Talent Stories: Fahim Orko & BrainBites

Welcome to the highlights of Herizon Internship Program! ✨

We talked to Fahim Abrar Orko from Centria University of Applied Sciences, and here are Fahim’s thoughts on his collaboration with his company and Herizon over the past three months.

Fahim collaborated with BrainBites, an AI-powered platform designed to help organizations find and connect with top professionals and executives based on their experience, goals, and values. 

Here’s a highlight Fahim shared with us:

I realized this experience wasn’t just about coding, it was about understanding how a company operates, how teams collaborate, and how great products are built with attention to detail and long-term vision.

My Journey at BrainBites: A Leap into the Unknown

When I joined BrainBites, a Helsinki-based startup focused on making life easier for recruiters, I was stepping into uncharted territory. It was my first experience working in a professional tech environment, and while I felt nervous and overwhelmed, I was also excited to see what came next. One thing about me is that I don’t fear failure, I’ve had enough experience with it to know that it only pushes me to work harder and improve.

More than anything, I really liked the company’s vision and the team, so I wanted to help in anyway I could.

Building the Web Scraper: The First Big Challenge

My first major task was to build a web scraper app that could track changes on certain websites and automatically send notifications to the team on Slack. At first, it seemed straightforward—by the fourth week, the initial version was complete and running smoothly. But then came the fine-tuning, and that’s when I truly understood what it meant to develop software for a company rather than just for myself.

• Scalability: The scraper had to handle larger data loads over time.
• Logging: Every run needed to be recorded for debugging and tracking.
• Optimization: Using regex helped clean and format the data more efficiently.

If this had been a personal project, I probably would have stopped at the first working version. But in a professional setting, details matter. Every feature had to be designed with the future in mind, ensuring that the app could scale and adapt over time.

Vue.js to React.js: Learning in the Deep End

Once the scraper was running, I moved on to another key project helping transition BrainBites' codebase from Vue.js to React.js with TypeScript.

I was already comfortable with React, but Vue.js and TypeScript were new challenges. It took time to understand how the existing Vue components worked and how they could be efficiently translated into React. I successfully converted three major components, but beyond the technical skills, this project taught me something even more valuable, how a real-world company structures its codebase.

I realized how TypeScript makes large-scale applications safer and more maintainable. It eliminates so many small, frustrating errors that might otherwise only show up later in production.

The Value of a Mentor

Beyond building features, I also worked on UI testing, ensuring that new patches and updates didn’t break anything visually or functionally. At one point, Kamil Zajac, CTO and I even planned on building a new feature, but unfortunately, we ran out of time before we could start developing it.

What stood out the most was the mentorship I received from our CTO, Kamil. I had been coding on my own for a long time, but this was different. Having a senior developer guide me through industry best practices accelerated my growth in ways I hadn’t expected.

• He challenged me to think beyond just getting things to work.
• His feedback reshaped my approach to writing scalable, maintainable code.
• I learned that a strong mentor can change the way you see development entirely.

A Glimpse into the Future

By the end of my internship, I realized this experience wasn’t just about coding, it was about understanding how a company operates, how teams collaborate, and how great products are built with attention to detail and long-term vision.

I walked away with new skills, a new perspective, and a deeper appreciation for teamwork. More importantly, it solidified my passion for software development in a professional environment. Working at BrainBiteAi gave me a taste of what’s ahead, and I can’t wait to keep growing from here.

My Journey with Herizon: a Transformative Experience

I first heard about Herizon from a friend during one of my courses at Centria UAS. Out of curiosity, I decided to check it out, and I’m so glad I did, it turned out to be one of the most exciting and eye-opening programs I’ve ever been a part of.

The first two weeks were packed with online sessions led by Sini and Daria, where they introduced us to the program and shared insights on how to navigate our professional journeys successfully. I had always heard phrases like “Communication is key” and “Always be transparent”, but Herizon didn’t just repeat them, they explained the why behind these principles.

We all know communication is important, but why exactly does it matter? What impact does it have on trust, teamwork, and reliability? Herizon broke it down in a way that truly stuck with me. They also emphasized the importance of asking for help, clarifying uncertainties, and never being afraid to ask questions, a mindset shift that has been invaluable.

The Power of Reporting & Documentation

One of the most practical lessons I learned was the importance of reporting and documentation. Each week, we were required to submit a Monday Report and update our project report dashboard, detailing the work we had done and what we planned for the following week.

At first, this felt like just another task, but soon I realized its true value, it creates clarity, accountability, and transparency. Even with regular meetings, having a written record helps companies and teams track progress over time. If someone wanted to check what I worked on three weeks ago, they could easily find it. This habit not only makes you more reliable but also strengthens trust within a team.

Standing Out & The Power of Connections

Another major takeaway from Herizon was the importance of building connections and making yourself visible. We had a bootcamp on LinkedIn where we learned how to craft posts and share our journeys in a way that resonates with others.

Before this, I never really thought about posting online. But Herizon showed me that sharing your experiences help you stand out. It’s not just about job opportunities, it’s about motivation, inspiration, and learning from like-minded people. When you see someone succeed, it encourages you to push forward, and when you share your own progress, it might inspire someone else.

Commentary by Helene Auramo, CEO & Founder at BrainBites

We became interested in the program after exploring the Herizon website. The approach and structure of the internship program resonated with us, and we saw potential value in integrating it into our company. Since we already operate as an international team, we believed this model could align well with our way of working.

Our experience with the program was excellent. Working with Fahim was particularly rewarding—he was proactive, intelligent, and brought valuable insights to the team. The collaboration was smooth, and the internship program provided a structured yet flexible framework.

One of the key takeaways is the importance of providing clear tasks and well-defined goals from the start. It is crucial to be available for interns, offering guidance, and supporting their success. Additionally, assigning them meaningful and engaging tasks ensures they contribute effectively and gain valuable learning experiences throughout the internship.

Fahim, thank you for participating in Herizon Internship Program! We wish you progress and success in your current and upcoming projects!💜