When Carla Grigoroiu left her hometown of Vulcan in the Romanian mountains to move to the UK, she could never have imagined that one day she would be building AI solutions for businesses in Plymouth.
Now in her second year of a BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) degree at the University of Plymouth, Carla’s journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and the opportunities that arise when people and places invest in each other.
A New Beginning
Carla first came to the UK in 2014 to work in social care, settling in Plymouth with her young family. For eight years, she worked in mental health, developing strong communication skills and deep empathy.
But the pandemic prompted her to reflect on her future. “I realised life was too short not to follow my first passion: mathematics and technology,” she explains. That decision led her back to university to pursue a career in AI.
The Internship Experience
Through the University’s internship programme, Carla joined Plymouth and South Devon Freeport. Her brief, to create an AI tool capable of generating professional company profiles for the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport’s target sectors.
The result was a structured tool that not only saved time but also demonstrated how AI can support business growth in practical ways.
“Having Carla as part of the team through the university’s internship programme was a real joy. She was extremely knowledgeable, engaged with the Freeport’s vision and very responsive to feedback. Not only has she developed a great tool for us to use in identifying potential Freeport businesses, but she’s considerably helped my own understanding of the potential of AI as a way of supplementing resources.”
Eifion Jones
Business Growth and Investment Director
Plymouth and South Devon Freeport
Carla says the experience gave her confidence “The team was so welcoming and really took the time to explain their vision and goals. That support gave me the confidence to deliver something truly useful.”
Looking Ahead
Today, Carla juggles study, family life, and content creation around cyber awareness for the Romanian community. Her ambition is to become a successful AI engineer and to make technology simple and accessible to everyone.
Her story is a reminder of what can happen when determination meets opportunity, and how talent, once nurtured, can make a lasting impact not only on individuals but on the communities they become part of.
Follow Carla’s journey on LinkedIn
Written By Lyla Hadlow