Posts in category: People

Say hello to Bianca Santha, the very first official RebelDot hire, and now one of our cherished Delivery Managers. As a steadfast pillar in our RebelDot family from the start, Bianca has been integral to our narrative. Her captivating tales invite you to delve deep into the rich culture of RebelDot and embark on an inspiring journey through her professional experiences. Now, let’s settle in and let Bianca guide us through the exciting chapters of her RebelDot story.

How was your day?

I woke up after snoozing the alarm a ridiculous number of times and made a coffee and a muesli bowl that I would end up eating at around 11pm after finishing with all my meetings.

Just like any other day, according to the book, with daily meetings. I work on two projects now, so I have two teams, which means two daily meetings and times two everything.

With one of the teams, we also held a retro which was really fun. We went a little crazier than usual, played some background music, played with our Miro boards to make them more engaging, and yeah, it was great.

Later on, I had a performance review with someone very dear to me. A colleague of mine just turned 2 years in the company and the evolution so far is amazing. He has a great backstory and is developing so many new skills that now he’s doing more and more complex tasks. I’m so proud of him!

Tell me something that’s been on your mind, bugging you lately

Me and my husband, well, we need to change our double-glazed windows, replace the old ones. My head has a constant background of heat transfer-related thoughts. And work related, well, I’ve been delaying some paperwork, but it’s time I got to that too!

That’s great! Before we get into the window talk… Let’s hear more about your origin story.

Where you’re from, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to be independent! I come from a small village in Romania, and my dream was always, to, well… leave it.

I finally managed to do that at 15, when I started high school. I moved 60km (about 37.28 mi) away from my homeplace and to the nearest big city. I lived on my own throughout my high school years, which made me quite independent and self-sufficient. I managed and organized myself fully, and I enjoyed it!

The only thing I had to get used to was being in such a big school. Where I come from, the place was rather small, and everyone knew everyone. The change required some adapting, but it all got better and better in time.

Later on, I moved to Cluj-Napoca to study Computer Science, where I still live to this day. I always had a knack for Math and Informatics, which was something that followed naturally.

Growing up, I never felt like I belonged in the place where I come from, I never felt connected with people there, all for the exception of one girl that was 2 years older than me.

She seemed out of place too, which, I guess, got us even closer. We both followed the same road until we parted ways as she did not choose Computer Science. Anyway, she had a significant influence on me, showing me that you can find your place and your people if you follow whatever inner drive there’s inside of you!

So, you started out as a software engineer! How come you transitioned to a Delivery Management role?

I think it was pretty much contextual. I was working on a project where there wasn’t an active scrum master. So, naturally, from my self-organizing skills I wanted to help. I was already involved in discussions with the client, in understanding the business logic, so at one point, I was so focused on the problem-solving area that I put the development part on a secondary plan. My feedback was great in project management from the team, so my Delivery Manager suggested I do that full-time. Ioana Lazau, our first Delivery Director, by the time she was a Delivery Manager, guided me and helped me see a new path from a new perspective.

The process was extensive and really long because it was very hard for me to give up the development side.

I felt like I invested so much, from my high school years to my college years, internships, and everything else I did to grow and evolve. I had to do a lot of introspection to see if it was something that I was actually ready to do. It was over 6 months that I was doing both engineering and project management at the same time, until I decided to bite the bullet and say ‘ok, I’m doing this!’ I realized that no one could ever take my knowledge away from me and that I could always go back to development whenever I wanted to it, even though it would take some time to catch up.

A lot of the learning process in RebelDot which I am very much in alignment with, is based on hands on experience, being there, being present, and learning from others, and by doing. This is what I did too.

That was very brave of you! Did you have the support needed to do this transition?

Because it was such a long process, the team got used to it at the same pace as I did.

That specific project, specific team, and Ioana, they’ve created the perfect environment for this change to happen. People were very accommodating, and my feedback was great from colleagues which helped me gain confidence that I made the right choice.

