It all started in 2019 when a Computer Science student applied for the summer internship at Linnify. She would have never pictured herself in a corporate environment where putting her mind to use meant typing lines of code from 9 to 5. She was a people person, whose daily energy came from the constant interaction with those around her. That person is me.

Hi, there! I’m Andreea Ghejan, Head of the Frontend department at Linnify.

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Can one turn from a social butterfly to a tech enthusiast?

My background includes a lot of work with people ever since I was young. Being part of the Tech University Students' Organization (OSUT) as HR & Internal VP, my college years were filled with understanding and guiding people. Throughout those years, I also got to explore visual aesthetics through my involvement in PR. Looking back, that might've kicked off my interest in the front-end domain.

My devotion to software development arose with the guidance of my internship mentors: Andreea Ghic and Darius Bogdan. While Andreea unleashed the 'eye for detail' along with the affinity for high-quality products, Darius revealed the urge to innovate by finding the right solutions.

It was the spark that set it all aflame. Who would have thought? I certainly haven’t.

Hadn’t it been for these amazing people, I may not have pursued this career.

You may wonder how I survive, while my energy comes from interacting with people, not a keyboard and screens. It is the people. The Linnifians. Their vibe keeps me alive. Their trust gives me the confidence I need to continuously push my limits. The environment allowed me to stay true to my people skills while doing what I love. My heart goes out to all the one-of-a-kind experiences and constant support.

Now is the time to give a tremendous shout-out to the co-founders and the executives, especially to our CTO, Razvan Bretoiu. Because of their trust in me, I’ve embraced the biggest challenge so far: taking in the commitment of being head of department.

I'm grateful for being able to contribute to the Linnifian legacy.

It is indeed a commitment. It's a constant challenge that, regardless of its fast-paced rhythm and complexity, can't make me look at it with sore eyes.

I’m enjoying every minute of it, all possible pressures and expectations included. Why wouldn’t I, when I’ve got an amazing team by my side? When my day-to-day job is now guiding the browser wizards throughout their careers.

After learning the magic myself, I’m doing my best to be a great mentor for the next generation, as my colleagues were for me. I may say I’m back to where it all started. To being a people person, but an upgraded, more complex version.

Make sure you enjoy what you do

That’s the only way to keep the excitement alive

If you were to think of what your day looks like as a grown-up, as an employee, no matter the profession you are pursuing, what comes to your mind? Try assessing your daily schedule, for instance. You’ll realize that 1/3 of your day you’ll spend working. Ideally, another 1/3 you’ll sleep, recharging to live.

You’ll have to dedicate some time to taking care of yourself as well. That leaves a small percentage, too little time for anything else.

That’s why I believe that if you don’t love what you do, you’ll find yourself disappointed in your life.

This is one of the things I always pay a lot of attention to. Giving more to life than just what's expected means giving meaning to what you do. That's why I'm enjoying every part of it.

The key to enjoying making an effort is definitely not 'fake till you make it'. Maybe you're not going to smile all the time but that doesn't mean you're not loving it. Forcing it is definitely not the way. You'll have to be patient and let passion be your fuel in everything you do.

For me, it’s the everyday challenges that keep me alive.

Any advice for future generations?

'Get up every day excited for the new challenges that await.'