How kood/Sisu got started, student life, and lessons from a lifelong coder – kood/Cast episode 6

In the latest episode of kood/Cast, we explore the growing world of coding schools, student stories, and the shifting landscape of software development.

Our first guest is Laura Nykänen, Head of kood/Sisu in Finland. Laura shares the incredible story of how kood/Sisu came to life through the collaboration of local businesses determined to bring more tech talent to Eastern Finland. She talks about the importance of peer-to-peer learning and what it takes to meet the evolving needs of the job market.

We also hear from Giordano and Hanna, students from kood/Jõhvi who are also in the school’s Student Council. They discuss their personal coding journeys, the challenge of self-motivation, and how leadership roles at the school have helped them grow. From architecture to design and from Venezuela to Estonia, their stories prove that coding schools attract people from all walks of life.

Finally, Andres Kütt, who has seen it all—from coding on Soviet-era computers to leading architectural teams at Skype. He shares how software development has evolved. He stresses that while AI can help write code, it can’t replace deep problem-solving or strong fundamentals. Soft skills like teamwork and communication remain crucial for success in tech today.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Building a coding school requires community, vision, and adaptability.
• Self-driven learning and peer-to-peer feedback are at the heart of coding success.
• Teamwork is a critical skill — learning to collaborate with diverse teams, resolve conflicts, and manage group dynamics mirrors real-life software development environments.
• AI can simplify code writing but cannot replace deep, conceptual problem-solving skills.
• The future of tech belongs to those who stay curious, adaptable, and committed to lifelong learning.

👉 Listen to the full episode on YouTube and Spotify 

Curious to join kood/Jõhvi? Apply: study.kood.tech