By the way, can I tell you a fun fact?

Officially, I am the first RebelDot employee.

I first interviewed in 2018 at Imprezzio Global, which was unofficialy RebelDot back then, namely a regional division of Imprezzio Global, but signed the contract with RebelDot, right after the sepparation and emergence of RebelDot as an entity.

You got to see it all! What’s your most precious memory in RebelDot?

Some of the first things that come to mind are the pre-pandemic days when we were all at the office every day. We weren’t as many people as we are today, just a handful. Imagine a relatively quiet office, surrounded only by a handful of colleagues, a comfortable place where everybody knew everybody, working and being distracted by laughs and random stories. I remember the company wide meetings back then; we’d gather in a circle around Tudi (RebelDot’s CEO), and he’d just tell us everything that was going on in complete honesty. Well, that still happens and he’s the same man, but growing from 20 people to almost 200 feels different, of course.

Since we’re discussing cozy feelings. What’s your favorite place in the world?

Oh, that’s easy! Anywhere that’s near a body of water, any body of water.

I can be near a lake in Austria, on a beach in Greece, or Italy, or wherever, it doesn’t matter, I will most definitely enjoy it.

A dear place that I fell in love with last year is Mallorca, if I had to pick one. But generally speaking, my happy place is by the water. My husband and I bought a paddle board recently and I feel it is so relaxing, peaceful, and it inspires slow living.

What goals are you pursuing at the moment?

Indeed! I always want to do a better job, every day a little better than the day before. I had so many interactions in the last few years and I’ve learned so much about other people and about myself too in the process. I want to excel at understanding the client’s needs and managing smooth processes, especially in the kick-off stages of a project.

A big part of what I do is to make people around me feel happy, heard, listened to, understood, and that the relationship and exchanges are fair on all ends, so that’s my goal, make it fair on all ends.

Who do you feel has had the biggest impact on your journey so far?

In RebelDot it was definitely Ioana Lazau, my main driver and my main supporter. Everything happened in this particular way because she never once stopped believing in me, and I owe it to her. She was the first to notice my potential and dedicate the time to work with me. She taught me how to set boundaries and create a healthy environment in which I and others can thrive together.

Who is the one person that you admire the most?

My mother. The reason why is self-explanatory, but she made me who I am. She’s the main wheel that makes everything else turn.

What is your spiciest opinion that most people disagree with?

I don’t know if it falls under the category of spicy things, but I don’t enjoy walks in the woods, I simply don’t. Just the thought of it makes me anxious, even though I am not an anxious person, but the woods make me feel enclosed. I grew up with what seemed to be an endless forest right outside my house, in the back of it, but it still didn’t do the work for me. Oh, and hiking! I don’t get that either.

Become a part of our team!

We hope you enjoyed Bianca’s captivating journey through her RebelDot narrative, giving you a taste of our culture and values that we hold dear. Each of our Rebel Tech interviews aims to provide not just an insight into our work and the people behind it, but also to inspire you with their unique stories of growth, camaraderie and resilience. If these tales spark an interest or evoke a sense of belonging, we invite you to explore more such inspiring stories from our Rebel Tech series.

Perhaps, you might find yourself excited enough to become part of our story too. At RebelDot, we are always on the lookout for new talents and vibrant personalities to join our family. So, if you’re interested, don’t hesitate to reach out, apply on our careers page, and maybe you could be the protagonist of the next interview!

Tell me a bit about yourself

I’m Laura and I have been working as a QA engineer for almost 7 years now, having spent the last two and counting as part of the RebelDot team. Breaking into tech has been a huge surprise for me and everyone around me, as I had no connection to this industry when I first started. I majored in Biology and my dream was to become a Researcher in Genetics. Turns out, it wasn’t as “doable” as I originally thought, and after I started my journey as a QA Engineer, I forgot all about my “other” life, as I like to call it.

