When he lost his job as a pilot during the pandemic, Ole-Aleksander Brænna enrolled in an online programme at Noroff. He had never written a line of code. Today, he runs his own business and is Tech Lead at BAAM Events.
Ole-Aleksander brought his Mac to a meeting with someone who could become his first client. After listening to what the business needed, he opened Adobe XD and started building a prototype while the client watched.
– They could see what I had in mind, how it would fit together and how it could work. They gave me the project there and then.
He had recently completed his frontend development programme at Noroff. Now, he was using what he had learnt to secure his first project.
– When I got home, that sense of achievement was something special.
Finding a new direction
Becoming a developer had not been Ole-Aleksander’s original plan.
He grew up in Grorud, Oslo, played football for Vålerenga and moved to New York after upper secondary school to pursue college football. A knee injury brought his time there to an end.
He later trained as a pilot and built a career in aviation. Then the pandemic hit, and he lost his job.
– I thought I was still relatively young and could go back to studying.
He chose frontend development. The combination of creativity and problem-solving appealed to him, along with the possibility of working from different locations.
Programming, however, was entirely new territory.
– I was a complete beginner, really. I was comfortable with computers, but I’d never written code or done anything like that.
Online studies that fitted around his life
Ole-Aleksander was approaching 30, with a flat and an established routine. He wanted to change direction while continuing to work.
That made studying Frontend Development online at Noroff a good fit.
– A big part of why I chose Noroff was that it was online, so I could fit my studies around my schedule.
He combined studying with work as a supply teacher and in a restaurant. His Mac went everywhere with him, and he used breaks, commutes, evenings and weekends to learn.
The flexibility allowed him to develop new skills while keeping up with his existing commitments. He also credits his work ethic as an important part of his progress.
– If there’s one thing I won’t be beaten on, it’s determination and the willingness to put in the work.
Turning his studies into his first client project
After completing the frontend programme, Ole-Aleksander set up Brænna Consult. He wanted to get started and gain experience by working with real clients.
A contact led to the meeting where he created the prototype on the spot. Both the tools and the approach were things he had learnt during his studies.
– It gave me a solid foundation. Noroff focuses on how projects are actually delivered in the industry, including planning, project methodologies and structure.
That knowledge continues to serve him as technology evolves.
– There are always new frameworks, new languages and new things to learn. But having that foundation for how to approach the work is probably the most important thing I learnt.
Learning to build the whole solution
Client projects also gave him a reason to keep learning.
His frontend skills allowed him to build what users saw and interacted with on screen. Now, he wanted to understand more about the databases, access controls and underlying logic — and build more of each solution himself.
He therefore enrolled in Backend Development at Noroff.
– I wanted to offer a better overall product and make better decisions about how to build it efficiently.
He did not have to wait until graduation to put that knowledge to use.
– I did a lot alongside my studies. When we learnt about databases, I replaced the CMS with a database I’d built myself.
Today, he works primarily as a full-stack developer, handling both frontend and backend development.
– I’d say I use backend at least as much as frontend. It’s just as important to the work I do today.
Bringing development and leadership together
Through his network, Ole-Aleksander was introduced to BAAM Events. After several rounds of interviews, he secured a permanent position as Tech Lead.
The company develops an event management platform that lets users create landing pages, send invitations and plan events. The role allows him to combine his development skills with experience from previous jobs.
– I had some leadership experience from the restaurant industry and other jobs. Here, I can combine that with development and technical responsibility.
He also works on smart locks and digital access control, bringing software and physical technology together. Each new project offers something new to learn.
– That’s one of the things I enjoy about being a developer: you never stop learning.
He has taught himself many of the specific technologies he now uses. The structured approach and project methodologies he learnt at Noroff provide the foundation he continues to build on.
Getting more out of AI through technical knowledge
AI has also become an important part of his working day. Ole-Aleksander began experimenting with ChatGPT during his first client project. Today, he uses it to help manage several projects at once.
– Without AI, I probably wouldn’t be able to keep track of so many things.
He believes his technical knowledge makes a real difference to how effectively he can use the tools.
– When you really understand what you’re asking, what you’re working on and what you want to achieve, it’s much easier to use AI and get better results.
For him, the technology has become a way to put his skills to even greater use.
Freedom was part of the goal
His working day includes development, client meetings, planning and testing. What Ole-Aleksander values most is the ability to take his work with him.
– If I want to go to the cabin, I do. If I’m going away for the weekend with my partner, I can bring my Mac and work from there.
That desire for freedom helped shape his decision to study programming. Through online studies, client projects and further education, he has built a working life that suits him.
Looking back at the beginner who was approaching 30 and considering a fresh start, he would offer one simple piece of advice:
– Believe in yourself.
Ready for a new direction?
Would you like to build what users see and interact with, or the systems behind it? Explore Frontend Development and Backend Development at Noroff, and discover how online studies could fit around your life.
Related programmes
One-year programme
Back-end Development
Become a backend developer, one of the most in-demand tech professions, and work on future web and server-based software solutions. Learn to use AI to streamline coding, debugging, and quality assurance.
Online
Oslo
Read more
Two-year programme
Back-end Development
Become a back-end developer with advanced programming skills in JavaScript, cloud services, and .NET. Learn to use AI for efficient development and quality assurance, and prepare for a career as a full-stack developer.
Online
Oslo
Read more
Two-year programme
Front-end Development
The technology education where visual design meets coding, web, and UX design. The high demand for front-end developers opens doors to a diverse career in IT and design.
Online
Read more