From IT Business Analyst to Team Lead: Heindrig Paabut on Leading a Digital Product Engineering Team

At Bigbank, development is one of our values—not just in our projects, but also in our people. We are always proud to see employees grow, it's also the goal of our HR strategy to ensure we have excellent people and excellent leaders. And Heindrig Paabut is a perfect example how an excellent employee grew into an excellent leader.  

As the Team Lead for the Digital Channels Product Engineering Unit, his main responsibilities include ensuring that development projects move from bright ideas to even brighter realities, driven by his dedicated and trusted team. A key aspect of his role is prioritizing development topics and ensuring that the team is aligned on the most important tasks. Additionally, he is committed to taking care of his team in every way possible—supporting them with challenges, celebrating their successes, and helping to raise important topics to other teams and managers. Heindrig also collaborates closely with other team leads, working together to strategize and ensure smooth teamwork across the organization.

What motivated you to take on a leadership role?

I have earlier experience in a leadership role and it was not for me at the time. I had promised myself that I will never want to be people manager ever again, but when the opportunity arose. I thought about it and wanted to prove 23 year old me that it was not the position, but I was just not ready at the time. I also liked the opportunity to continue working with the team I have been in and have come to highly appreciate.

What was the biggest challenge in stepping up as a Team Lead, and how did you handle it?

Becoming a team lead for developers without development competencies has definitely been a challenge, but I feel the support from the team and seeing how they are taking lead and initiative on the topics is really helping to face this challenge. In addition I can focus more on people themselves, rather than specific technological aspects, so being more of a leader rather than a specialist.

What does being a leader mean to you, and how do you approach leading a team?

Being available for every single person in the team with whatever problems they might have - there is not a problem too small or too big. Also, I try to be as hands on as possible, so I would not be a "manager in the distance", but together in the "trenches" with the whole team.

You’re active as a Defence Force reservist - how do you balance your professional and personal commitments?

Balancing is very easy, if there is a training call I will attend (sometimes mandatory, sometimes voluntarily). I feel that Bigbank supports attending the reservist trainings, so there has never been an issue with going. Furthermore, as the team works together like a well oiled machine, then me being away for couple of weeks does not become much of an issue work wise.

What lessons from your time in the Defence Forces have helped you in your professional role?

Best lessons I have learnt: Humor is one of the most important things. Even in the most critical situations, if you manage to lighten the mood, people are more positive towards their goals. Also, a lot of things are out of our control on which I should not focus on and instead focus on the things I can control - this is still a daily struggle, but I am trying to improve on this every day.   And last, but not least - being present and seen.

What was the most rewarding moment in your leadership journey so far?

Two things - one, when there have been incidents or some more complex topics, it is beautiful to see, how the team comes together and tries to brainstorm for a solution and help each other out. Second, when they ask me "how are you?", a simple thing, but means the world to me as I see they care.

If you could give one piece of career advice to someone looking to grow within the company, what would it be?

Take the leap. Go for it, don't think, don't doubt, go for it. 

At Bigbank, we believe in creating an environment where our people can thrive and grow. Heindrig is a fantastic example of how seizing opportunities and supporting one’s team can lead to both personal and professional success. We look forward to seeing where his leadership journey takes him next!