I’m open to everything, thoughts, ideas, and everything new. Saying this makes me realize that I actually always say this, at the office too, and then I see everyone walking past my desk and I’m frowning the whole day at the screen. It’s the specific “I’m thinking” frown. Jokes aside, yes, I’m open, and I like to think I’m fun too. I come from a fun family that’s always ready to turn every gathering into a comedic relief event. Especially my dad. There’s just something about connecting through a shared sense of humor, right? I love traveling and I always have the next trip booked in advance. Whenever I go someplace new, learn something about it, or witness a different culture, I feel my soul’s enriched and my mind a clearer space.

I always have music on. Constantly. Non-stop. I read everything that I can put my hands on. Growing older and maturing, I realized there’s so many things I don’t know, and maybe not even enough time to learn, so I do my best to accumulate as much as possible. I’m now going through a book about the World’s history, from prehistoric times to present.

Take me to your ‘Origins story’—Walk me through your ‘Whys’, why Biology, why QA, why RebelDot?

Biology’s an easy answer. I always had a passion for it. My parents’ ambition was for me to become a doctor, but I had other plans. The “battle” between my ambitions and their expectations lasted for a while, but around the 12th grade, I sat this exam that was the equivalent of your biology college admission exam. I took my chances with it, got a fairly high grade, and immediately decided that I was bound to become a biologist. That’s how I got into Biology. During my 1st year of college, I loved everything that started with “bio”, Biology, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, and so on. Looking back, it felt both right and wrong for me at the same time. It does sound contrarian indeed, but I am telling you it perfectly reflects my feelings from back in those days.

To love something and not want to pursue it anymore, because, deep down, you know there is a lot more that could be done but isn’t. I used to see this as a personal failure.

And here I’m talking about the limitations that we have in general in many different subjects in Romania. My constant turmoil between feeling like I’m failing, myself especially, and the perpetual question of what’s next, eventually got me to a low point from an academic point of view and drive overall. My motivation was drowning and with it, myself too. Despite all this, I managed to push through and graduate, ultimately being happy and fulfilled with having explored so much of what I loved for so long.

But on a whim, after finishing my studies, I got a job at a game testing company. They were onboarding people with no prior experience, teaching them from scratch the ins and outs of QA. It was so insightful I ended up working there for 3 years, on night shifts. I’m very grateful for the start of my career as a QA engineer. Not so much for having to learn how to sleep at night again, though.

After that, I started working in the Automotive sector, which I again loved, as I’ve always liked cars. When the pandemic hit, I felt I needed to make a few adjustments as I was adapting to working from home. One of my dear friends was working for a company putting together scientific articles and I got excited at the idea of editing scientific articles, as it was a part of me, one that I wasn’t feeding at the time. It was a nice way of connecting with the scientific community and practicing what I’ve learnt, but the desire to continue pursuing technology was even greater.

And so, after applying to a series of positions available in the local tech landscape, Oana from RebelDot reached out to me and suggested we’d have a chat.I interviewed with RebelDot and in the first ten minutes of the discussion, I knew that I wanted to join the team. I enjoyed the interview experience, Oana’s presence, and everything that followed. I was also excited about being part of the QA community.

How would you describe your job to a child?

‘Okay, kid, see those toys there? They work perfectly fine, right? When you press a button that’s supposed to make the toy, say, sing, it sings. Well, that’s what I do, I make sure that everything works as it’s supposed to, and if they should sing, I make sure they sing.’

I work in QA which is like saying that nothing is perfect as it is.

I don’t believe in ‘perfect’, but I do believe in a growth mindset—you can always improve, no matter how great something is. I think this is the healthiest approach, mentally too – knowing and accepting your faults and being ok with them. The biggest satisfaction of my job is having people around that understand this. Oh, and clients that are delighted by this process and the growth mindset, actively support it, and show their appreciation.

You’ve mentioned mental health, a very ‘buzz’ topic to talk about nowadays. How do you relate to the subject, what’s your view on it? And do you have a support system?

