Here comes Jurgen - the down to earth but flying high COO at Singleton

Jurgen is one of the founders of Singleton and has therefore seen tough times as well as the good ones.

“I like variety so I get involved in many different tasks as the COO of Singleton. And finding smart solutions for our clients as well as for ourselves is something that I enjoy and work towards.”

Jurgen has studied engineering and product design in Estonia as well as abroad and has a Master's Degree from the University of Tartu in Entrepreneurship and Technology Management.

Jurgen has been a teacher, a sales manager, an internet marketer, and an account/connectivity manager for 7 years at Fortumo. But then: Singleton was born!

Jurgen doing his thing at the Singleton Tallinn office.

What are your primary responsibilities at Singleton and what does your day-to-day look like?

I do everything from sales and recruiting to advising clients and managing the everyday activities of Singleton. It keeps me on my toes and never gets boring.

A friend of mine (or his grandfather to be exact) had this saying that there is no skill or knowledge in life that is pointless or meaningless. That you can never know when a situation arises where you can benefit from knowing something that has seemed useless before.

So I try to keep that in mind and be open to different tasks and always keep myself busy. Whether it is with work or hobbies.

What’s been the most memorable experience during your tenure so far at the company?

I guess the most memorable experiences have happened during our summer outings...But on a more serious note then I am very happy and pleasantly surprised that our idea for Singleton has succeeded.

The start was tough - like with every new thing - but looking back today then I can say we have managed to bring the ideas we had into life.

I was the last one of the founders to join Singleton full-time. Others had been trying to get things going for quite some time by then and there were some hints of getting tired. But we managed to overcome that and now things are going the way we planned.

I'd consider all that quite memorable.

What advice do you have for prospective Singleton Group candidates?

Don't be afraid to come forward, even if you have little experience in IT at the moment. We value people and personalities. Our aim has been to create a team that works well together and resembles a group of friends, rather than just colleagues. I think we have managed that quite well.

If you put your heart and soul into your work and find the part that is meaningful to you then great results, success, love, and a good life will follow shortly. Just get to it - don't be afraid!

What is on your wishlist for the next 5 years with Singleton Group?

I am happy and proud that, in addition to people with great experiences and a wide skill set, we are able to engage the younger generation of developers who are not experienced yet.

Singleton provides a safe and good platform for their growth and development and it is great to witness that rapid growth after hiring someone. So far we haven't been disappointed.

Over the years we have become more of a business partner to our clients rather than just a development partner. I hope to carry that forward and expand the know-how we have so that we can help our clients in a very large variety of ways.

Singleton is growing every day. Here I don't mean the number of employees or the turnover but the package of real knowledge, skills, and experiences. I wish that all this would continue in a rising trend for the next 5 years. And more.

Jurgen and a part of the fun Singleton gang stretching their legs and exchanging thoughts

How do you spend your time outside of the office?

I love to chill and when I do, I do it thoroughly. But I also have some more active hobbies like sailing for example. It is a great way to relax and unwind after an intense day at work.

I enjoy hiking and traveling as well and will be on the first flight to somewhere, anywhere, when the current pandemic is over.

Also - I guess it may come as a surprise - but gardening is something that I do happily if I have the time.

How do you define success in life?

Success can not be achieved by just reaching one goal - 10 kids, a million dollars, or six-pack abs. Success is like a pie-chart that should consist of many sectors that are close to being equal.

Success is the balance between all aspects of life. Then your life is meaningful and fulfilling.

When are you the happiest?

Well, of course, I could say that I am happiest on the monthly payday or during summertime but I don't actually think that there should only be a specific moment in time when a person can say: “Now I'm happy!”

The ideal should be that you would feel happy and content every day, no matter where you are or what you are doing. Happiness should be deeply rooted in yourself, not come from the outside. I am trying to achieve that.

Jurgen enjoying a relaxing and exciting day on the sea.

What is the best vacation you’ve been to?

Oh wow! There have been many good ones. But I guess the best one was Venezuela with my friends. Every second of that trip was an adventure.

Venezuela is extremely beautiful and very varied - amazing beaches, wild jungles, colorful cities, and mind-blowing views everywhere you look. It is a remote wonderland that is hard to describe. A mix between the Avatar movie and the imaginations of the Estonian artist called Navitrolla.

Search Google for Angel Falls, Venezuela, or Los Cayos, Venezuela and you will get a glimpse of what I mean. I will never forget those places.

If given a chance, who would you like to be for a day?

Two creatures come to mind. I'd love to be an eagle, flying high and experiencing the world from a totally different point of view.

And I'd also like to be a walrus for a day. To me, a walrus is an example of perfect design. Everything is right where it should be. I'd like to know how it feels to live when you are designed as perfectly as a walrus.

If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Four-grain porridge. With strawberry jam. It is healthy and tasty and I think I could live by eating just that. If I had to.

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?

I would like to witness Columbus reaching South America. This combines many of the things I like: vacation, sailing, and traveling.

This was Jurgen with his thoughts on life and work. Get to know more of the great people at Singleton!

If you would like to ask Jurgen about his job at Singleton or meet any of the other team members, please contact us and we will be happy to help.