Laurentiu Ionele (Computer Science BSc, 2019) is the Vice President, Lead Software Engineer at JPMorgan Chase, the largest financial institution in the world, where he leads a global team of software engineers.

What role did King’s play in shaping your career?

King’s genuinely gave me all the computer science skills I have today. Before starting university, I was good at maths, but I wasn’t really into computer science at all. Everything changed once I joined King’s. I learned everything from technical skills to the people skills you need to work effectively in a team.

King’s played a huge role in getting me to where I am today.

What is one moment that stands out from your time at King's?

One of the moments that stands out is my first set of exams. There was a Tube strike and I had to get all the way to Olympia. Everything was stuck, and I was with two university friends. We decided to walk from the Strand campus.

We walked in the rain for about an hour before noticing the streets had finally cleared, and we managed to catch a bus. We arrived just in time, and I ended up doing really well in my first exam, Foundations of Computing. It was a real adventure and a funny memory I’ll never forget.

What has been one of the biggest challenges you've faced in your career so far?

Just a few months after I began my career, the pandemic started and everything changed. We all worked from home, and the uncertainty was the hardest part. We had no idea how long it would last or how things would develop, and that was really stressful.

Shortly after that, my first manager, Kieran — the person who hired me — left the company. I was shocked and felt a bit lost at first, but I realised that people moving on is normal, and I took it as an opportunity to step up.

I learned that most problems can be solved if you’re surrounded by the right people and maintain a positive attitude. Tech is hard, but working with people is the real challenge. If you can do that well, you can achieve great things.

How should you describe your time at King's in three words?

Transformative, rewarding and unforgettable.

What is your best piece of advice for students at King's?

Be curious — about people, about technology, about anything that sparks your interest. Don’t be afraid of AI; use it to your advantage. This is a great moment to build things and turn ideas into reality.

Aim high, because you can achieve far more than you think, and make the most of London. There are so many tech events and hackathons happening all the time, so try to go to as many as you can. And finally, don’t forget to have a bit of fun along the way.

 

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