It’s no secret that I’ve struggled with my anxiety over the past few years. I don’t take shame in it, and I don’t hide it from my team either. I need to be open about it because the emotions of someone with anxiety are very strong, and I need my team to acknowledge that to properly connect with one another. Anxiety is hard to overcome, and you need to put in the extra effort to learn to juggle it. People in these kinds of situations need therapists, specialists, and a lot of support from those close to them. I do work on myself, and I think I’m in a very good place now, compared to past years. I’ve learned to live more fearlessly and express myself.

The Rebel team is great. I had moments in which I felt like I needed a break, and I was honest and open about it to my colleagues. Here, we view recharging as a natural phase, and not a weakness, which I find to be a very healthy approach.

The relationship between colleagues is extremely important for one’s mental health. I think it’s vital to have an open relationship with your colleagues once you’re confident that it’s a safe space and you can speak your mind and open your heart without repercussions. I found exactly this in RebelDot, a team where I can openly discuss my hopes and fears, be it in relation to products, projects, tasks, or more personal issues.

This was the one aspect that has improved my mental health the most. Detaching myself from everything that wasn’t serving me anymore and focusing on my own growth.

As for RebelDot, I want to refer more to the Rebels, as we, the kind-hearted and driven crazy bunch make the company what it is. Whether we talk about a place, a job, a company, or a city break, it doesn’t matter where you are, but who you’re surrounded by. My team is an important part of my journey and I’m happy that we get to be exactly like we are, transparent and focused on helping each other reach new heights.

How do you stay motivated?

The biggest satisfaction is seeing people proud and happy with your work; that your work is impactful! This is something that’s keeping me just as excited about working with the Rebels as I was at the beginning of this journey. I’m always in a position where I can learn and further develop new skills, explore different areas of what it means to innovate when it comes to digital products and experience many of the things that I love to do the most.

Final Thoughts

Laura’s story is beyond heartening, as she’s a great example of resilience, adaptability, and openness in the face of the unknown. Behind her smile, her warm presence, and mesmerizing personality, lies her complex self—the inspiring woman who faced life with an open heart and an open mind, always adapted, and worked so hard for everything that she is and has right now.

As we just wrapped up another year at RebelDot, let’s take a moment to reminisce about all the amazing things that have happened in 2022. From continuing to launch top-tier web and mobile apps to seriously expanding our team and fine-tuning our software development processes, it’s been a whirlwind of a year. And we’re so excited to share some of the highlights of it with you. So, grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and let’s look back on the good times we had at RebelDot in 2022.

But before delving into our retrospective, here’s a series of metrics, such as eNPS, NPS, Glassdoor rating and Clutch rating, a collection of reviews from both our rebels and the amazing clients we collaborate with, a subjective, yet insightful feedback which we are beyond grateful to have obtained following our 2022 journey:

Getting back to the office

After almost two years of remote work, our team was eager to get back to the office. So, we took the opportunity to redesign our workspace and create a more collaborative and inspiring environment. The outcomes were spectacular. Our team has never been more energised, creative, or well-connected. Our RebelDot office is buzzing with creativity and collaboration, making it the perfect place to tackle complex projects and drive success. The Headquarters situated on Buftea Street has become central to our corporate culture, promoting togetherness and a common mission among team members, a space for us to gather, inspire each other and build meaningful relationships which will ultimately turn into building high-quality digital products.

The renovation of our former reception area into a warm and inviting café is one of the most exciting aspects of our new workplace layout. This decision has had a profound impact on the office atmosphere and has become a hub of activity for both our team and visitors alike. The Rebel café is used for a variety of purposes, from casual meetings or casual brainstorming sessions to just grabbing a cup of coffee and catching up with friends.

It’s a place where everyone, from regulars to newcomers, can feel comfortable and work together productively. The café has done a wonderful job of strengthening our community by providing a friendly and open space that encourages interaction and innovation. In no time, it has become a symbol of our company’s values and the rebeldot culture, and one of the aspects we take the most pride in is our new location.

