Brain Bot Brigade: The AI idea that made everyday finance better
It started with a simple question: could AI help us work smarter in finance?
A team of finance professionals from across Lindström set out to find the answer. They met through the Finance Business Partner Academy, which is a two-year programme at Lindström that helps controllers grow into business partners through hands-on learning, cross-border collaboration, and practical skills development.
The team, soon calling themselves the Brain Bot Brigade, didn’t just explore the potential of AI. They built a working solution that saves time and improves quality. And when they graduated in August, their project earned the BPA Project of the Year Award.
“I didn’t know how far we could go with it, but I knew we had the right people to try,” one team member said. That sums up the project perfectly: practical, ambitious, and powered by teamwork.
Meet the people behind the project
Each member of the Brain Bot Brigade brought their own story, skills and perspective:
Shraddha Gotoorkar joined Lindström India as a Finance Manager after working for a company where Lindström was a client. With a background in financial planning and analysis, she embraced the chance to work across borders and grow her communication and technical skills.
Who: Shraddha Gotoorkar
Role at Lindström: Finance Manager, Reporting and Internal audits
Location: Mumbai, India
Tatiana Zavertaylo began her career as a computer programmer before switching to finance. At Lindström Ukraine, she’s progressed from Chief Accountant to a dual role that includes Country Business Controller. Her blend of tech skills and business knowledge made her a natural fit to lead the technical side of the project.
Who: Tatiana Zavertaylo
Role at Lindström: Chief Accountant
Location: Kiev, Ukraine
Nikita Zdobin, originally from Russia, moved to Finland to study finance. He joined Lindström in 2019 and has worked across Accounts Receivable and Group Reporting. Promoted during his time in the BPA, he played a key role in strategy, communications, and aligning the project with company systems.
Who: Nikta Zdobin
Role at Lindström: Business Controller
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Elif Kocaoglu relocated from Türkiye to Finland and joined Lindström after initially applying for a trainee role. She now works in Group Reporting Team and supports Türkiye as a Business Controller and Head Office IT-Team as a Business Partner and handles IT-related finance topics.
Who: Elif Kocaoglu
Role at Lindström: Business Controller
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Vilma Mateviciene, Head of Regional Finance for the Baltics and Ukraine, supported the team as a sparring partner. Her role in the BPA was to challenge, coach, and step in only when needed, giving the team space to lead.
Who: Vilma Mateviciene
Role at Lindström: Head of Regional Finance
Location: Vilnius, Lithuania
Turning an idea into reality
The team’s challenge? Make AI useful for finance. Not as a buzzword, but as a real, working solution. They decided to focus on something every controller deals with: forecasting.
“Forecasting volumes and costs took hours each month. We wanted to see if AI could do it faster, so we’d have more time for meaningful work,” explains Tatiana.
They started by testing ready-made tools but quickly hit limits due to company data policies and the current developmental boundaries of AI. So, they rolled up their sleeves and built their own. With help from Microsoft Copilot, they developed a Python-based application that could turn raw data into accurate predictions, all in a matter of minutes.
The result? Two smart, straightforward tools: one for volume forecasts, the other for cost. That transformed a slow, manual process into a quick, automated one.
“The 2026 budget for Lindström Ukraine was calculated in just two minutes using the tool,” says Tatiana. “Of course, some manual adjustments were needed, since our model operates on historical data and numerical assumptions, like inflation forecasts, and cannot yet account for human intentions or strategic plans. Still, what used to take several weeks was completed in days, marking a major leap in efficiency.”
Each member played a key role: Tatiana led the coding and built the logic. Nikita made sure it connected with the bigger picture: systems, stakeholders, and strategy. Shraddha scoped the user needs and led testing. Elif was the organiser and energiser, keeping the wheels turning.
“I’m proud of what we built,” says Nikita. “But even more proud of how we worked together; across countries, time zones, and workloads. That’s what made it work.”
From left to right: Petri Vapola, Shraddha Gotoorkar, Elif Kocaoglu, Evgenia Elezova, and Nikita Zdobin.
Missing from the photo: Tatiana Zavertaylo and Vilma Mateviciene.
What they learned and how it changed their work
The BPA didn’t just teach tools or techniques, it shifted perspectives and opened up new paths. For everyone on the team, the biggest impact wasn’t just what they built, but how it changed the way they think about their roles.
“We don’t just accept tasks as they come anymore,” says Shraddha. “We ask: is there a smarter way to do this?”
That mindset shift became one of the most valuable outcomes of the project.
For Shraddha, it meant stepping back from manual routines and seeing how automation could open space for more strategic work. “Now my first thought is: can we use AI here?”
Tatiana found the experience brought her back to her roots in programming, and sparked new energy. “It reminded me how much I enjoy creating, and how powerful it is when technology frees us to do more meaningful work.” She adds, “With AI, you don’t need a large team of developers to build something groundbreaking. Sometimes, all it takes is curiosity and a bit of time.”
Nikita helped shape the direction of the project, ensuring it supported Lindström’s broader goals. The experience also gave him the confidence to grow into a new role and become someone colleagues turn to. “That trust means a lot.”
For Elif, the journey was both professional and personal. She learned new tools, but what stayed with her most was the sense of community. “It wasn’t just tools and skills, but it gave me a real network. Across countries and roles, we’ve got each other’s backs now.”
A big idea, a working tool, and an award to match
The Brain Bot Brigade’s journey didn’t end with a finished tool, but rather it is just getting started. “The project lives on,” says Vilma. “It’s already changing how people see AI. Not as a threat, but as a helpful tool.”
The team’s success wasn’t just about smart coding or clever insights. It came down to trust, teamwork, and the courage to try. “We didn’t know everything at the start,” says Shraddha. “But we trusted each other, stayed curious, and figured it out. That made all the difference.”
Their story is a reminder that innovation doesn’t need to be complex, but rather just needs people who are willing to try. That’s what the Finance Business Partner Academy set out to support, and this team brought it to life.
Related
A glimpse into Lindström’s Grow & Shine trainee programme through Arthur Alen’s story, from onboarding to real responsibility, and a summer full of growth.
See how Nina Bačmaj’s creativity, teamwork, and leadership transformed sales and marketing collaboration at Lindström Croatia and across Southeast Europe.
Vilma Mateviciene’s journey from temp to Head of Finance at Lindström reflects her leadership, growth, and dedication to sustainability.
