Say hello to Jake, who recently swapped the streets of Boston, US for the charm of Stockholm, Sweden. With a love for urban photography and a taste for good Södermalm coffee, he’s been a natural fit to the Improvin' team.

Hi Jake! What’s the best thing about your role?

Two things stand out: working on a product that solves an important problem, and doing that with great people. I'm lucky to work with such skilled colleagues.

I enjoy building products that people can use to make better decisions; it’s the end result that drives me. For instance, it’s rewarding to figure out the best way to visualize emissions data for our clients knowing it’ll impact their work.

As a kid, I was always building and designing things. That's probably why I became a software engineer. It's much faster and easier to build things on a computer than by hand.

What’s your favorite Improvin’ ritual?

I've only been in Stockholm for a few weeks, but I already feel like part of the team. I appreciate how we take the time to get to know each other, like eating lunch together every day and taking the time to talk about life outside of the office. It makes the workplace feel welcoming.

How did you get into photography?

I grew up in a typical US suburb where you had to drive at least 20 minutes to reach anything. I wanted to explore downtown areas on foot, but that wasn't easily possible.

At some point, I got curious about modern architecture and how urban cities can be built sustainably to accommodate the growing population, so I started to photograph different parts of urban environments. Living in Europe offers a fantastic opportunity to continue to do this.

For me, photography is about walking around and capturing my surroundings. I take my camera everywhere I go.

3 things that excite you right now?

💫 Everything that is happening with AI is exciting. The field is moving at an incredible pace. It's going to revolutionize how people access and use computers.

🚶 Living in such a walkable city like Stockholm is fantastic. This city is designed for people. I live on Södermalm, and the location is perfect. All my favorite spots are close by.

🌍 Many of my US friends are visiting Europe this summer, and many will stop by Sweden. I'm excited to see them and catch up on life.