Curious about who is behind the technical strategy at Shock Media? In this blog, we are pleased to introduce you to our CTO (Chief Technology Officer) Sven! In this blog, he talks about his role within Shock and how we ensure that we continue to be the best Managed Linux Hosting provider in the Netherlands.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Sven Mollinga, and I live just a stone’s throw away from our headquarters in Almelo. However, that hasn’t always been the case. I’m originally from Friesland, but I moved to beautiful Twente for my studies in IT Service Management at Saxion.
Besides my work, I am an enthusiastic athlete, with a passion for triathlons (swimming, cycling, and running). I participate in (international) competitions and train almost daily to constantly improve myself.
How did you end up at Shock Media?
After my studies, I started at Shock Media as a Junior Linux Engineer. During my education, I worked a lot with Linux and was looking for an organization where I could further develop my knowledge. At Shock Media, I found exactly what I was looking for: a technically challenging and informal environment where I could learn and grow a lot, both in knowledge and in my role.
After several years and advancing to Senior Linux Engineer, I sought more challenge and vibrancy in my personal life and decided to move to Amsterdam. At that time, Shock Media didn’t have an office there yet, and working from home wasn’t as common as it is today. That’s why I looked for another employer in Amsterdam. After three wonderful and also educational years in Amsterdam, I started to miss the tranquility of Twente. And my increasingly intense training schedules didn’t always combine well with the hustle and bustle of the city.
At just the right moment, I got back in touch with Alain Götz, the CEO of Shock Media. The original connection was still there and I was given the opportunity to join Shock’s management team as CTO. I grabbed that opportunity with both hands! This led to moving back to beautiful Twente, and I feel completely at home here!
Can you tell us more about your role within Shock Media?
As CTO, I am ultimately responsible for all technology within Shock and I lead our infra, security, development, and support teams. My job is to ensure that we remain technologically innovative, while also guaranteeing optimal stability, robustness, and security. This means I am involved in strategic decisions, innovation, and process optimization. In addition, I work closely with the various teams to ensure we provide our clients with the best possible service.
Technology develops at lightning speed and it’s important to make the right choices: which new technologies do we embrace, which do we leave aside or phase out? I also strongly believe in listening to the people I work with. Our teams are made up of talented specialists with very deep technical knowledge. By actively involving them in decisions, we ensure that we make the best choices together. Innovation does not only come from above; it actually arises in an environment where everyone can contribute their ideas. Through this approach, we remain flexible and agile as a company and can quickly respond to changes in the market.
What makes working at Shock Media so special?
The technical depth in Linux and Kubernetes is truly unique and I have not experienced it at other organizations. The technical complexity here is unprecedented, and our infrastructure is the perfect “playground” for techies who want to take their knowledge and skills to the next level. But the best part? We do it together. Our team is always there for each other—not just to work together, but also to continuously learn from one another. This makes the atmosphere not only inspiring but also extremely motivating.
Why should people apply for a job at Shock Media?
If you really love technology, there is no better place! Here, everything revolves around technology, innovation, and specialization. You are constantly challenged, given the chance to become an expert and to dive into the latest technologies.
At Shock Media, we work with specialized teams in areas such as Kubernetes, Security, Cloud, and Infrastructure. Whether you are already an expert or aspire to become one, here you get the space and support to further develop yourself. Our company continues to grow, and that’s why we are always looking for driven tech professionals who want to strengthen our team.
Can you see yourself working at Shock Media? Check out our vacancies page. Curious about our other colleagues? Then read our other blogs.
