Today living outside of Malmö with his family, Dennis's journey began during his time at Lund University, where he studied computer science in 2011. 

"I had a friend who was helping at Refined in the early days, and that's how I got in touch," Dennis recalls. 

Starting as a part-time developer and programmer while still in university, Dennis's role quickly evolved. Today, he serves as the Product Manager for our Cloud Platform team, which has the dual role of developing both the Cloud Platform and server data center products for the company.

Shared milestones on the journey for Dennis and Refined

Over the years, Dennis has witnessed and contributed to several pivotal moments that have shaped both his career and Refined’s trajectory. 

He began as one of the original four team members – our co-founders Jimmy and Emil, Andreas, and himself – all developers except for Jimmy, who handled customer and partner relations. 

This small, tight-knit team laid the foundation for what Refined has become today. Later, Dennis's journey has seen him transition through several roles, becoming a Senior Developer, then advancing to Tech Lead, and ultimately to his current position.

One significant milestone was the introduction of the site building concept, transforming Refined from a theming and branding product on Confluence into a comprehensive site builder. 

"We didn't realize at that time how pivotal that change would be," Dennis notes. 

The shift opened up numerous possibilities and positioned Refined as a key player in the Atlassian ecosystem. Another crucial point was the transition to Cloud. 

"Emil and Jimmy were early in this," Dennis says, highlighting the forward-thinking nature of the team.

Why Dennis has loved staying with Refined

For Dennis, the past 13 years have been anything but monotonous. "It's been 13 different years, each with new challenges and roles," he shares. 

The ever-changing nature of his work, coupled with the supportive environment at Refined, has kept him engaged and motivated. 

"You get your opinion heard, and if you have a suggestion, we're quick to take action. You can see your ideas implemented quickly if people agree with you," Dennis explains.

The culture at Refined is another significant factor in Dennis's long tenure. 

"It feels like you're friends with your colleagues; it's easy to talk with anyone here," he says. 

The sense of camaraderie and the company's commitment to maintaining a great group of people have made Refined a place where Dennis feels at home. 

"When we've been growing, we’ve always made sure everyone fits in," he adds.

Future vision & what makes the journey enticing for Dennis

Looking ahead, Dennis is excited about the future of Refined. 

"We've grown from four people in a small box to over 60 employees in Malmö and Helsinki," he observes. 

Despite this growth, Dennis believes there's still plenty of room for expansion within the Atlassian ecosystem. "We have big ambitions, and it's exciting to see where we'll end up," he says.

For Dennis, the journey continues to be filled with learning opportunities and new challenges, especially as the team grows with great people who bring fresh perspectives and expertise.

"That's what has kept me around – still learning every day, tackling new things," he reveals. 

His advice to new team members joining the journey is simple yet profound: 

"Get to know your colleagues, be yourself, take it easy, and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Enjoy the journey!"

Ready for some more Refined career stories? Read about Raj’s 5 years at Refined: 3 reasons Raj has thrived in our Customer Success and Support.