The wizard from OZ
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In 2008, Australian long time Fi fan Michael Stratton took a small detour on his way to Spain for a holiday - just to come visit Stockholm and his favorite interactive firm. He spent a full day with the team, just hanging out and getting a better understanding of how Fi works.
“I was planning to spend a month in Spain”, Michael says, “and checked out how far Stockholm was from Spain. I mean, if you are going to spend thirty hours on a plane then what's another three? I'd been following Fi and their super-high-quality products since late 2004 when I experienced the Roadrunner portal website. For me it changed what the web could be and inspired me to have a new goal: To one day work with the team at Fi. So, I sent them an e-mail asking if I could drop by and say hello and a few weeks later my trip to Stockholm was booked!”
Hakim remembers Michael’s visit: “This guy was genuinely interested in our work and also brought a lot of knowledge to the table.”
After leaving Stockholm and returning to Australia, Michael kept tabs on what Fi was doing whilst working as the interactive specialist at Austereo, Australia’s largest broadcasting company. Michael joined the company directly after completing his studies in web design and development.
"The business recognized the emergence of new technologies and the diversification of how media was being distributed but didn’t have a strategy or team to do it. Starting with a team of only three people, I became the key point of contact for web development, design, specification documentation and the deployment for all interactive applications for the business. (ie: I was in at the deep end) and had to learn how to do everything – fast."
Lucky for Michael he used to be a professional swimmer so he didn't sink with this enormous challenge!
During his 4 years at Austereo Michael led the scope, I.A, creative direction and design and development for all interactive products and applications. He became a true all-rounder, developing skills in all areas of the business and a detailed, holistic understanding of digital interaction.
In the spring of 2009, Michael and his wife Chelsea decided to quit their jobs and move to Spain for a new adventure. Their intention was to learn the language, travel the country and absorb the culture. They balanced this with getting to know every bar in Barcelona and taking photos of random things like the crazy Spanish power line system. Naturally, Michael kept following the adventures of Fi and when he saw that we were hiring he saw it as a sign.
"I'm only three hours away now, instead of thirty hours" he thought and sent in an application.
As Michael had so much knowledge and experience in many of Fi’s services, we were of course interested in meeting with him again. After the first interview, we realized we had a quite delightful problem: he had so much experience we did not know which role to put him in!
We put him through several of the tests we run on our applicants and he passed all of them with flying colors. In October of 2009, Michael and his wife packed their bags again, this time to move to Stockholm.
"I love to make, fix and play with things. I love a challenge and working with the Fi team. They share the same passion for quality control and live for creating sites and products that make you think, feel and escape – no matter what age you are."
Michael, called “Stratto” by his friends and co-workers, is now adding strength to Fi in a multi-position role where he makes use of all of his knowledge of programming, design, usability, user experience and producing.
Give a HUGE Fi Welcome to Stratto!
Do you have skills within development, design and production? Then you might be Fi’s next Interactive Guru!
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hakim
1 month ago
Wooh! Welcome to Fi Stratto :)
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tomdotquitter
1 month ago
Welcome Stratto! Looking forward to our next Rock Band session!
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Kristoffer...
1 month ago
Wooohoo, Stratto. Great to have you here!
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decembersoul
1 month ago
welcome strattooooo! =D
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Charlie
1 month ago
So if I start following the yellow brick road, will it lead me to Stratto and my dream home at Fi?
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Stef
1 month ago
Nice one chap..
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Shanna
1 month ago
Awesome one Stratto! Now I feel cliched using your nick name....congrats anyways! xx
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Hayley
1 month ago
Nice one hon!! yay, oh you're an international rockstar!! I remember the first interview and "the dream"!! yayyy!!
ps spunky photo!!
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karlstanton
1 month ago
Welcome Stratto! It's always nice to have another Australian on the team! Didn't know you were a professional swimmer though, have you been hitting laps of Slussen?
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Luke Doran
1 month ago
Congrats mate :-D
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Ryan
1 month ago
Stratto - great job!
By the way - this is the world's greatest website....check out the IA and design...it has your fingerprints all over it: www.baconorbeercan.com
Cheers,
Ryan
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Chris S
1 month ago
A big fan in a big way!
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Amanda
1 month ago
Starting with a team of only three people.." - oh i have a lump in my throat! good for you stratto!
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Nozz
1 month ago
Stratto! One of the great Australians making it good OS. Good on you dude, "If you will it, it is no dream."
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corebean
1 month ago
Congratulations... its great to see Australian's getting such high praise, but a pity all that wealth of knowledge and experience leaves our shores.
Best of luck and can't wait to see what projects you get involved in.
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phillip
1 month ago
Australia, where's that?
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Stratto
1 month ago
Cheers everyone for your great comments and the time for checking out this entry. I look forward to seeing everyone on Kontain or perhaps one day at Fi.
To the team of Fi NY and "especially" Europe heres to what will be an amazing year and I can't wait to rock this place with you all.
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trueplay
1 month ago
that's so cool!
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mwstratton
1 month ago
Whoa! Crazy! Another Designer named Michael Stratton!?!? What're the chances!
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mikeangelo
1 month ago
Great. Good job :D
____________________________________________________
Free gifts -> http://www.lockerzfreegifts.webs.com/
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David
1 month ago
Welcome Michael! Nice following you have :)
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itchs
1 month ago
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Stratto
1 month ago
@mwstratton we should go out and purchase some lottery tickets now as we also share the same three initials MWS!?!? Now what are the chances of that! Look forward to seeing the cool things you'll bring to Kontain
Stratto
@David Thanks mate its an absolute dream to be here, loving the team and still getting use to the -10 temperature but the snow is magic.
Comments (23)