Hi, Its Julian

A passionate

Web Developer

based in Prague

Latest Accomplishments

25. October 2023

Norton to Avast CMS Campaign Migration

In October 2023, I had the opportunity to lead a major marketing campaign migration for Avast and Norton.

At 23, with no prior experience, I became the youngest manager, jumping two ranks and building a team of 10. Despite tight deadlines, new hires with no experience, no formal managerial training, and constant technical issues, we managed to pull through. We met every release deadline, often just by a hair. This was thanks to our hard work, patience, and mutual support of our team.

I believe to this day that it was one of the most challenging experiences I've faced, but it pushed me to new heights and gave me a fresh perspective on everything, which I will forever remember dearly.

In October 2023, I led a major marketing campaign migration for Avast and Norton. At 23, with no experience, I became the youngest manager, built a team of 10, and met tight deadlines despite many challenges. This experience pushed me to new heights and gave me a fresh perspective.

Ongoing

Developing a Nutrition Web App

My nutrition app, Cholify, began as a way to improve my React JS skills. That year, my mom was diagnosed with high cholesterol, and her lifestyle was poor in terms of nutrition, activity, sleep, and stress. I decided to help her with nutrition by creating a simple app to identify good and bad foods and appropriate portion sizes.

As I learned more about nutrition, I realized the app could help a larger audience. Competing apps often fell short, so I aimed to do better. Cholify’s main feature optimizes food combinations to create perfect recipes tailored to individual biometrics and daily needs, using a linear programming algorithm. If an optimal result isn't possible, it recommends the best alternatives.

The name Cholify comes from "cholesterol," and its logo features an apple with a fish replacing the stem and leaf, symbolizing omega-3’s role in reducing bad cholesterol.

[Link to the project can be found here!]

I created Cholify to improve my React JS skills and help my mom with high cholesterol. The app identifies good and bad foods, optimizes recipes, and suggests alternatives.

[Link to the project can be found here!]

26. September 2023

Mentor at ReactGirls

In Semptember 2023, I received an offer from ReactGirls, an organization that helps women and junior developers break into IT, to join their 3-month mentoring academy.

In this program, I got to choose a mentee named Vendy and meet with her twice a week to develop a project for her final presentation. We decided on an English word learning app for her project. Given her interest in React, I focused on helping her learn and master React JS throughout our journey.

It was a rewarding experience watching Vendy grow and develop her skills.

[Link to the project can be found here!]

In September 2023, I joined React Girls' mentoring academy and helped my mentee, Vendy, develop a React-based English word learning app. It was rewarding to see her grow and master React JS.

[Link to the project can be found here!]

20. April 2023

Speaker at Barclays Prague HQ

In April 2023, I faced one of my biggest fears by speaking at Barclays Prague Office through React Girls, an organization that often seeks speakers.

As a self-taught front-end developer, I've developed a passion for learning, teaching, and seeing others grow. I knew that to reach more people and help them, I had to overcome this challenge.

I prepared a straightforward topic, "How to Write Structured HTML and CSS Code," and took a deeper, highly practical approach, including two methodologies: BEM and my own Anatomic HTML.

[Link to the session can be found here!]

In April 2023, I overcame my fear of public speaking at Barclays Prague Office through React Girls. As a self-taught front-end developer, I love learning and teaching. I spoke about "How to Write Structured HTML and CSS" covering BEM and my own Anatomic HTML methodology.

[Link to the session can be found here!]

Excited For What's Next! 💪

My Journey

Self-Taught Developer

After high school, I took a gap year to figure out my path. This turned out to be the best decision ever! I dove into graphic design and web development, spending 5-8 hours a day learning. I became a freelance developer and graphic designer, loving every minute. That intense year of learning and strict routine laid the foundation for my career, sparking a passion for coding and design that drives me to this day.

Front-End Developer

Moving from freelancing to a front-end developer job was tough but worth it. With no formal experience, I worked hard to build a strong technical foundation, created a solid portfolio, learned essential soft skills, and prepared on how to ace interviews. My efforts paid off with my first job at Avast, creating marketing offer campaigns using internal CMS and web technologies. Within 6-7 months, I earned a promotion to senior developer, proving that starting from scratch is possible. Looking back, this was one of my proudest achievements in life.

Mentor and Speaker

Beyond coding, I found a passion for mentoring. Wanting to improve on my own school experience, I mentored colleagues and ran tutorial sessions at work. Outside of work, I helped friends discover coding and spoke at Barclays for junior developers. Joining a mentoring academy, I guided a mentee for three months. Sharing my knowledge and helping others grow has been incredibly rewarding.

