Business perspective
Excitement and possibilities set the tone for 2024's narrative, as we expanded our partnerships and deepened collaborations. Throughout the year, we exchanged valuable insights and strengthened relationships through numerous in-person workshops and planning sessions. We also engaged with our clients through activities like hiking trips and our year-end celebration, building stronger connections beyond the workplace.
Team growth
Our team grew alongside our aspirations. By welcoming 25 new colleagues, we infused fresh energy and diverse perspectives into our work. The three traineeships and our annual summer internship program thrived thanks to our colleagues who contributed by selecting participants and mentoring them, creating a safe space for collaboration and exploration.
Our summer interns and trainees, who have all chosen to continue their learning and growth with us, shared their thoughts on their experiences. Tiberiu, one of our Java interns, gained insight into something that truly reflects one of our values: „The ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies, tools, and feedback is essential in this fastpaced industry.” They also discovered firsthand what it’s like to work in a team where collaboration might hold just as much importance as technical expertise in some instances.
And as summer came to an end, the growth didn’t stop, it simply took on new dimensions. For example, Laura revealed how she navigates both her career and studies, pointing out what helps her merge the two successfully: „I have the freedom to break the volume of a work day into multiple sessions if needed. When I have to go to university for a couple of hours, this way of working is the most efficient.”
Inspire learning
In 2024, learning and development went beyond internships and traineeships, expanding both inside and outside the company. From attending conferences such as DevTalks, _codecamp, JS Nation Amsterdam and Devoxx Belgium, to hosting internal events like the Scorching Blaze IAM Summit and DevOps meetings, we embraced opportunities to grow. We also shared our expertise externally and engaged students through workshops in Angular, Java and Kotlin, inspiring the next wave of professionals.
Taking learning on the road, our autumn team events centered around workshops on the strengths-based tool, StandOut, developed by Marcus Buckingham. Introducing it during our team-focused events supported a broader understanding among our colleagues, who work side by side to deliver excellence across our projects. Iulia, who skillfully facilitated the workshops, discussed her choice of tool for enhancing the session: „I strongly believe that when people gain a deep understanding of their own strengths, as well as the strengths of others, and collaborate with this awareness, the team will thrive.”
Project achievements
Last year brought meaningful achievements, as we enriched our mission of bringing business ideas to life by engaging in impactful projects focused on sustainability. We celebrated significant strides on both the FinTech and sustainability arenas, such as:
- Successfully launching a complex optimisation module for a treasury application.
- Delivering essential Identity & Access Management features for a food waste management client.
- Refactoring the entire project landscape and resolving key performance issues for an agroforestry initiative.
- Supporting a leading agriculture player’s mission to become the premier digital hub for global food and agri innovation.
The new module of our Fintech project, which went into production at the beginning of summer ‘24, marked a significant milestone for our team, bringing with it a deep sense of pride. Alin beautifully captured this feeling: „As software engineers, one of the moments that makes us the proudest is when the features or products are in production and used by actual users.”
Reflecting on the collaboration with our partner in the food & agri innovation sector, Radu, the Project Manager, expressed that: „During 2024, the focus was to increase startup value, build a comprehensive network of companies and become ready to embed agentic AI in the critical workflows of the application to effectively accelerate cycle time in our users’ innovation projects.”
Connection opportunities
Amidst these achievements, we celebrated the power of connection and engagement. Events like hikes, bowling nights, and a festive Christmas workshop allowed us to come together, creating moments of joy and reinforcing the bonds that make us stronger as a team.
Looking back on the climb up Piatra Craiului, one of Romania’s most demanding trails, Diana, one of our Product Owners, said: „The hike definitely took us all out of our comfort zone and it gave another meaning to COERA’s motto Go beyond. Just like in the office, we had to work together, rely on one another and trust each other, to make it to the top.”
That time, it was Varfu Turnu. But we believe there are many more summits to reach and countless stories to create along the journey. We look forward to 2025 and all the opportunities it brings to go beyond together!
