When I first received the invitation to be a judge at the Arctic Cloud Developer Challenge in Oslo, I initially hesitated: “I’ve never done this; this is a bit scary.” But then I reframed my thinking: “I’ve never done this… Cool!” That shift in perspective led me to one of the most memorable experiences of my career.

The hackathon took place in beautiful Holmenkollen, just outside Oslo, where 15 teams gathered to compete in what would prove to be an extraordinary event. The teams, ranging from solo developers to groups of six, competed across six different categories with the chance to earn 33 different badges. While Dynamics 365 and Power Platform formed the foundation, teams weren’t limited to just these technologies – they incorporated everything from IoT and ProCode to AI in their solutions.

A magical theme to the event

This year’s theme transported us into the magical world of Harry Potter, and the teams rose to the occasion. The creativity was astounding: we saw everything from a digital Sorting Hat to a comprehensive intranet for Hogwarts. Some teams even ventured to the darker side of magic, creating a digitized assassin portal for dark wizards and a Howler service complete with a public API. The Weasley twins would have been proud to see their mischievous spirit living on in a Facebook-style clone designed just for wizards.

The energy throughout the event was electric. Even after our first day wrapped up and dinner was served at 21:30, many participants returned to their stations, continuing to build and refine their projects. The dedication was inspiring – teams worked around the clock, but what struck me most was how they supported one another despite the competition. The spirit of collaboration and mutual learning created a truly magical atmosphere.

The competition

The competition was incredibly close – in the end, just nine points separated the second-place team from the winners. But beyond the competitive aspect, I witnessed the pure joy of creation and innovation. Teams were fully immersed in their projects, pushing boundaries and, most importantly, learning from each other.

Sitting here at Oslo S station, waiting for my train back to Sweden, I’m exhausted but filled with an overwhelming sense of happiness. Someone asked me how I felt about stepping out of my comfort zone at the closing party (and what a party it was!). Honestly, I haven’t been this happy or had this much fun in a long time.

Key Takeaways from the Event

One of the most significant lessons from this hackathon was the importance of flexibility in the creative process. While having a basic framework is essential, the most innovative solutions emerged when teams were given the freedom to think outside the box. Rigid scope definitions can often stifle creativity and limit potential solutions. By allowing teams to explore and adapt their approaches as they worked, we witnessed truly unique and innovative solutions that might never have materialized under stricter constraints. I think the benefit of adopting this mindset in a delivery scenario would be of great benefit. It would create happier employees and customerswhen focusing on making the solution “something extraordinary.”

The strict time constraints of the hackathon, rather than being a limitation, proved to be a catalyst for excellence. When teams knew they had just three days to deliver, it forced them to focus on what truly mattered, make quick decisions, and maintain a steady momentum. The pressure of the deadline sharpened their creativity rather than hindered it, leading to more focused and innovative solutions. Sometimes, decisions tend to extend into a whole line of meetings in a delivery to a customer, and the urgency gets a bit lost. Having a clear deadline for a decision and then applying an agile mindset to allow us to go back and revisit the decision rather than requiring every decision to be perfect from the start would not only create efficiency but would also encourage a culture of psychological safety.

Another fascinating observation was the effectiveness of smaller teams. Throughout the event, we noticed that smaller, tighter-knit teams often demonstrated stronger cohesion and more efficient collaboration. With fewer team members, each person naturally took on more responsibility and felt a greater sense of ownership in the project’s success. This heightened sense of personal investment and belonging fueled their motivation and drove better outcomes. The intimate team dynamic also appeared to facilitate quicker decision-making and more agile problem-solving.

Sometimes, the best experiences come from saying “yes” to things that initially seem intimidating. This weekend proved that stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to extraordinary adventures and meaningful connections. As I head home, I’m taking with me memories, new friendships, and a renewed appreciation for the magic that happens when passionate developers come together to create.