Creating a pet-friendly workplace: A step towards employee well-being

Pets are a big part of our lives and leaving them behind all day can be tough. That’s why we decided to make one of our offices pet-friendly and sure thing, the outcome was a real mood-booster.

It’s like having an inbuilt icebreaker; The Alverna office feels now even more fun and playful, and it helps us all bond in novel ways. It’s hard not to smile when you see a wagging tail or a furry face.

Now, colleagues don’t have to rush home to let the pup out or feel guilty for leaving them cooped up all day. Not to mention the difference that bringing your furry friend to work can make in finding that sought-after work-life balance.

By doing this, we’re not only making work a little easier, but also a lot more fun. Who wouldn’t want to work with a bunch of cute, cuddly dogs by their side?

Got onboard 80 new rebels in 2022

It surely has been a tough beginning of the year. With the pandemic, the war, and all the other craziness going on, you’d think nothing could go right.

But, despite the challenges posed by these tough circumstances, our team continued to grow and thrive, as we’ve welcomed no less than 80 new joiners in the past year, massively growing the engineering department which triggered a simultaneous growth of the other departments as well.

People are still choosing to join RebelDot, and the ones who were already here have stuck around and continued to create amazing digital products. It is inspiring to observe the resilience of nearly 200 rebels in the face of adversity.

And get this – not only are people joining, but we’re also seeing more and more of our team members deciding to stay and build their careers with us. A series of metrics which we are beyond grateful to have achieved would be the 14.3% attrition rate. It’s a testament to the supportive and impactful work environment we’ve built.

We’re not just surviving; we’re thriving and it’s all thanks to our amazing team.

Also, here’s an excerpt, just a few answers that our People & Culture team got from our colleagues answering the question “What do you most appreciate in RebelDot?”:

And here’s what Tudi had to say about RebelDot in 2022:

Our people make this company what it is. It’s their creativity, passion, and determination that drive our success. Despite the challenges we faced, the rebels never lost their spirit or their commitment to each other. As we move into 2023, I’m filled with hope and excitement for what the future holds, because I know that together, we can overcome any obstacle and create something truly special, something that goes beyond any digital product, a culture of togetherness and open communication that will trigger growth, both personally and as a company.

Tudor CiuleanuCEO RebelDot

If you want to get an insight into how we do things at RebelDot and why we do it, here’s a conversation between Tudor Ciuleanu, CEO of RebelDot and Doru Supeala, as part of his Hacking Work podcast series, about the type of leadership cultivated in RebelDot, the values we’re guided by and essentially the company culture, deconstructed.

Expanding horizons: diversifying our client base in 2022

This past year has triggered major growth and expansion for us, as we’ve welcomed a diverse range of new clients worldwide. Our portfolio has grown to include exciting projects across a variety of industries such as real estate, fintech, healthcare, social, (green) energy, retail and more, allowing us to showcase our versatility and expertise on a global scale.

With this growth, we began working with a wider range of businesses, adopting new technologies and creating meaningful connections with each new client to constantly bring value and create more opportunities for them. We’re thrilled about the future and all the opportunities for continued growth and exploration that lie ahead.

Ciprian Iacob: stepping up as our new Chief Technology Officer

Another significant milestone in 2022 was the appointment of Ciprian Iacob, who began his journey with RebelDot as a Technology Lead, to the position of Chief Technology Officer.

Ciprian is passionate about people and technology and about contributing to creating an environment where everyone can thrive, having previously managed product teams and led communities of practice. He’s been working with RebelDot for over a year now, helping us strengthen the tech community and leading remarkable development efforts for one of our partners, a world-leading energy provider.

With Ciprian in this role, we can streamline our technological processes and make sure that our team is aligned and working towards a common goal. The development team has been thriving, making impressive strides, thanks to Ciprian’s support and guidance, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and consistently delivering leading solutions.

Having a dedicated CTO, not only demonstrates our commitment to staying on the forefront of technological advancements, but it also allows us to focus on our long-term vision of delivering the highest quality digital products and strengthening the foundations of the technology community inside RebelDot.

