Redpill Linpro has its core values inspired by the open-source community - People first and Openness, competence & community. Aligned with these values, Redpill Linpro prioritize social gatherings and focus on competence sharing. And why not combine these two through composed competence groups?

Rudi Yu is an experienced software developer working from our Oslo office and leading our competence group “Development Skills.” In this blog post, you’ll discover how these groups help us grow, strengthen collaboration, and benefit both our employees and Redpill Linpro as a whole.

What are competence groups?

The competence groups serve as a hub to develop and share knowledge. 

- “For me, it’s about sharing experiences and exploring new areas. Everyone who works here are very interested in technology, and we have a lot of true enthusiasts - it’s great fun to work with them. These groups provide a great opportunity to meet my colleagues, build relationships, and have fun while developing professionally,” says Rudi Yu.

Once a month, a group of Redpill Linpro employees with different technical backgrounds meets to discuss new tech and ideas. Sometimes it's through presentations, but the sessions can also be more hands-on, with hacker evenings or workshops.

- “The topics are decided by the participants’ interests and current technologies. We’ve done everything from discussions about AI and frameworks to hands-on workshops where we’ve built Raspberry Pi setups. It’s all about having fun, learning something new, and challenging yourself alongside your colleagues.”

Participation is voluntary, but each session typically gathers 15-20 people, showing strong interest. This type of competence sharing strengthens the employees by providing new technical insights and improving presentations and solutions. This aligns with Redpill Linpro’s vision of being a competence-driven organization.

- “To be a competence-driven organization means attracting enthusiastic and skilled people who are eager to learn new things. It creates an energetic environment where we share knowledge and challenge each other. Since we are consultants and often work across different locations, the competence groups provide an important forum to build community and exchange ideas", Rudi says.

Do you have any advice for someone who is interested in starting a similar group?

- “Start simple. Find someone who shares your interest and talk to someone who can help you get started. The bar is very low, and initiatives are always appreciated. The competence groups are for everyone, and the most important thing is to have fun and dare to try!”

Thank you, Rudi for sharing your insights! Is there anything else you'd like to share?  

- “I want to encourage everyone to participate! Our Development Skills meetings are held every other month, and there’s always something exciting happening. This is how we build our strong community!”