We sat down with Jon to talk about his unique career journey, navigating an underdeveloped industry, and why the best business deals are built on zero corporate ego and a whole lot of human connection.

If you want to understand the true pulse of Swappie’s circular mission, you have to look at the supply chain. After all, without the devices, there is no business. Enter Jonathan Gaddis, our Senior Business Development Manager in the Supply team - a role that requires the sharp analytical mind of a procurement officer and the smooth relationship-building skills of a diplomat.  

Jon’s journey with Swappie began nearly seven years ago, back in August 2019. Like many great career stories, it started almost by accident.

“I wasn’t even looking for a real job,” Jon laughs. “I was looking for something to occupy me two days a week while I was in university. I stumbled into Swappie, talked to the team for half an hour, and they called me later that day like, ‘You want a job?’”  

He started as a Production Specialist, but by the autumn of 2019, the atmosphere at Swappie had completely pulled him in. “We were sitting on the floor in these HQ weeklies, looking at the numbers, and it was like, Wow, we are selling a lot, really fast. It was this cool, fun atmosphere. I thought, “I like this. I think I could stick around and try to make a career out of this.”  

Within a year, Jon found his home in the Supply organization. The unique supply dynamics of the refurbished electronics industry fascinated Jon, perfectly aligning with his university studies in reverse logistics.

“It wasn't like any other industry where you just put an order into a factory and the factory delivers,” Jon explains. “You have to actually go out, find these suppliers, and pitch the idea of what it’s like working with Swappie. It’s an underdeveloped industry, so there’s a real need for sourcing and business development mixed into one.”  

Today, Jon’s day-to-day involves developing strategic sources for Swappie’s key categories like iPhones and iPads. In a market that he describes as having evolved from the “wild west” of small independent traders into a mature space of long-term, developed partnerships, Jon has carved out a reputation as an industry expert.

He credits his success to a mix of thick skin and genuine human connection. “This work has moments of intense tension – whether that’s in a negotiation or when a relationship is in jeopardy. I’m pretty good at staying calm, taking a step back, and making a mental action plan,” he says. For Jon, the true reward isn't in “winning" a negotiation, but in the sense of accomplishment that comes once a deal is closed and a strong, long-lasting partnership is forged.  

But his secret weapon? Just being a normal guy. “A lot of people approach this job very shallowly: Yes, no, we do this, we don't do that. I take a very different approach. I explain things in terms normal people understand, not using big fancy words. I’m just like, ‘Hey, this is how I see us working together in the future. Now you tell me how you see it.’ People respond to that warmth.” 

That personable approach extends internally, too. Whether he’s negotiating a multi-thousand euro discount or pitching a new strategy to the management team, Jon knows that influence requires both data and likability. And at Swappie, he appreciates that strategy doesn’t just get handed down from the top. Professional development here, he notes, is highly self-driven: "You get out of it what you put into it".  

“A lot of the strategy for business development actually flows uphill from me and my colleagues,” Jon notes. “Management welcomes us to paint a picture of the future. We get to drive a lot of the change here, and I think that’s super fun, super cool, and pretty unique.”   

When reflecting on Swappie’s culture, Jon looks past the corporate buzzwords and focuses on the daily reality of the office. “It’s about the culture we build each day,” he emphasizes. He values that Swappie has built a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace where people can show up exactly as they are. “Swappie is a place where you can come as you are, and no one is going to care - in the best possible way.”  

Outside of the fast-paced tech world, Jon’s personal story features a rather dramatic plot twist. Originally from the sunny, palm-tree-lined beaches of California, he traded the surf for the snow nearly 15 years ago.  

The reason? “I moved to Finland for a girl, and I stayed ever since,” he smiles.

Now living and working fully remotely from Seinäjoki – hours away from Swappie's Helsinki HQ – Jon appreciates the flexibility his role offers. While locals still occasionally ask him why he traded California for the Finnish winter, Jon has found that working from "the middle of nowhere" actually gives him a strategic edge.

“Being remote forces me to look at the industry purely through data and systems,” he explains. Without the daily distractions of a bustling office, he can zoom out and focus on the macro-level supply trends that drive the business. But that distance doesn’t mean he’s isolated. Swappie’s flexible setup allows Jon to thrive independently while making quarterly trips to the office to reconnect and strategize with his team. On top of that, this role keeps him connected to the wider industry, taking him across Europe to attend tech fairs and meet face-to-face at partner headquarters.

Looking back on his seven years at Swappie, Jon is incredibly proud of the expertise he has built and the relationships he has nurtured. As for the future? He is endlessly optimistic about Swappie’s mission to combat e-waste and make refurbished electronics the global standard.  

“The future is unwritten, and the future is what we make it,” Jon says with his trademark calm. “I try to make the most of it and have the impact I can today. I’ll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.”  

Thank you, Jon, for your calm under pressure, your strategic mindset, and for proving that the best business deals are made with a human touch. We are incredibly lucky to have you! 🙌