The CTO role enables me to better serve the rebels and facilitate a community in which we thrive and drive innovation.

Ciprian IacobCTO RebelDot

Staying ahead of the curve: upgrading our tech stack and refining our skills

Lately, we’ve been making significant progress concerning technical expertise too, not only acquiring more clients but also refreshing our tech stack. We’ve embraced the latest technologies that streamline our processes and elevate the quality of our digital products but also deepened our expertise on the technologies we were already using, making sure our team is staying ahead of the curve.

From sleek and modern Frontend frameworks like React, React Native, Angular, and Flutter, to powerful Backend tech like .NET, NodeJS, Firebase, and Python, and scalable Infrastructure solutions like Amazon Web Services, Azure, and Firebase, our team of tech enthusiasts has been laser-focused on mastering these technologies to continue delivering innovative solutions that exceed expectations.

Besides, both Blockchain development, as well AI have become integral solutions as part of our technology stack, having already implemented them in the projects we are excited to share with you soon. Moreover, being mindful of the limited amount of opportunities to break into blockchain development as a junior, but also of the immense potential and capacity of our local talent, last year we have also onboarded a team of junior developers as part of our Blockchain internship.

This double-pronged approach — investing in both new and familiar technologies and growing our team — has allowed us to offer a wider range of services and tackle more ambitious projects with ease, allowing our team to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and deliver web and mobile apps that solve the many pain-points our customers have.

Rebels Deconstructed podcast – more stories about people

Having constantly been on the hunt for new and innovative ways to inspire and motivate our team, last year we continued launching the Rebels Deconstructed podcast series. The reason? We figured it is a series that gives a voice to our own people and shares their incredible journeys and inspiring stories. From the challenges they faced, to the lessons they learned, these episodes are a true testament to the power of perseverance and the drive to succeed.

Whether you’re just starting out in your career or looking for a bit of motivation and inspiration, these podcast episodes are a must-listen. From founding startups and working with product teams to creative processes and finding inspiration, each episode is packed full of actionable advice and stories that will leave you feeling empowered and ready to take on the world.

A must-listen for anyone who wants to gain insights from industry experts and understand the journeys of successful professionals in the software development field and not only

Embarking on a more sustainable future

Perhaps our last significant move for the year 2022 was adding a sustainability officer in the department to prioritize environmental and social responsibility in the company. This decision was made in response to the company’s growth and the desire to fully integrate sustainability into our core values.

We are excited to have Miana Florian as our Sustainability Officer, working towards achieving sustainable development goals that align with the company’s vision. We perceive this as the right thing to do, a measure which will increase our focus on integrating sustainability across all areas of operations.

The goal is to have a positive impact on the environment, community, and society, and to create a brighter future for all.

At this point, it’s only natural to put our efforts into becoming a more sustainable business.

Miana FlorianSustainability Officer RebelDot

Rebels with a cause

We said it once and we’ll keep saying it, being a Rebel means getting involved, rolling up your sleeves, and diving right into it.

Last year, we focused on care. It would be a lie to say that we only did it last year, we do it constantly, but 2022 felt like it needed extra attention.

We started off with self-caring, because again, in a time of even more uncertainty, a war at the borders, and miscommunication, we needed something to bring some inner peace. We did our yearly happiness week where each of us is paired with a colleague and has one job: making that colleague happy.

Later in the Spring, Minte Forte, Mircea Miclea, and Eusebiu Burcas were the ones we invited for some workshops on resilience, handling anxiety, and galloping through hardship from a financial point of view.

Last years’ edition of our annual Charity Yard Sale came with a twist–a furry twist. We wanted to turn our team’s attention to our four-legged friends and support two of the wonderful animal welfare NGOs in our community, NUCA focused on animal welfare, and Dog Assist, an NGO that focuses on therapy based on human-animal interaction.

