We recently held our annual celebration to reflect on our journey and honor the colleagues who inspired us most over the past year. This is one of our favorite traditions because the story of Mitigate is about far more than just technology or successful projects. First and foremost, it is a story about people. It is about those who are the first to start the coffee machine in the morning and those who refuse to let complex systems grind to a halt. It is about the personalities who make our daily work meaningful and exciting through their calm presence or their inexhaustible fighting spirit.
This year, we wanted to get to know our award winners a bit better as individuals. We invited them for a short conversation about work, life, and what happens once the computer is turned off.
Jānis Ieviņš: Team Spirit
Jānis is someone whose presence is felt by everyone. He cares deeply about the results as well as the well-being of his teammates. He organizes group cycling events and advocates for a healthy lifestyle because he truly believes that a sporting spirit translates to success in the workplace.
What gets you excited to sit down at your desk in the morning? A fresh Rocket Bean double espresso from the coffee machine in the Mitigate office.
How did it feel to receive the Mitigate Awards trophy? I was happy to receive it. I care about the well-being and growth of my teammates. I try to promote open and direct communication as well as transparency within the team. I organize cycling events for Mitigate colleagues to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle. It feels like the Team Spirit 2025 award serves as confirmation that my colleagues notice and value my efforts and contribution.
If Mitigate were a superhero team, what would be your special power? I could be Calmman. I am the one who can maintain a cool head and think rationally even in tense or stressful work situations.
How do you stay focused on the "right path" instead of the easiest one even when deadlines are tight? I always try to make long-term quality the highest priority. I communicate my reasoning to the project team or management if I foresee a situation where quality might be sacrificed for a deadline. Timely and direct communication usually provides an opportunity to avoid unpleasant shortcuts by bringing in extra help or postponing less critical features.
What do you do when you turn off the computer? Outside of work, I am passionate about road and gravel cycling. I cover more than 10,000 kilometers a year on my bike. I also enjoy other sports and an active lifestyle in general, including padel tennis, running, nature walks, and traveling. Lately, I have been incorporating more reading and gym sessions into my routine. I love spending time with my family by playing board games with my wife and children, going on mini-excursions by train, or riding bikes together. I have also been "voluntarily-forced" into the role of family chef, so I cook every single day.
If you met yourself on the day you started at Mitigate, what would you advise? Don't be afraid to reach out more for help or advice from your more experienced colleagues.
Toms Mediņš: Master of Long-term Solutions
Toms received the Master of Long-term Solutions award because the fruits of his labor are built to last for years. He is a person who seeks substance over outward flashiness.
What gets you excited to sit down at your desk in the morning?
I won't pretend that it happens with joy every single morning. However, on the vast majority of days, it does. There are bad days, of course, but you usually remember those less than the successful days where you managed to do something truly valuable. Those valuable days are probably the main thing that motivates me.
How did it feel to receive the Mitigate Awards trophy?
It was a surprise for me. I always evaluate myself critically because it often feels like others are better than you in every field. An award like this makes you pause and helps you be a little less critical of yourself for a moment. A big thank you to my colleagues for that!
If Mitigate were a superhero team, what would be your special power?
My main trait would be the ability to stay quiet and listen to what others are saying. No one dreams about this as a child and no one writes about it in comic books, but this skill has served me well throughout my life.
What is the biggest challenge in building a system that must work flawlessly even years later?
I will start with an analogy. A painted wall will look good for a long time if the preparation and painting were approached with care. The holes were filled, the wall was sanded, the dust was wiped away, the right paint was chosen, and it was applied meticulously. I don't see software development as being much different. A system will be sustainable if the development process is thoughtful and involves as few "quick-fix" solutions as possible. The biggest challenge is to keep this in mind so that "future Toms" has fewer problems.
What do you do when you turn off the computer?
Currently, a large part of my time goes to my family, raising children, and shared activities or entertainment. I enjoy playing board games myself. To clear my head, I go for walks. I try to stay active. Recently, I have started to take an interest in 3D printing and everything related to it.
If you met yourself on the day you started at Mitigate, what would you advise?
The one thing I try to remind myself of all the time is this: do not create stress for yourself over things you cannot influence.
Edgars Malahovskis: The Inspirer Who Navigates Chaos
Edgars is our Mobile Team Lead who inspires with his blunt but honest perspective. His humor and tenacity are what hold the team together in the most difficult moments.
What gets you excited to sit down at your desk in the morning?
As a Mobile Team Lead, my morning usually starts with the hope that nothing self-destructed overnight. When reality inevitably proves otherwise, I sigh and think to myself that everything is bad again. Where is the joy in that? It is in the moment you realize that you are the one who holds the keys to fixing the chaos. It is a strange kind of thrill to bring things back to life in situations that seem hopeless to others. I love the moment when communication with the outside world is sorted out so we can finally focus on real work and no one disturbs the team while they do what they do best. If everything works by the evening and no one has lost their mind, that is a successful day.
