Andreea Marginean

“Andreea learned that being a strong developer is not the same as being a strong leader, and that supporting others often means stepping back so they can solve problems themselves”

Part of the Tech Women Celebration 50, a curated list of some of the most inspirational women working at all levels of tech

Andreea Marginean is a Senior Front End Developer with over six years' experience in the digital agency industry. She specialises in building complex digital experiences and leading technical delivery, while also developing teams, mentoring junior developers and placement students, and introducing standards and processes that improve quality and delivery.

Technology has always excited Andreea because of the creativity, problem-solving and continuous learning it offers. She enjoys sharing that enthusiasm with people at the beginning of their careers. Through university visits, placement programmes and day-to-day mentoring at Cold Banana, she helps students and junior developers find their feet, build confidence and discover their potential in the industry.

She is particularly interested in the intersection of technology, people and leadership, and in creating environments where developers can learn, grow and do their best work.

Tell us about the nominee's biggest achievement to date

One of Andreea's biggest achievements has been developing the relationship between .NET tech agency Cold Banana and Bournemouth University, creating meaningful opportunities for students to gain industry experience.

What began with placement opportunities has grown into a structured 12-month programme. Andreea helped shape it to give students clear goals, opportunities to develop technical and professional skills, and genuine exposure to working in a digital agency.

She mentors students throughout their placements and creates training sessions, projects and opportunities to learn from experienced developers. Her aim is for them to leave with stronger technical ability, confidence, communication skills and an understanding of how to begin their careers in technology.

By investing time in the next generation of digital talent, Andreea has strengthened the connection between education and industry while giving students valuable experience and insight into working in tech.

What is the most significant challenge the nominee has overcome?

One of Andreea's most significant challenges has been moving from a purely technical role into one that involves supporting, mentoring and developing others.

As her career progressed, she shifted from focusing on her own technical work to helping other developers grow. This required new skills in communication, mentoring, delegation and leadership. She learned that being a strong developer is not the same as being a strong leader, and that supporting others often means stepping back so they can solve problems themselves.

This has been especially important in her work with placement students and junior developers. She adapts her approach to different levels of experience, providing guidance without taking away independence.

Andreea sees this as an ongoing part of her development. It has shaped her leadership style and reinforced her belief that investing in people and creating opportunities for others is as important as delivering strong technical work.

Tell us something about the nominee people would find surprising

People may be surprised to learn that Andreea does not come from a traditional technical background. She studied Media Production at university and initially hoped to become a film director.

Although she had always been fascinated by computers and technology, she tried to set that interest aside. Growing up, she was often told that technology and computers were not particularly “girly”, which made her question whether she belonged in the industry.

During her final year at university, she realised that her passion for technology had never gone away. She taught herself web development, built her technical knowledge from scratch and eventually changed the direction of her career to become a developer.

Her journey has given her a strong appreciation for people entering the industry without a traditional technical background. It is also why she is so committed to mentoring students and creating opportunities for others to discover that they have a place in technology.