It was an immense opportunity to declutter and connect with one another but also learn about these NGOs, about fostering, saving furry lives, and offering a helping hand. Everything that was in good condition was up for grabs—from clothing items to books, tableware, and so on.

The event was not only for our colleagues, but for our Rebel pets and families too.

Finally, we’ve organised our yearly rebelswithacause—a fun and effective mechanism of giving back.

Any rebel who wants to get involved can either put something up for auction, be it a product or a service, or auction for said product or service. The money raised through auctioning gets donated to a cause we choose together.

This time, we chose our partners at Little People, hoping we brought a smile through our effort. Some of the things auctioned by our colleagues’ sound something like a playdate with Laura’s dog, a sushi workshop, horseback riding lessons, a spa day at Ovi’s house, and many more. All the money we raised were donated to our partners at Little People, organization that offers psychosocial support programs for children and teenagers in 10 pediatric oncology wards from Romania and the Republic of Moldova.

What’s next for 2023

As we look back on everything that we accomplished in 2022, it’s clear that the resilience and determination of our team shine through. The year brought new challenges, but we navigated through them together and came out stronger.

Our belief is that we are poised for significant growth and development in 2023, and we couldn’t be more excited!

Developing future leaders is a key focus of our efforts. It’s a win-win for the people involved and for the company as a whole. In order to reach our objectives and maintain our high standard of service, we must encourage leadership development among our ranks.

In 2023, we also plan to increase our internship opportunities. The community is important to us, therefore one way we give back is by mentoring those who are just starting out in the field of software development and giving them a chance to get valuable experience. This is beneficial for everyone involved, as the interns gain valuable experience and we have access to new ideas and perspectives that help us stay ahead of the curve.

Additionally, we’ll be focusing on scaling our internal communities of practice, engaging even more of our colleagues in communities such as React, React Native, Flutter, .NET or UX & UI Design to help us anticipate our customers’ needs and deliver exceptional results.

These communities foster knowledge sharing, collaboration, innovation, mentorship, and a positive work culture, providing a platform for our experts to exchange ideas, work together on projects, receive guidance from experienced colleagues, and continuously learn and grow.

Last but not least, we will hold our commitment to increasing the level of employee participation in company activities in order to create a more positive and supportive environment favorable to employee development and teamwork.

We are now excited for the journey ahead in 2023 and invite you to continue following along. Here’s to new adventures, continued growth, and making a positive impact in the world through technology.

Cheers to the future!

TL; DR: From the entry-level developer who tries to prove his worth, to becoming a key member of a team; from getting specific tasks to guiding clients through the features and requirements; from learner to leader and mentor; always changing, challenging, and fulfilling to make a difference and contribute to cultivating a great community.

Maybe you already know the history of RebelDot told on different occasions by Tudi, our CEO and, most recently, as part of the Hacking Work podcast.

What you are about to read is a different perspective on a series of key moments of this history, as experienced by myself, one of the 7 people who started out alongside Tudi, more than 13+ years ago. A genuine and transparent story about how I got to experience the start and development, with all its ups and downs, of what is known today as RebelDot.

Starting out in tech as a 3rd-year university student

In the spring of 2008, as my 3rd year of university was drawing closer to its end, I took part in a student contest where many potential employers were looking for new blood, talented and young engineers to support their development services. This is where I had my first contact with the representatives of Imprezzio, a US-based company. Tho’ I did not have an exceptional result on the contest, I guess something about the way I presented our concept made them notice my potential which helped me land an interview.

And sure thing, that was truly exciting.

Around the same time, I was accepted for an internship as part of a different company. Having already figured out my close future, I was very relaxed in the discussion with the US-based company, attending this interview to satisfy my sense of curiosity rather than take on a different challenge.

Now I don’t remember everything that we’ve talked about, but this one question stuck with me ever since – Why do you like programming?

It is not the question itself, but the answer that I gave which made it so memorable and which, to this day, still applies – „it’s the feeling that I get when I start with a blank screen/a blank canvas and build something that will end up being used to make a difference.”

