Interview with Zoltan Koma, Product Owner
What brought you to Rolling Wireless, and what do you do here?
After more than a decade as a Product Manager and Product Owner at a major Hungarian bank, I wanted a complete change. I was looking for a multinational environment in a smaller, successful company focused on innovation and IT. My first step into the automotive world didn’t quite hit the mark, but it helped me land at Rolling Wireless – which ticks all the boxes.
I’m one of the Product Owners in the Software Platform Team. Half of my time is spent on coordinating the development of Rolling Wireless software services, and the other half is dedicated to an outsourced agile squad working directly for a large OEM, focused on connected experiences.
How would you describe your role to someone outside your industry?
In short, I help ensure that software development runs smoothly. That means coordinating and prioritizing tasks, managing requests, preparing the delivery schedule, reporting progress, and escalating issues when needed.
What’s one part of your job that people might not expect?
I work in a highly technical department, yet I don’t have a technical background – I'm actually an economist by education.
What skills do you use most often in your work?
Communication and coordination. It’s essential to make sure everyone involved understands the tasks, challenges, and priorities.
How do you stay aligned with other teams or departments?
I regularly represent the Software Platform Team in cross-functional forums, so syncing with other departments is a core part of my role.
How do you stay up to date in your field?
It depends. Sometimes I take formal courses, sometimes I read management books. But mostly, I focus on real-world issues and gather relevant information as needed.
What are you currently working on improving or learning?
Individually, I’m working on improving my technical knowledge – it’s crucial for coordinating development effectively. As a team, we’re focused on improving the delivery of new software versions to make our services easier to use.
And personally, I’m training for a marathon that I plan to run next year!
What’s a skill you’ve developed since joining the company?
I’ve gained a much better understanding of embedded development. Compared to my previous roles, which often involved polished frontends, this work is a significant shift. The absence of a traditional frontend means I’m working directly with complex lower-level layers which demands a different mindset and skill set.
What’s one thing about the company culture that stands out to you?
There’s a saying: “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” I’m definitely in the right room. The people here are clever, cooperative, and solution-oriented, which makes my job easier and less stressful.
How does leadership support your growth?
We’re given trust and the opportunity to create, innovate, and improve our processes. That autonomy is key to personal and team development.