Building trust and growth without managers – Markus’ story

Since joining us in the summer of 2024, Markus Larsson has discovered a work environment built on freedom and responsibility. Without managers but with plenty of support through coaching and feedback, he’s been able to shape both his own growth and our future.

Markus Larsson at the Mpya Digital Malmö office.

When Markus started his new role in Malmö last year, he thought his technical skills would be the key to success. But he soon realized that the growth he truly needed wasn’t about coding or tools—it was about something deeper: trust, feedback, and learning to lead himself.

"I came in with a clear idea of what I could do and what I needed to learn," Markus says. "But I quickly saw that growth is about more than just technology. It’s about having the courage to be honest—with yourself and with others."

Trust builds confidence

At first, Markus was unsure about working in an environment without traditional managers. He found the idea of focusing on coaching and openness exciting but wondered how it would work in practice.

"It didn’t take long for me to see how much trust changes everything," he says. "When you feel safe, you’re more willing to take responsibility and try new things. And it’s when you take those steps that you really grow."

For Markus, trust wasn’t just a feeling—it was built into the workplace culture. From regular feedback to a completely open salary system, he saw how openness helped people focus on growing instead of comparing themselves to others.

"The idea of open salaries was new to me, but I quickly came to appreciate it," Markus explains. "It creates a sense of fairness that I think many workplaces lack. It’s not just about individual results—it’s about contributing to the team and building strong relationships."

Growing as a human being

Markus believes it’s important to talk more about what it means to thrive as a person in a tech-heavy industry. The focus shouldn’t only be on programming and technology but also on well-being and the courage to grow into the best version of yourself.

"Showing empathy and vulnerability might feel unusual, especially in our industry, but over time, it creates a sense of safety—for yourself and others," he says. "And when we feel safe, we take responsibility, grow, and become the best we can be, both as people and in our roles. I think we need to do more to highlight the 'human' side of software development."

Markus’ journey shows how trust, openness, and self-leadership can create not just better developers but better people.

It’s a reminder that real growth happens when we challenge ourselves—not just technically but emotionally and socially too.