The follow-up discussion I’ve had with Tudi, back then the Services Division Director, in charge of scaling the Romanian team, made me really consider this opportunity, something that is still vivid in my memory.

He told me very friendly, yet upfront, that he wanted me to join his team and help him in scaling this Romanian division. I immediately felt that he’s an open-minded person with whom I can be truly transparent which gave me the confidence to take the shot and get onboard.

Growing as part of RebelDot

In the first years, the focus was on GROWTH on technical and non-technical skills. I was working part-time, in parallel with studying for my last university year. From the very beginning, I was welcomed with support from all my colleagues. The majority were at the beginning of their career, and it was this authentic spirit of togetherness. Over the years we obviously grew and while it is not something we like to say right now, back then, when there were just 8 of us, having as Headquarters a rented apartment, it did feel like family.

FUN fact – The number 13 received a special meaning for me as part of this team. I have known Tudi for 13 years, he is 13 months older than me, I went on parental for 13 months and, as part of the project I am currently working on, I get to collaborate with colleagues who are 13 years younger than me.

In these 13 years, I saw people come and go, people who all had an influence on my personal & professional development, regardless of their role, seniority or amount of time spent in the team. If at first, we were only developers, I witnessed how the roles diversified in time, onboarding the first QA engineer, the first designer, assistant manager and gradually setting up entire departments. I recommended and brought on board 2 close friends of mine, and it was fulfilling to contribute to their careers.

Learning to adapt and keep up with the speed of business

But change wasn’t always easy. Even though steep growth is a good thing, for me, at least, it meant changing the way things are done. I was accustomed to the way we approached tasks and was somewhat scared that our new colleagues would not adopt our culture.

I must admit, sometimes I was slightly reticent towards change. I tried not to show it, but, over the years, I figured that having a fresh new perspective could actually be beneficial, opening new opportunities and chances of learning from each-other.

A pivotal moment occurred a few years after I became a key member of the team working on a large enterprise project. I was part of that team for almost 5 years and started feeling kind of stuck, feeling like I couldn’t keep up with new technology. And new tech was present, since fresh new projects were starting to be developed by other teams in the company, but it seemed a bit out of grasp. So, with an open mind, I addressed my concern to Tudi and we planned my transition. The process didn’t happen overnight, it took several weeks, but with patience and encouragement from Tudi, I had the trust to wait and look forward to its outcome.

Following on the note „be careful what you wish for it might happen”, adapting to a faster pace and ever-changing priorities is something that I felt stronger than I was expecting. It was overwhelming, nevertheless, but one aspect which compensated for this accelerated rhythm was defining a pattern in the people we got on our team. With every new colleague, I got an indirect assurance that there is yet another open-minded person with whom I could always talk and grow. Everyone here is willing to help and commit to building together both apps as well as solid relationships.

Being exposed to such innovative technologies (backend, frontend and machine learning too) and to global clients, leaders in huge industries, helped me develop not just in the technical sense, but also in a social way. I was given ownership on important projects, responsible for impactful technologies and, beyond everything, people’s journeys which helped me define a successful relationship based on trust.

Learning to take risks and being rebel together

The Split. Perhaps the most popular moment in the story of RebelDot, one that we all perceived differently. The reactions varied from OMG to WTF and, of course, NOW WHAT?! It was the only moment when I saw Tudi worried and confused, but, despite all these, he managed this situation in the most considerate way with upmost integrity.

Not many people would have taken the risk of putting the people before themselves. He inspired the feeling that what we built so far should be continued. Continued Together.

And this is what made the rest of us to stick together even in the midst of this chaos – the promise that we can follow the path together.

The values of RebelDot are indeed our individual values, because RebelDot is us. And these values have not been thought of thin air, but they were something which we always had. Now, looking back, I feel like we can proudly say “We did it!” And not just this, but “we did it together!”. But more important than looking back is to keep looking forward and continue together!