Meet the Team: Juha Männikkö, CTO at Marfle

Marfle is growing, and so is our team. Today marks the official launch of our new series: Meet the Team. In this series, we’ll take you behind the scenes to explore the backgrounds, experiences, and stories of the people who make Marfle what it is today.

To kick things off, we’re introducing Juha Männikkö, Marfle’s Chief Technology Officer. He leads the technological heart of our operations, ensuring we deliver meaningful results for our customers.

With over 24 years of experience in software development and engineering leadership, Juha has built and led high-performing, cross-functional teams across different industries. We sat down with him to talk about his journey, the challenges of his role, and what he sees coming next for the industry.

Without further ado, let’s dive in.

From Northern Roots to Tech Leadership

After completing his studies in Oulu, where he also began his career as a software developer, Juha made the move to Helsinki in search of broader opportunities. He spent over a decade at Elisa Appelsiini, growing from hands-on product development into leadership roles, ultimately becoming Director of Software Development.

He later expanded his perspective at Futurice, where he joined as a Principal, working across different industries, an experience that sharpened both his strategic thinking and adaptability. Before joining Marfle, he led engineering teams at Yousician, contributing to the development of GuitarTuna, one of the world’s most widely used music apps.

Today, at Marfle, that diverse background comes together in a role that goes beyond traditional engineering leadership.

“Working in a smaller company has its perks. I’m involved in every stage - from shaping new ideas with customers, partners, and co-workers to building the product roadmap and seeing it through to deployment. Being part of the entire process is what makes it truly rewarding!”

A Role with Many Moving Parts

There’s no such thing as a typical day in Juha’s role. The scope is broad, with multiple moving pieces - from aligning the engineering team and reviewing technical decisions to shaping product direction and supporting ongoing development.

But with that breadth comes complexity. One of the biggest challenges lies in decision-making: what to build next, where to focus, and how to balance competing priorities across the business. With ideas and requests coming from different directions, finding the right path forward is rarely straightforward.

At its core, the challenge is about choosing the right approach for what comes next, both in the short term and further ahead. Strategic planning, especially in a constantly evolving industry like maritime, requires not only technical insight but also the ability to anticipate what the market will need before it becomes obvious.

“It comes down to identifying where the real value will be next, committing to the right priorities, and using the data we possess to sharpen our decision-making. At the end of the day, it is our best ally.”

Driving Impact Where It Matters

Stepping into a new industry always comes with a learning curve, and maritime technology was no exception. While Juha’s past experiences provided a strong foundation, he knew it wouldn’t be enough. Building a deep understanding of the industry - its complexities, constraints, and opportunities - became essential to translating that knowledge into practical, scalable product improvements.

And what better way to start than with a challenge?

Since then, Juha has focused on refining processes and improving how the engineering team operates. Under his leadership, the team has embraced AI to accelerate product development and make technical documentation faster and more consistent. In a smaller company, leveraging tools like these is key, especially when time is limited, customer expectations are rising, and the market is more competitive than ever.

But real progress is never a solo effort. A big part of that impact comes from the team itself. With diverse backgrounds and complementary skill sets, the engineering team brings different perspectives to the table - something Juha sees as essential to building better solutions.

“When you have people with different strengths working toward the same goal, that’s when you start seeing meaningful progress. Creating an environment where those perspectives come together is what makes the difference.”

The improvements haven’t been limited to engineering. They’ve extended across the entire company. Regular monthly demos now bring sales, marketing, and engineering together, creating shared visibility into ongoing work, recent releases, and product direction. By showcasing new features and progress firsthand, these sessions help align teams and strengthen collaboration.

Clear quarterly and yearly product roadmaps have also played a key role, bringing structure, transparency, and a shared sense of direction regarding the path Marfle is taking.

Beyond the Code

Outside of work, Juha’s time is just as active and hands-on. When he’s not leading engineering efforts, you’ll likely find him in the sauna, spending time on his boat, or involved in community gardening, a tradition that’s deeply rooted in Finnish culture - going back to before the country gained its independence, in 1917.

He’s also always had a strong connection to sports. From snowboarding to football, staying active has been a constant throughout his life. In fact, he was part of a team that became national champions in Hungary in 2005. Impressive, right?

Whether it’s through sports, time outdoors, or community activities, that same energy and curiosity carry over into how he approaches both work and life.

Lessons from the Journey

Looking back, Juha credits much of his growth to stepping outside of his comfort zone and embracing new challenges early on. Gaining diverse experience, especially in fast-paced environments like consulting, helped him build the adaptability and perseverance needed for leadership roles.

Beyond technical skills and experience, his advice to those aspiring to a CTO role, or beginning their journey in software development, is simple:

“The more you put yourself out there and take on real challenges, the more you grow. Stay curious, enjoy the process, and don’t be afraid to talk to your customers; they often have the insights you didn’t know you were missing. And if I could tell my younger self one thing: go for it, don’t overthink it, and enjoy the journey.”

That’s all for today. A big thank you to Juha for giving us a glimpse into the person behind the journey that shaped him and the mindset behind Marfle’s engineering leadership.

And keep an eye out...this series is just getting started.

See you soon! 👋

About the author

Ana Rosa

Ana is the Marketing Specialist at Marfle, bringing over five years of international experience in content marketing, product marketing, graphic design, and SEO. With a strategic mindset, her focus is on positioning Marfle as a leader in smart fleet analytics, helping fleet managers streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce CO2 emissions.