Meet Haakon – the former officer creating "unfair advantages" for our troops

After 13 years in the military, Haakon Høier Heyeraas is using his experience on the battlefield to develop the world's most advanced battle management system.

Haakon may have traded his military uniform for office attire, but his passion remains unchanged: giving Norwegian and allied soldiers the necessary advantagein the field.

As a Senior Product Expert and Product Owner at Teleplan Globe, he leads the development of features in FACNAV – a digital battle management system he once relied on during his own military service.

"What drives me is creating products with real value in critical situations. We're talking about high-risk scenarios – this is war. When we can give soldiers that crucial technological edge, it's incredibly meaningful".

From operator to innovator

After years in the Norwegian Army, serving both at home and abroad, Haakon made a decision that surprised many of his former colleagues. The experienced officer from the elite Telemark Battalion chose to explore new career opportunities.

When a former commander suggested a position at Teleplan, he didn't hesitate – he knew the company well from his time in uniform.

"It was the perfect fit. I still have that fire for the military, and my background gives me an edge in understanding real operational needs. At the same time, I'm building a career in software development in the private sector – a future-focused industry."

And he certainly hasn't been idle since leaving his military career behind. Since joining Teleplan in December 2022, Haakon has also juggled full-time work with studies, recently completing an Executive Master'sdegree in Management from BI Norwegian Business School.

Haakon on Teleplan

Three words to describe the culture:

Openness – there's minimal distance between senior leadership and developers, with little happening behind closed doors. And dedication – so many people put in extraordinary effort in everything they do.

– That's great, but you actually have to give me three words – that was Marketing Manager Berte's only request for these interviews, for everyone to answer exactly that.

Berte said that? Oh shit, I certainly don't want to mess with her. OK, then: Ownership – employees take strong ownership of our products and take end-users' needs very seriously.

The best thing about working here:

The products we create, the difference we make for users, my manager and my brilliant colleagues.

Advice for job seekers:

Make sure you really understand what we do. There's no getting around the fact that we develop products used in warfare – it's not for everyone. For my colleagues and me, it's about helping our people gain an "unfair" advantage when they unfortunately have to engage in combat, and that's something we find meaningful. But not everyone is comfortable with that.

Cutting-edge technology for main battle tanks

As Product Owner and Project Manager for major deliveries in manoeuvre and simulation within FACNAV, Haakon is responsible for developing systems that must perform when it matters most. One project stands out in particular.

"We've spent over two years developing a system for Norway's new main battle tanks that are due to be delivered soon. We've created a tailored product that we're confident is bleeding-edge and unique on a global scale."

For Haakon, it's not just about developing software – it's about making a difference. With his combination of military experience and technological curiosity, he creates solutions that are crucial in the most demanding situations.

He explains that the team has dedicated themselves to not just meeting the expected specifications, but truly maximising value for end-users:

"The goal has been to give tank crews the world's best battle management system. And we've delivered on time, budget and specification."

Structure meets humour

Haakon describes himself as "pretty by-the-book" – structured,reliable and almost always one of the first in the office each morning:

"The most productive hours are before everyone else arrives."

This trait has served him well in an environment where Teleplan has experienced phenomenal growth during his tenure.

"I think my ability to be structured and maintain a high work capacity has helped manage the growth and ensure we continue to deliver – perhaps even better – despite becoming much larger, with more people, bigger products, and greater commitments."

Yet there's a humorous side behind the structured facade. When asked how he thinks colleagues would describe him, he says he hopes they'd call him a "meme lord."

"I create loads of memes for every occasion and spread them around the office," he chuckles. "It's important to have some humour in everyday life, even when we're working on serious things!"

When asked about guilty pleasures, however, he admits the «by-the-book» side of him resurfaces. The guiltiest thing he can offer is: "I like BBC's adaptation of Tolstoy's War and Peace …"

Well, even without any proper guilty pleasures (at least none he'll admit to?): With his combination of structure, humour, crucial military background and a fresh master's degree, Haakon is ready for the next challenges – and the next memes.

Fun facts about Haakon

How I break the ice with new colleagues: "Usually with an improvised and awkward attempt at humour. I'm not afraid to make jokes at my own expense, throwing out one-liners regardless of whether they land or not."

If I didn't do this for a living, I would: "If I hadn't gone down the military path at all, I'd probably have gone into law or finance."

Favourite app: "Perhaps controversial, but X, formerly Twitter. The information flow on X is the fastest and broadest in the world – as long as you know how to use it and combine it with a healthy dose of critical thinking."

If I could go anywhere: "Norway! There's no better destination, especially the west coast. Give me lots of weather, wind and beautiful nature, and I'm happy."

On my nightstand: "I don't have a nightstand! But if I did, my Kindle and phone would be there. The last thing I read on my Kindle was a book about Elliott Wave Theory, a theory about market price movements."

What I always bring to work: "A good mood! Or at least I try – I don't always succeed, unfortunately."

3 things I would bring to a deserted island: "The officer in me immediately thinks about escape possibilities. So,I'd take:

1. a Starlink Mini,
2. a solar-powered power bank,
3. my mobile phone.

– Easy escape."