Hellurei! I'm Mikko.

I've been around in testing since 2007. That's long enough to have opinions, short enough to still be learning from people newer to this than me.

Right now, I'm full-time employed as a QA Lead at a finance industry organization. I’ve been there a while and I have seen and experienced a lot. Quality matters, a lot.

But the work I'm proudest of isn't about testing high-traffic financial systems. It's about what happens to people.

What I actually do

I have been and still am very much involved in competence development, upskilling, coaching and training. Whether workshops, training events or courses, I’ve been there and I’ve seen the benefits and results.

A QA Lead, generally is in a position looking after organization units testers and QA’s. Helping, supporting, guiding, coaching, connecting. Usually it is also about QA strategies and processes development and improvement. It is usually about communication, coaching and mentoring. Been there and done that all.

When I speak at conferences, my talks tend to be about exactly this — how to build QA communities that actually work. Not the theory. The practice. What I've learned from doing it wrong, then gradually less wrong.

The stuff you might want to verify

• 18+ years in software testing
• Full-time QA Lead in financial industry organization
• Heavy emphasis in L&D
• Twice nominated in ”Vuoden Testaaja" (Tester of the Year) competition 2022 and 2024 by Sytyke ry
• Speaker at Swiss Testing Day 2025, TestCon Europe 2024 & 2025, FiSTB Testing Assembly 2024 & 2025
• One of four organizers of Finnish Testing Meetup Group
• Languages: Finnish (native), English (fluent), Swedish (passable), German (conversational), Spanish (basics)

Why I'm starting Paloheimo QA Mentorworks

Building QA communities that outlast any single person — including you.

The ideas I've developed at during my career — about communities, training activities, quality culture — they shouldn't be locked inside one organization. Other companies face the same challenges. Many don't know where to start.

I want to help.

Not by parachuting in with a playbook, but by working alongside you to figure out what works for your specific organization. What I've learned is adaptable, not prescriptive.

Outside work

I'm based in the Helsinki area. I believe strongly in the Finnish approach to work: be honest, be practical, don't overcomplicate, say what you mean.

If any of this resonates, let's have a conversation. No pitch, no agenda — just two people talking about quality.