New Roadie Arrivals 8/25

The Columbia Road team keeps growing. Meet our newest members: David, Juha, Sagar and Liisa!

David Gil de Gómez Pérez

Senior Consultant, Development

Hi David, how did you get good at what you do?

I am a computer science engineer by trade, but over the last part of my career, I have been focused on driving growth in several companies. Before that, I worked as a researcher in human-computer interaction, in a marketing agency, and as a developer. All the roads seemed to be pointing in the same direction (even though I had aspired to be a doctor throughout my childhood and teenage years): I wanted to help companies grow, and I had organically accumulated some knowledge about the topic.

Why Columbia Road?

Considering my experience and what I was looking for at the time, I decided to apply. Throughout the interview process, I had the opportunity to meet several other roadies who confirmed my expectations, so I soon realised that Columbia Road is a company where you can grow as a professional while being surrounded by the best colleagues in a fantastic environment. When the offer came, I did not need to think twice. 

What makes your heart beat a little faster?

I am very passionate about art and design. I always have several projects underway related to painting, sketching, or drawing, whether digitally or traditionally. The related reading and analysis have helped me develop a keen eye for design, which has benefited me professionally. I also enjoy listening to music, and I spend a significant amount of my free time doing so. Finally, good food is definitely something that can make my heart beat faster as well.

Juha Saikkonen

Principal Consultant, Strategy

Hi Juha, how did you get good at what you do?

I have a genuine love for learning, so I'm always excited to jump into a challenge where I can pick up something new. Coming from a technical background, I’ve always been interested in new things and finding out how they work. I think I got good at what I do because I'm one of those people who is determined to finish what they start.

And most importantly, it's also about the people. I've been fortunate to work with some truly brilliant colleagues, and I've found that being part of a great team is the best way to improve at what you do.

Why Columbia Road?

I used to be a customer of Columbia Road, so I know the company’s strengths well beforehand. Columbia Road has grown into this vibrant, international team of over 140 experts, all united by an evident and powerful focus: helping companies fundamentally transform their digital sales and grow their businesses.

It's already a powerful combination, but now, stepping into the age of AI, that energy is just electric. We're in the perfect position to leverage these new technologies to create even more impactful results for our clients. To me, it is like starting an exciting new chapter.

What makes your heart beat a little faster?

For me, it's a mix of two very different kinds of excitement. On a personal level, there’s nothing that gets my heart racing quite like watching my kids' competitions. Coaching, sharing in the drama and excitement of the game, is an unbeatable thrill.

Then, on a completely different note, I engage in some cryptocurrency investing. It's a fascinating, fast-paced arena, and it's become a passion project for me. I've been able to merge my professional skills with it, developing my own AI-driven analytics tools to navigate through the hype and noise to spot market opportunities. It's a fantastic intellectual challenge, and I'm sharing my AI investment insights on social media for everyone to benefit.

Sagar Aryal

Senior Consultant, Martech

Hi Sagar, how did you get good at what you do?

I’d say curiosity has definitely played a part. I have always had a desire to understand the “how” and the “why” behind things. I have been fortunate enough to work with and learn from some truly brilliant people along the way who took me under their wing. I am also grateful to have people in my life who have supported me every time I have taken a leap into the unknown. 

Why Columbia Road?

I heard some great things about Columbia Road’s culture and wanted to see for myself what that was all about. During the interview process, I was impressed by the open conversations I had with the incredible Roadies; I genuinely learned some new things. I was also excited by the opportunity to learn from the incredibly diverse talent pool of Columbia Road. 

What makes your heart beat a little faster?

Sense of adventure, be it travelling to obscure places, trying a new recipe or starting a new project. I admit things don’t always go to plan, there are those terrible trips and inedible food, but there is a certain thrill to venturing into the unknown and trying to figure things out. That is what I love about consulting: every new project is an opportunity to solve unique problems and grow both professionally and personally.

Liisa Stenberg

Managing Consultant, Design

Hi Liisa, how did you get good at what you do?

I am motivated by learning new things and meeting goals I have set for myself, which has definitely shaped my design career to be versatile. I started as a graphic designer in printed media, but during the last 15 years, I have had the pleasure of getting experience in concept creation, customer experience design, art direction, user interface design, branding, writing, digital product management, agile team leading, and strategic planning of product development, marketing, advertising and company communications.

I believe that my love for discovery and eagerness to improve my ways of working are my strengths that have led me to where I am today. 

Why Columbia Road?

When I was considering my next career move, I was set out to look for new and exciting learning opportunities, caring community spirit, a company with skilled design team for peer support, interesting and challenging client projects where I could get my varied skills into good use, and organisation that would be strong with growth, tech and data while having soft, humane values.

During my interviews, I became confident that in Columbia Road, I had found all of these.

What makes your heart beat a little faster?

Most of my free time goes to writing and reading books. I especially love novels that allow me to escape into different realities from our own, understand new perspectives or think of mind-boggling future visions. So far, I have written non-fiction books, but my first novel comes out in spring 2026 – a thought which definitely makes my heart beat faster.