How did it feel to receive the Mitigate Awards trophy?
To be honest, I initially thought it was a mistake or perhaps a subtle example of irony. I consider myself a harsh realist whose inspirational speeches are usually limited to a laconic "Everything is bad!" followed by rolling up our sleeves and getting to work. It seems this honest approach is exactly what people need. They want the knowledge that their Team Lead isn't hiding behind rose-colored glasses but is ready to wade through the mud with them until we win.
If Mitigate were a superhero team, what would be your special power?
My power would be Abyss Navigation. At the moment when a project is in total agony and the light at the end of the tunnel turns out to be an oncoming train, I am the one who remains eerily calm. While others look for life vests, I am trying to figure out how we can save on fuel in this situation. I want to have that strange ability to find a way out even when we are technically and emotionally bankrupt. The deeper the darkness, the better I see the path, probably because I feel at home down there.
Where do you get your "inexhaustible energy" on days when the project feels stuck?
It isn't energy. It is professional stubbornness. I simply refuse to admit defeat in front of the code. If a project gets stuck and feels like a complete mess, an instinct kicks in. I don't have to prove anything to anyone in those situations, I only do it for myself. I simply will not let the nightmare win. We laugh together about how bad everything is, find the wittiest way to describe the situation, and just get the job done. Black humor is the only fuel that never runs out.
What do you do when you turn off the computer?
In reality, the work mode only changes shape. At home, I am a "Full-stack Dad" to three kids, which means my main evening role is personal taxi driver and logistics specialist for their extracurricular activities. Between trips, I indulge in my favorite "hobby" by staring at the ceiling and unconsciously trying to solve the code problems I couldn't beat during the day. If I do manage to carve out a moment for myself, I look for anything related to team sports where the rules are clear and I don't have to overthink.
If you met yourself on the day you started at Mitigate, what would you advise?
I would tell myself that there will be times when you have to act as a psychologist while your own eye is twitching from the latest lockdown or system collapse. But that is exactly why it is worth staying here. Mitigate consists of those few strange, slightly crazy, but "your kind" of people whom you are ready to help in the middle of the night. Not necessarily to fix code, but to help them finish the last beer. I would advise myself to realize from day one that this is a place for people who are open to wild ideas and can pull them off even when everything seems to be falling apart. Keep a good sense of humor and patience nearby because you will need them for everything.
Gundars Celmiņš: Innovator and Industry Shapeshifter
Gundars is our UI/UX designer who received the Innovator 2025 award for his ability to find the best solutions and skillfully use the latest technologies. For him, work is a challenge and an opportunity to dive deep into various business processes.
What gets you excited to sit down at your desk in the morning?
Treating problem-solving as a challenge. My work involves diving into different business processes, defining problems, and searching for solutions. When I successfully find a solution and validate it, there is a real sense of satisfaction. It also helps that the projects are diverse and offer the chance to explore different spheres. This prevents routine from setting in and ensures that every project is a fresh challenge.
How did it feel to receive the Mitigate Awards trophy?
It is always pleasant to be appreciated by your colleagues. It gives extra motivation for daily collaboration. We often take projects personally and try to provide added value beyond the standard requirements or change things fundamentally if we feel it brings more value. Cultivating this kind of collaboration is what allows innovations to happen.
If Mitigate were a superhero team, what would be your special power?
Shapeshifter. I often have to step into different roles and industries while looking at a project from both the business and user perspective. To find the best solutions, I have to orient myself well in the specific industry by interviewing experts and understanding daily processes. Over time, I have learned to quickly navigate both the industry and the client's internal systems.
Where do you get your "inexhaustible energy" on days when the project feels stuck?
It definitely helps to disconnect for a moment. I often take the opportunity to fit in a workout between tasks so I can trade mental strain for physical exertion. Getting an outside perspective also helps. I frequently talk to colleagues and demonstrate the directions I am currently exploring. Often, just a small external opinion is enough to get a stuck project moving again.
What do you do when you turn off the computer?
Since I spend a lot of time at the computer, I try to move more in my free time. In winter, I make the most of the weather with winter sports, and in recent years, I have become more active in playing tennis. I have also started educating myself on topics that I might have forgotten or never fully understood. I take advantage of how easy it is to access information today. I try to multitask by listening to podcasts or watching educational videos while running on the treadmill.
If you met yourself on the day you started at Mitigate, what would you advise?
I would suggest not being afraid to involve developers more in the design process. I often notice that talking to programmers about solutions right at the start of a project provides great insights and helps avoid technical problems later. In my experience, developers are much more approachable than they might initially seem.