Alumni Corner: Ioana Munteanu

What sparked your interest in computer science?

I’ve had a strong interest in mathematics from a young age. Growing up in Romania, I spent countless hours studying with my grandparents, both of whom were math teachers. This early exposure led me to compete on math teams and to specialize in mathematics and informatics in high school, where I was introduced to computer science. I also joined my school’s robotics club, which sparked a deeper interest in applying abstract thinking to real-world challenges.

Alongside my passion for math, I always loved painting and visual arts. Web development felt like the perfect intersection of both worlds. It combined the precision and logic of mathematical thinking with the creativity of designing something visually engaging. From the moment I started programming, I found myself completely immersed. I could spend hours coding without realizing how much time had passed. It quickly became clear that I had both the passion and the aptitude to pursue it professionally.

What brought you to the University of Minnesota?

I knew I wanted to study outside of Romania to broaden my global perspective and immerse myself in a different academic system. I also wanted to improve my English and be part of the dynamic U.S. tech ecosystem. I chose the University of Minnesota because of its strong computer science program and the support of nearby family, which helped me transition smoothly to life in a new country. I graduated with my BS in Computer Science in 2022 and later relocated to the Bay Area to begin my career in software engineering.

What has your career trajectory looked like since graduating?

During college, I gained extensive hands-on experience through internships and academic roles. I worked as a teaching assistant, then as a research assistant with Stephen Guy, and completed three competitive internships. The most pivotal was my final-semester internship at Sigma Computing, an analytics company with a business intelligence platform specializing in data visualizations and interactive dashboards.

At Sigma, I was assigned to a live integration project for DoorDash, our largest enterprise client at the time. I owned the project from start to finish, including planning, development, testing, launch, and performance measurement. The experience gave me deep exposure to customer-driven software development and set the foundation for my full-time role.

After graduation, I received multiple offers from Bay Area companies but chose to return to Sigma. The quality of mentorship and opportunity to grow in a fast-paced environment made it an ideal place to continue building my career. I've been working at Sigma ever since.

Tell us about your current work and projects.

I’ve been working full-time at Sigma Computing for three years, contributing across multiple teams as the company has scaled. I started on the enterprise team, focused on building user permission systems for client dashboards. As the engineering team grew from 50 to over 120 members, smaller specialized groups were formed, and I was selected to participate on the embedded analytics team.

In this role, I collaborate closely with customers and their developers to integrate Sigma’s dashboards into their own web platforms. This involves building secure and customizable embedded analytics solutions that are both performant and user-friendly. One of my most innovative contributions is my work on link sharing for embedded dashboards, which led to a patent filing. This feature enables secure, permission-aware access to live analytics via shared links. It empowers enterprise clients to distribute insights without manual configuration or compromising data governance. It is now a foundational component in making self-service analytics scalable and user-friendly across large organizations.

We want to hear more about your hackathon experiences. What has it been like being both a mentor and a judge?

I’ve been very active in the hackathon space and am a strong advocate for these events. In November 2024, I was invited to serve as a judge at the Tourism and Technology Hackathon in Austria, Europe’s largest tourism-focused hackathon, with over 120 participants. The challenge focused on using technology to improve the tourist experience.

I also mentored a team at the Northland Hackathon, Minnesota’s largest hackathon aimed at giving rural students hands-on programming experience. The team I mentored won first place, which was an incredibly rewarding experience.

In addition to mentoring and judging, I frequently participate as a coder. Recently, I joined a national security hackathon in San Francisco sponsored by Stanford University and NATO. My team developed a smart-city emergency evacuation planning app, earning an honorable mention in the urban safety track. I find that hackathons keep me engaged, sharp, and constantly learning from others across industries and disciplines.

What motivates you to stay involved in hackathons and similar community events?

As an undergrad, I discovered that the best way to learn was by building things and working with people. Hackathons provide an environment where students can simulate real-world tech collaboration. You're not just coding; you’re working with project managers, designers, and fellow engineers to ship a solution under pressure.

I also want to be the kind of mentor I wish I had when I was just getting started. Guiding students, especially those from under-represented or rural backgrounds, feels meaningful. Hackathons also help me stay connected to emerging technologies and sharpen skills I might not use day to day.

What advice do you have for women in STEM?

Put simply, don’t overthink it. You can walk into any room and have your voice heard if you speak up and know that you belong there just like anyone else. Try not to get intimidated in these settings and look for mentors, especially other women in STEM, who can help you feel empowered to take on this industry. There are, of course, going to be challenges, but if you put yourself out there and make your voice heard, good things will happen. Putting yourself out there will help build your confidence.

How has the University of Minnesota influenced your career journey?

The University of Minnesota gave me a strong technical foundation. Courses like Software Engineering I and II with Mattia Fazzini taught me how to break down and debug complex problems, which are skills I use every day. A user interface design course with Lana Yarosh helped me better understand end-user needs, which now informs my work with product and design teams. I also loved Shana Watters’ databases course, where I first learned SQL, which I use daily at Sigma.

Beyond academics, research experience taught me how to frame hypotheses and analyze data independently. These are skills that are essential when debugging or designing scalable solutions. Most of the internships I landed came through campus career fairs. My time at the University of Minnesota shaped both my technical abilities and my confidence as a professional.