Remember you heard it here first - Tiina Kutter may be a Data Entry Specialist now, but she very well might be the next Sarah J.Maas*! How so? Keep reading. 

Tiina comes from a family where everyone on her mother’s side of the family is an accountant. And, naturally, this is what Tiina did before joining Brainbase - work as an accounting assistant in their family firm. Her degree is in hotel service management, and this is where she got the chance to work with data, which prompted her to notice Brainbase´s job ad. 

What made you join Brainbase?

In February 2020, when I decided to join Brainbase, the company didn't have an office yet, so the first interview was conducted through Google Hangouts. I was interviewed by Nikolai (Tolkatsjov, co-founder and Head of Product), and he made Brainbase and the industry seem so attractive! 

But you already knew something about licensing? 

Nothing at all. It was a completely new world to me. I did do my research, of course. 

So how would you explain this field to your grandma? 

Okay. So everybody knows Disney. Let´s say Disney wants to start selling a Snow White doll - so what they do is they give their logo and brand to be used by a toymaker, and on the other side, Disney buys our service that helps them manage this kind of deals where their brand is being used. 

Any upcoming projects you’re excited about?

The most exciting project is clearing one of our customer's old data that they had so that it would match with our new program. The files contain over 1500 rows in excel that need to be cleaned up.

Hehee. You are clearly an accountant and/or a data nerd at heart for finding that exciting!

So how do you think Brainbase is changing the licensing industry?

It's making it easy for users to have everything related to their trademark in one place.

What motivates you?

Having a good atmosphere in the office. 

What makes you passionate about Brainbase?

Seeing how our product keeps evolving and getting more modern and easier to use.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

In the morning, I open Slack and check what has happened during my off-hours. And whether there are any messages for me. If there are, I will either reply to them if it is a question or a task, then start doing that. Provided that I don't have any outstanding tasks that I need to continue. Other than that, I just continue entering data into our program. When I have meetings during the evening, then I try to compensate the meeting time with my working hours. So usually I start my days around 10.00 a.m. and end around 7.00 p.m., but when there is an hour-long meeting, then I will finish my day at 6.00 p.m.

Favorite place to eat, have a drink, or enjoy some culture in Tallinn?

I enjoy walking around Reidi tee and also around Kadrioru Park. There is a Japanese garden, that I love, and also the Kadriorg Palace. And near the palace, there is a cafe called Katharinenthal, where I like to grab a hot drink and something to eat.

Do you have any after-work hobbies/activities?

Currently, I have two major hobbies. One is reading, mostly fantasy books. And the other one is painting. But a bit different type of painting than one might assume, cause it is called painting by numbers.

But when inspiration strikes, I like to continue writing my book.

The what now? You are writing a book?!

Yeah, it is also fantasy...you know magic, kingdoms, that sort of thing. I have already written the first draft and now I am going over it. And then I need to find a publisher. 

Also, I'm helping out with my family business, and have decided to continue learning more about accounting.

Any favorite office memories?

I would say we create them frequently, every time we go out with the team, have events in our office, or participate in the most significant event of the year - the summer days. During those times we always learn something new about each other and have a good time.

Why would you recommend someone to apply to Brainbase?

Because at Brainbase we have this “work hard - play hard” culture - people know when it is time to work whether, may it be long hours and working on weekends, but also know when to have fun and forget about work.

*- Sarah Janet Maas is an American fantasy author, best known for her debut series Throne of Glass published in 2012 and A Court of Thorns and Roses series, published in 2015. She’s also the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author