IT Manager at Gen

The biggest step in my career was becoming an IT Manager. I hired my team and led the migration of thousands of Norton campaigns to Avast's internal CMS in just six months. It was one of the hardest but most rewarding challenges. I learned to manage a team of 10, picked up new skills, and built a motivated team. My efforts were recognized with one of the highest performance rankings in our organization, showing that with determination and teamwork, anything is possible.

Kind Words From My Colleagues

It's a privilege to work with Julian Xu. As his manager at GEN and Avast, I've seen his exceptional skills, communication abilities, and professionalism. He excels in every role he takes on. He has developed a robust in-app messaging templates at Avast, enhancing our app’s features. During the Martech Merger, has also led a team to migrate a critical campaign system, showcasing his leadership and technical skills. His willingness to help colleagues and build team spirit greatly enhances our work environment. His friendly and supportive nature makes him highly respected and well-liked. Julian is a key member who is not just dependable but also an inspiring leader
Martin B.Senior Development Manager

Working under Julian's mentorship in my first job was pivotal for my development. He showcased exceptional technical expertise, especially during a critical project following the Norton and Avast merger, leading a complex migration of Norton's system to Avast's platform. Julian's strategic approach, attention to detail, and clear communication ensured the project's success, delivering cost savings and improvements. I feel incredibly fortunate to have learned from him and highly recommend Julian for any team tackling complex projects.
Alan X.Junior Front End Developer

I am pleased to recommend Julian Xu, with whom I have had the privilege of working at GenDigital. Julian is an exceptionally skilled and dedicated professional. His ability to efficiently solve problems and bring innovative solutions is truly impressive. Moreover, Julian is a fantastic team player who always contributes to a positive work environment. His commitment and approach to work are outstanding, and I am confident he will continue to achieve great success in his career.
Juraj A.QA Tester Specialist

His leadership and management skills were integral to the success of our team, consistently fostering a collaborative and innovative environment. His strategic insight and pursuit of excellence enabled us to achieve remarkable milestones. His ability to lead our team and bring out the best in us drove us forward and greatly contributed to our personal and professional growth. Our team was truly lucky to have him and continued to learn and enjoy working with him.
Surafel D.QA Tester Specialist

I met Julian through the ReactGirls Mentoring Program, where he was my mentor. Over the course of 3 months, Julian provided me with a comprehensive overview of the React framework through an instructional approach. Understanding React was crucial for me to be able to program my own project using this framework. Throughout the mentorship, I admired Julian's expertise and his enthusiasm to ensure I gained more than just the ability to complete my project. I see Julian as an excellent mentor, instructor, and active team member.
Vendy K.Mentee & Junior Developer

It's a privilege to work with Julian Xu. As his manager at GEN and Avast, I've seen his exceptional skills, communication abilities, and professionalism. He excels in every role he takes on. He has developed a robust in-app messaging templates at Avast, enhancing our app’s features. During the Martech Merger, has also led a team to migrate a critical campaign system, showcasing his leadership and technical skills. His willingness to help colleagues and build team spirit greatly enhances our work environment. His friendly and supportive nature makes him highly respected and well-liked. Julian is a key member who is not just dependable but also an inspiring leader
Martin B.Senior Development Manager
Working under Julian's mentorship in my first job was pivotal for my development. He showcased exceptional technical expertise, especially during a critical project following the Norton and Avast merger, leading a complex migration of Norton's system to Avast's platform. Julian's strategic approach, attention to detail, and clear communication ensured the project's success, delivering cost savings and improvements. I feel incredibly fortunate to have learned from him and highly recommend Julian for any team tackling complex projects.
Alan X.Junior Front End Developer
I am pleased to recommend Julian Xu, with whom I have had the privilege of working at GenDigital. Julian is an exceptionally skilled and dedicated professional. His ability to efficiently solve problems and bring innovative solutions is truly impressive. Moreover, Julian is a fantastic team player who always contributes to a positive work environment. His commitment and approach to work are outstanding, and I am confident he will continue to achieve great success in his career.
Juraj A.QA Tester Specialist
His leadership and management skills were integral to the success of our team, consistently fostering a collaborative and innovative environment. His strategic insight and pursuit of excellence enabled us to achieve remarkable milestones. His ability to lead our team and bring out the best in us drove us forward and greatly contributed to our personal and professional growth. Our team was truly lucky to have him and continued to learn and enjoy working with him.
Surafel D.QA Tester Specialist
I met Julian through the ReactGirls Mentoring Program, where he was my mentor. Over the course of 3 months, Julian provided me with a comprehensive overview of the React framework through an instructional approach. Understanding React was crucial for me to be able to program my own project using this framework. Throughout the mentorship, I admired Julian's expertise and his enthusiasm to ensure I gained more than just the ability to complete my project. I see Julian as an excellent mentor, instructor, and active team member.
Vendy K.Mentee & Junior Developer