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HOW TO BE AN ALLY FOR WOMEN IN TECH, ACCORDING TO A DEUTSCHE BANK DIRECTOR
Roxana Iuriet is a Director at Deutsche Bank based in Bucharest, Romania. A Distinguished Engineer, Roxana leads the Centre of Excellence for CI/CD and SDLC, as well as the Chapter Area for DevOps for CIO Private Bank Bucharest. Roxana actively contributes to academic programmes both within and outside of Deutsche Bank and is committed to mentoring tech professionals.
I have spent 18 years working in technology, almost 11 of them at DB Global Technology Romania. I was always curious and ambitious, but it was only around five years ago that my career skyrocketed.
The turning point was joining a new project and the manager who believed in me. They gave me confidence, encouraged my ideas, and trusted me with responsibility at the right moments.
Today, I lead a Centre of Expertise and a Chapter of more than 50 people. I am recognised as a Distinguished Engineer working on strategic, business-critical platforms alongside a wider group of 20 engineers across all divisions.
The most exciting part of my job is being able to experiment with the latest technology, innovate, and deliver complex change – such as migrating our application landscape from on-premises to Google Cloud Platform. I have a team of brilliant engineers and together we won an innovation award.
Yet the most important lesson from this journey has been simple – success in technology always starts with people.
Women in tech in Romania and building confidence
Romania has become a growing technology hub, with Bucharest increasingly acting as a gateway for technologists across Eastern Europe. I have seen first-hand how the representation of women in tech has increased at DB Global Technology Romania. This is light-years beyond when I studied computer science at university, where there were only five women in a room of one hundred men.
Women in tech are no different in their ability or ambition, but if the environment does not empower them to speak up, share ideas, or raise concerns, their potential may be limited.
What can leaders do? Listen! Particularly listen to junior engineers. Surrounding yourself with early-career talent, inviting their ideas, and trusting them with real decisions builds confidence far more effectively than any policy or statement.
Mentoring to help women in tech get ahead
Mentoring is one of the most practical ways to practice allyship. At Deutsche Bank, I mentor individuals and as part of the Women-In-Technology community, I mentor a group of women.
For me, mentoring isn’t just about giving career advice – it’s about creating a supportive and safe environment, and about small, actionable steps that can be applied day-to-day. Sharing my experiences with them and how I acted or what I learnt, helps them build confidence. One focus area is to prepare mentees on how to articulate the business impact of their work. This is invaluable, especially for junior and mid-level talent who may be focused on specific tasks but aren’t exposed to the bigger picture. Communicating with impact can boost visibility and help them develop further.
Mentoring plays a significant role in assisting women as they navigate the business landscape and identify new opportunities. Even in smaller organisations, mentoring can help someone explore new paths or discover directions they hadn’t considered.
My advice? Become a mentor whenever you can. Start a group in your organisation or offer regular guidance to a peer. Even small, consistent support can make a meaningful difference.
The power of education
Allyship does not stop inside the organisation. Alongside my role at Deutsche Bank, I teach technology courses at the International Hochschule in Bremen, passing on the knowledge and experience I have gained.
You can do this inside your organisation too – a short call to explain a topic, or a ‘lunch and learn’ session can spark confidence and growth.
Look for partnerships too. Collaborating with organisations like Code First Girls amplifies your impact. They not only teach technical skills but also help women believe they belong in tech and that their ambitions are achievable.
The importance of tech-literatre leadership
Education is equally important for leaders. When leaders make IT-related decisions without a strong technical background, unintended consequences on delivery and innovation may occur. This is one of the reasons that I chose a career in management.
At Deutsche Bank, senior leadership recognised the need for stronger technical expertise at the decision-making table and invested in developing technologists into senior roles. Decisions became more informed, and outcomes improved.
This, too, is allyship in action. I believe that as leaders, we should never stop learning. Upskilling in technology – even at a basic level – can help you to better support colleagues, make better decisions and maximise the impact of the work you and your team do.
Closing thoughts: The rewards of allyship
When I think back to the managers who supported me in my career, I’m not sure where I would be today without them.
I feel a real buzz when I hear my junior colleagues’ ideas, energy, and curiosity. Creating a supportive culture where people feel confident to speak up isn’t optional – it’s essential. After all, people are our greatest asset and seeing them thrive is the most rewarding part of leadership.
DB Global Technology are supporting women in tech!
DB Global Technology, Deutsche Bank’s technology centre in Romania, is helping shape the future of banking by creating clear pathways for women in tech to progress into impactful roles. You can read more about the women in tech at DB Global Technology here.
