Interview with Nina: From Culture Studies to Frontend at OMRT

In this interview, we talk with Nina, a frontend developer at OMRT, about her unique career path from culture studies and the music industry to tech, and how her background shapes her work today

Who are you, and what do you do at OMRT?

Nina: I’m Nina, and I work as a frontend developer at OMRT. My main focus is the OMRT / hub. I try to make it as user-friendly as possible for our clients, engineers, and everyone in the studio. Most of my time goes into improving the interface, adding new features, and making sure feedback from the team leads to a better experience for everyone.

Your background is pretty unique. How did you end up in frontend development?

Nina: It’s true, my path is anything but standard. I studied culture studies in Rotterdam, then spent about six years working as a music programmer at a TV station. That world was lots of fun, especially in my early twenties, with vibrant events and amazing people. At some point, though, I realised I wasn’t learning much anymore, and after a company reorganisation I started looking for something new.

First, I tried to stay in the music world, but nothing quite fit. When Covid started, it really pushed me to explore other options. I came across a tutorial for building websites and just loved it from the start. Programming felt like a perfect mix of logic and creativity. It’s like solving puzzles, but you also get to focus on making things beautiful and easy to use. I ended up doing an Iron Hack bootcamp, which was pretty intense, but after eight weeks of hard work, I was ready to start as a frontend developer.

What do you enjoy most about frontend development?

Nina: The best part is creating things and seeing results right away. There’s a blend of logical thinking and creativity, so it has to work well and look good too. I love that I get to solve practical problems and build something people actually use.

The bootcamp was just the beginning. You really learn most when you’re working for real. That’s when you discover what works, where the real challenges are, and how you can help your team and users most.

How did you first get in touch with OMRT?

Nina: I was on Honeypot, a tech job platform, when Andreja from OMRT reached out. We spoke and then I met Jasper as well. What convinced me was the way they described OMRT’s mission and the clear focus on collaboration and innovation. The atmosphere sounded ambitious but also relaxed and open, which really appealed to me.

How does working at OMRT compare to your previous experiences?

Nina: The energy at OMRT is different and really motivating. I like working in smaller teams, where you quickly see the impact of your work. If you have a good idea, you can actually make it happen quite fast. That speed and openness really inspire me.

Even compared to my previous role at a scale-up, the tech vibe here stands out. People at OMRT keep coming up with new ideas and actually turn them into reality. It’s a very dynamic place to work.

What does a typical day look like for you at OMRT?

Nina: I spend most of my time improving the OMRT / hub, making the platform clearer and easier to use for clients and studio engineers. I get a lot of feedback from the team. Sometimes it’s small fixes, sometimes big suggestions or totally new ideas. I love working closely with colleagues and going back and forth on how to build something better. When a new feature actually saves someone time and they tell you it makes a real difference, that really motivates me.

And speaking of daily life at OMRT, right in the middle of this interview one of my cats walked in and tried to join the call. I guess she wanted to see what all the fuss is about! She probably thinks she’s the real brains behind my work.

OMRT’s work has real-world impact. Is that important to you?

Nina: Absolutely. Even though my daily work is focused on the digital side, it matters a lot to me that OMRT has a real effect on the world outside the office. We help speed up the building process, save costs, and make projects more sustainable. That sense of impact is one of the reasons I wanted to join OMRT in the first place.

What’s the culture like on your team?

Nina: The team is small and very international, which brings its own special energy. Many people moved here just for OMRT. The atmosphere is ambitious but never rigid. It’s really a work hard, play hard group.

We spend time together outside work at events and parties, and there’s even an activities committee. Since so many of us come from different places, you build really good friendships at work, not just business relationships. People are genuinely themselves, which makes it a great environment.

Any highlights or moments that stand out over the years?

Nina: The annual workations are a favourite. We’ve been to a castle in Belgium and spent time on a boat. These trips help you really get to know the team. It’s amazing coming back refreshed and more connected. Another highlight is seeing how much the OMRT / hub has grown. Looking at screenshots from four years ago compared to now is almost surreal. Every new feature feels like another win.

Our team is always evolving as people join or move on, which keeps things fresh and brings in new ideas all the time.

Favourite colleague?

Nina: That’s a dangerous question! I’d say everyone is my favourite.

What excites you about the future at OMRT?

Nina: I’m excited and curious about what comes next. There’s still so much we can do with the platform and as a team. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities to build something better. Knowing that our work actually has an impact out there makes all the effort worthwhile.

Nina’s journey to OMRT is a great example of how adaptability, curiosity and drive can shape not just a career, but also help change an industry. There is no single path to innovation. What matters is taking the leap, learning fast, and building something meaningful.