“Five frogs were sitting on a log. One decides to jump. How many frogs are now sitting on the log?”

After graduating from the West University of Timisoara, I chose to travel the world, searching for, and experiencing, a variety of life and work situations. In the process I have gathered cultural capital and transferable skills in communications, education, learning and development. More important are the people I’ve met, and their influence on who I am as a person today.

Motto: “Esse quam videri” – to be, rather than to seem (to be)

Management: During my work in Romania, Slovenia, Belgium, Poland, and Morocco I’ve experienced managers with exceptional communication skills, managers who verbally abused their employees, managers with dodgy work ethics, managers who delegated responsibility, and managers who delegated only tasks. I’ve also managed teams, foreign people, friends, and remote projects when we rarely met each other in person. By immersing myself in such situations I (still) define my style and improve the way I facilitate results through growing relationships with others.

Planning and Strategy: I started using Balanced Scorecard in 2007 and have been implementing it in various organizations and projects. Now I am experimenting with Logical Framework Approach. I learned how to shift my view from short-term goals to long-term goals, to use technology in our favor, to bootstrap, and to foresee difficult situations.

Education, Learning and Development: Facilitating conferences and workshops, and running training sessions has been a side activity of my work at the beginning. It came in first place with my move from the marketing department of Electrolux to the HR Learning and Development team. Until today, in organizations or independently, I ran workshops on strategy and planning, time management, branding, creative problem-solving techniques, brainstorming and reverse brainstorming, cultural shock, adult learning etc. I’ve also learned to use software like Moodle LMS and RWD uPerform to create online training materials. I’ve received a certification as a Moodle course developer, and started a Master’s in Adult Learning and Global Change at Linköping University, Sweden.

Marketing Communications: From working in the media as a journalist, with the media as a PR, in a foreign ad agency, and in the marketing department of a global company I’ve learned the steps to plan and implement communications projects aimed at building awareness and attracting customers. I’ve learned that, in the absence of good implementation, money can buy you costumers, but quality and meaning surpass marketing tricks in the long run.

IT Skills: University taught me to take pictures and manipulate them in Photoshop. Working as the coordinator of the communications department was not always about coordinating. I had my share of overnighters, facing Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator, and a next day deadline at the print. Personal projects introduced me to CMS (Joomla and WordPress), LMS (Moodle), analytics, audio and video editing. In an effort to turn my computer legal, I started experimenting with Linux and open-source software. I love it and, with the occasional bumps on the road, I will continue to use it. Being a bit of a geek I can learn new software easily, because the majority have a lot in common.

Soft Skills: Managing/ being managed in Romania is different than managing/ being managed in Belgium. Work time in Poland and Slovenia is different than work time in Morocco and Romania. People’s expectations are different, involvement is different, solutions are different. The challenge: accepting diversity. The solution: resilience, staying assertive, showing compassion, treating people with dignity.

Thanks for reading this far,

Adrian