things, make mistakes, and grow. Those experiences shaped me into the end-to-end designer I am today, able to take a project from concept through to delivery.”

Corporates, on the other hand, bring structure and scale. “You may not move as fast, but you learn to work in larger teams and manage stakeholders. Processes may feel slow, but they help avoid chaos and mistakes.” For Dinuka, these lessons are transferable: what you learn in corporates can be applied in startups, and vice versa.

✨ Quick insights

• Startups: Sometimes it’s messy, but you learn a lot. You try things, you make mistakes, and you grow.
• Corporates: You find structure, processes, and scale. It may move slower, but you learn how to manage stakeholders, systems, and risks.

What makes Finnish work culture unique

When asked what stood out to him about working in Finland, Dinuka highlighted three things:

• Work-life balance: “That’s probably the most important part. You learn not to get lost in work.”
• Honesty and straightforwardness: “Unlike some cultures, you don’t need to sugarcoat your opinions. People appreciate hearing your ideas and feedback directly.”
• Connections: “Finland is a small place, and knowing someone really makes a difference. Build and nurture your network—it comes in handy, especially when looking for jobs.”

He also pointed out some differences in hiring practices. For designers, the process often involves a recruiter call, a meeting with the hiring manager, and either a case study walkthrough or design task. Dinuka's advice is to keep track of your applications and learn from each process.

“If you’re juggling 5–6 processes, it’s impossible to remember everything. I use a kanban board, but anything works—as long as you note down what value you bring to the role and what you learn from each conversation.”

Growing in your career in Finland

Career development, according to Dinuka, starts with you—not your manager. In an age where industries evolve rapidly, especially with AI, staying relevant means constant learning. “Read about what’s new, follow good content creators, attend events, and keep yourself up to date.”

At the same time, he underlined the importance of balance between humility and visibility. “I always try to stay humble. It's part of Finnish work culture. But if you want to go the extra mile, you need to make some noise about your work.”

Regularly bringing up career development in 1-on-1s is another key step. “Create a plan, set realistic goals, and review them with your manager. If you ever feel your career is standing still, that’s a sign to take action. Sometimes we don’t realize we’re in a comfort zone, and great things happen outside of it.”

✨ Quick insights

• Stay up to date: Read, follow industry leaders, attend events, and learn continuously.
• Take initiative: Growth starts with you, not your manager. Set your own learning and career goals.
• Speak up: While humility is valued, making “some noise” about your contributions is important.
• Use 1-on-1s: Don’t shy away from career conversations—plan, set goals, and review them with your manager.

Growing into Senior and Lead roles

As Dinuka describes it, the journey from junior to senior to lead shifts your focus step by step:

• Junior: Focus on your craft—pixels, flows, and wireframes.
• Senior: Less about your own output, more about enabling others and aligning with business goals.
• Lead: Coaching, influencing, and making sure the team as a whole is successful.

“As an IC (Individual Contributor/specialist), success is about your work. As a leader, your success is the team’s outcomes. You become the funnel for praise, and the shield for the hard stuff.”

For him, the signal that he was ready for leadership came when he found himself naturally mentoring and guiding others. “Not because it was in my job description, but because I enjoyed helping the team move forward.”

✨ Quick insights

• Start acting like a leader before you get the title.
• Take ownership, ask about business goals and strategy
• Learn when to speak up and when to listen.

Facing layoffs and tough times

Layoffs are a reality many have faced recently, and Dinuka shared his own experiences openly. In Finland, he explained, there’s usually a standard procedure lasting a few weeks, but the uncertainty can still be tough.

“It’s natural to lose motivation. If it starts to affect you, talk to someone. Tell your manager how you feel. Even if it doesn’t solve everything, at least they know.”

He stressed the importance of acceptance, reaching out for support when needed. And once you’ve regained some footing, layoffs can even open doors. “If you’ve always wanted to study, travel, or upskill, this might be the perfect time.”

✨ Quick insights

• Don’t take it personally: “Layoffs are about business realities, not your talent. They hired you for a reason.”
• Give yourself time: Recovery looks different for everyone; some bounce back quickly, others need weeks or months. Listen to yourself.
• Take care of your mental health: Get outside, move your body, eat well, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. “Identifying you need help and asking for it is a strength.”
• Practical steps: Join an unemployment fund and, if you want, a union. They provide both financial support and legal clarity.

Final words of encouragement

As the fireside chat came to a close, Dinuka shared words of encouragement for anyone navigating today’s challenging job market:

“It is a difficult time, we all know that. But that doesn’t mean there are no good opportunities out there. Stay relevant, keep yourself sane, and remember—nothing is forever. The opportunity you’re looking for is coming. There’s always light at the end of the tunnel. And don’t forget to use your network.”

Building a career in Finland is as much about continuous learning and resilience as it is about embracing balance, honesty, and connections.

We hope Dinuka's story gives you perspective and inspiration to stay curious, seek connection and have grace for yourself when difficult times happen 💜