Michal Kořínek

Over the past 10 years, Czech Michal has made significant strides within NN. He started at the service desk, developed into a stream lead of the data integration stream within the DMS team, and became a product owner in early 2025. NN recognized Michal’s potential early on; even without a diploma or work experience, he proved to be a valuable addition to the team of the NN Digital Hub.. His growth path shows that you don’t always have to be at the forefront to seize one of the many career opportunities within the organization. "There are chances here for everyone, as long as you are willing to take them." 

From sales to tech 

Before Michal could pursue his passion, he had to discover what that passion was. One thing he knew for certain: it wasn't sales. "My first job was in sales. I hated it! Personally, I don't like it when people push me to buy something, so I didn't enjoy doing it myself either." After a while, his job ceased to exist. "In hindsight, that was the best thing that could have happened to me. I was freed from a job where I was essentially drowning and where I didn't feel happy." 

He was approached by NN's Digital Hub’s  through a temporary employment agency. "At that time, I didn't have a relevant diploma, and my knowledge and experience didn't perfectly match the role. Yet, NN saw my potential." Michal's role within the service desk? Managing the incoming tickets, requests, and incidents. "It was a great entry-level position, and I enjoyed it. What I especially liked was that I got to know the activities in other IT teams within NN. It gave me an overview of all the possibilities within the organization. That has proved to be very valuable to me later on." 

Growing within NN 

The best part about working at NN, according to Michal? “The people. Everybody is so friendly and helpful. Thanks to the people around me, I was able to learn a lot and grow quickly in a short time. NN didn't just look at what was on my resume, but also at things like character traits and hobbies.” 

When he made the move to a junior position within the Informatica Team, the job requirements did not perfectly match his profile either. Yet, the team manager knew that this role would suit Michal. "It will be fine. You are smart!" he said. And he was right; Michal did very well in the new team. "I didn't have all the necessary knowledge, but I learned a lot on the job about data integration and the quality platform. Within 6 years, I advanced from junior to lead of the Informatica stream. I felt more and more at home in driving improvements and focusing on the security aspect." Michal never anticipated these career steps. "The growth from junior to stream lead is what I'm most proud of. So far, that is; I’m very excited to explore the new opportunity I’ve been given!” 

The role of product owner 

In early 2025, Michal had been granted another opportunity to take a big step in his career: "I am becoming a product owner within team Finfra. This team provides a secure and stable cloud infrastructure for multiple financial applications in Azure." This career step takes place in a field that is still quite new to him: product ownership. "I look forward to discover this new opportunity. Together with other product owners, I ensure the right priorities are being set in the further development of the platform. Together, we keep everyone happy." 

Growing in your own way 

Michal's future plans or long-term goals are not yet set. "I first want to master the role of product owner. After that, I'll see what the future brings." At NN, you don't have to be the one who is always at the forefront to get opportunities. "I have always shown that I work hard, learn quickly, and adapt well to different situations and tasks. That is how I stood out at NN. Effort has to come from both sides, but I find that NN proactively offers opportunities." 

NN also enables progress by offering courses. "You can take unlimited training and courses here, as long as they are relevant. I have personally taken 10 courses during my time at NN. These are opportunities that I seize with both hands. There are plenty of possibilities for everyone here, as long as you want to take advantage of them."