Alumni story8 September 2025
London, UK – Ada, the National College for Digital Skills, is proud to spotlight alumnus Robbie Mint, who has forged an impressive career path from his beginnings at Ada to his current role as a Senior Strategy Manager at Just Eat Takeaway. Robbie’s journey highlights the transformative power of apprenticeships and a proactive mindset in the rapidly evolving tech industry.
Robbie, who started at Ada approximately six years ago, describes his route to success as “topsy turvy”. After initially struggling with his A-level results and questioning the traditional university path, which was heavily encouraged at his college, he spent a year working various jobs, from laying bricks on building sites to working in restaurants and bars. This period, though challenging and sometimes lonely as his friends went to university, fuelled his motivation to find his own direction.
It was then that Robbie discovered apprenticeships, a path he now considers a “no-brainer”. He realised the immense benefits of studying for a qualification, gaining practical experience in a tech-related field he was passionate about, having his degree paid for, and earning a salary simultaneously. He thoroughly researched his options and decided that an apprenticeship was the best fit for him.
And it’s clear that people are starting to realise that there are opportunities outside of, traditional university. For me, it just seemed like a no brainer.
His application process for a Deloitte apprenticeship was a rigorous six-stage interview. Robbie credits this success to a period of deep self-reflection, identifying his passion for technology and where he could truly add value. Deloitte offered him a broad range of experience across various industries, providing a “great foundational point” for building his career.
Balancing his studies at Ada with his commitments at Deloitte demanded effective time management and a strong support network. Robbie learned to be vocal with his line managers about his qualification expectations and utilised “short periods of focus” to complete assignments. He found these challenging moments incredibly motivating, viewing them as opportunities for growth that would make future hurdles easier to overcome.
Robbie’s progression from Deloitte to Just Eat Takeaway was driven by a continuous commitment to his own development and a passion for his work, which he believes fosters an internal drive for high-value delivery. He champions the collaborative spirit encouraged at Ada, recalling how he leaned on peers with stronger programming skills when he struggled in that area. He emphasises that a great leader surrounds themselves with the right people, a lesson he learned early on.
A key philosophy for Robbie is trusting his “gut feeling”. He encourages self-awareness and intuition, particularly when transitioning from a structured environment, like Deloitte, to a more empowered, independent role. This confidence in his own judgment has consistently led to positive outcomes, especially when quick decisions are needed.
Furthermore, Robbie highlights networking as one of the most important pillars of career progression. He asserts that networking opens doors to opportunities, teaches invaluable lessons through mentoring, and was directly responsible for his current role at Just Eat Takeaway. For him, connecting with people and sharing stories is a fundamental part of life.
For aspiring apprentices and those transitioning into new roles, Robbie offers a powerful piece of advice: “Get comfortable being outside of your comfort zone.”. He believes that the most significant growth happens when you are challenged and stretched beyond what you are used to. Continuous practice, whether in public speaking or engaging with senior stakeholders, is the only way to improve. His personal favourite value is curiosity, which he finds essential for problem-solving in product development and for personal growth. He also lives by the mantra from ‘The Magic of Thinking Big,’ that “action conquers fear”.
In a lighter moment, Robbie shared his favourite Just Eat order – chicken momos with spicy chutney from a local Nepalese restaurant called The Everest.
To further support Ada, Robbie will be running the Battersea Half Marathon on 18th October with colleagues, aiming to raise money for the college and help empower the next generation of students. This initiative underscores the strong connection Ada alumni maintain with the institution, fostering a vibrant community dedicated to making tech careers accessible to all.