Gender Diversity: How Is it Seen in Romanian Business?

Crina Ilie

Passionate HR professional, with the ability to effectively leverage multicultural talent and framework and always willing to take on challenging assignments. Over 15 years of experience in HR, covering design, implementation, delivery and measurement of various HR processes: recruitment & retention, talent development, HR administration, payroll and C&B, training, performance management, HR systems implementation, HR compliance, managing change and acquisition processes, etc. Her HR expertise spreads across HR consultancy, Private Medical Services and Outsourcing domains. Currently she works as Learning and Development Lead for Genpact Europe focusing on driving Knowledge Transfer, Knowledge Management Framework, Training Compliance and Controllership. Her main responsibilities are to coordinate all Europe Talent Development initiatives, ensure Knowledge Transfer and effectively deploy Knowledge Management practices across Europe. She also drives global Learning and Development initiatives to ensure alignment and appropriate governance. "

Sandra Pralong-Budis

Raluca Kisescu

With 14 years experience in marketing, Raluca Kisescu, Senior Commercial Marketing Manager Avon for Romania and Moldova, is one of the main characters of the domain in Romania. Avon Romania has involved in innovative and courageous projects under her guardianship, thus obtaining national and international recognition.

Dana Deac

The 25 years of television and radio career recommends Dana Deac as being a fine and profound connoisseur of communication techniques, an incisive communicator, and an opinion former respected by both the industry and the audience.

Since April 2013 she is president of The Romanian Orange Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Her contribution in the field of civil society is marked by participating as jury member at numerous events, such as: "Gala Oameni pentru Oameni" (2003-2009), "Gala Societatii Civile" (2002-prezent), "Gala World Vision Romania" (2001-2002), Gala Erste Stiftung (2009-2011) .

Between 2005 and 2011 she has been a member in the Executive Committee of the United Way Romania Foundation; she has collaborated with the Renasterea Foundation since 2008. Between 2009 and 2011 she has been a part of the Austrian Erste Foundation’s international jury; a jury that evaluated civil society projects from 12 Central and East European countries.

In January of 2010 Avantaje magazine awarded her the title “Woman of Year 2009 for Responsibility and Social Involvement”. 

Since the beginning of 2007 Dana Deac holds the position of Executive Director of the public station TVR 1. Between 1998 and 2006 she was reporter, producer, executive producer and anchor at the TV stations Antena 1 and Antena 3. She was chief editor at the private TV station Tele 7abc and at the youth channel of the Romanian Radiobroadcast.

Dana Deac received the highest award of the Association of Romanian Television Professionals for the show „Reporter Tele7” in 1997, the APTR award for the morning show „Cafeaua cu sare” in 2005, the APTR award for social campaigns in 2003, the award “Report of the Year 2000” from the Romanian Press Club.

In February and June 2013 she has moderated events organized by the European Comission Representation Office (The Year of Citizens and the launch of the new Europe Direct network, The European Forum information campaign). One of the companies she has collaborated with as organizer of economic social and political events is Microsoft Romania (Leadership @ Feminine, A Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of Microsoft Romania Bucharest, May 2011).

Dana Deac has been awarded the highest honors of the Romanian Royal House by King Michael the First of Romania: "Nihil Sine Deo" and "Crucea Casei Regale a Romaniei". 

Dana Deac is a graduate of the History and Philosophy Faculty, Philosophy-History Section, part of the Bucharest University.

Sotiris Chatzidakis

Sotiris is the Executive Vice President of CEO Clubs International, responsible for Romania and the expansion in Europe. Under his leadership, CEO Clubs has quickly become one of the biggest and most important business Clubs in the country, having as members the CEOs of some of the largest companies in Romania and in the SEE region (50-€60 mil turnover & employing more than 500 people on average, each). Previously he had been the General Manager for the CEO Clubs in Greece, that being the first Club ever to be launched in Europe. He also has held various executive positions in banking, technology and retail market leading companies, heading major projects in Greece and abroad. In parallel, Sotiris is also a founding member in SARGIA Partners – Romania pursuing his goal to positively influence leadership on a large scale. He is a certified Master Coach by the Center for Advanced Coaching (CAC) in the USA. Working closely with CEOs and entrepreneurs since 2009, he has gained a wide understanding of the Leader’s needs and challenges and that is where it all starts. Sotiris is a firm believer of ecosystems and a start-up enthusiast. He embraces sharing, continuous learning, openness and trust, as they are the keys to constant and sustainable development. Sotiris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management & Organizational behavior and 2 Master’s (International Marketing & an MBA) degrees. He adores listening to “You can’t do that”. And that’s how it usually starts… 

Lavinia Rasca

Since 1993, Lavinia is a professor in the Executive MBA program and teaches courses in Competition Economics and Entrepreneurial Strategies & Politics. Is founding member and advisory board member of ASEBUSS. She has a Ph.D. in Economics, specialized in SME management. She attended managerial specialization programs, entrepreneurial and consulting programs at Harvard Business School, University of Washington and Washington State University in the U.S., IESE Barcelona, Cambridge England and Osaka Japan. Lavinia is General Manager at EXEC-EDU, and since 1998 she leads business training content created by ASEBUSS, which she developed continuously up to 40 management development programs currently supported by 30 teachers and experts for client portfolio of over 3000 companies. She is the author or co-author of 12 books and over 40 articles business. She was included in the experts` catalog published by the Romanian Academic Society, in the “Who is Who” encyclopedia, in the CD Top Career 100 Women, published by USAID and Top 100 Successful Women published by Capital Magazine. Recently, Lavinia obtained certification in Hogan Assessment methodology.

Alina Zarnescu

Alina Zarnescu has an experience of almost ten years in human resources field for South-Eastern Europe countries. Alina has recently joined Xerox Romania team as Human Resources Director, where she coordinates the recruitment, management, evaluation and professional development. As main objectives, she will develop customized recruitment strategies and will offer career advices to the company’s middle and top management. She previously worked for FMCG company Procter&Gamble, where she held several key positions such as corporate recruiting manager, HR business account manager for Sales and Senior HR Manager. Alina graduated from the Faculty of International Economic Relations, specializing in international business at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. She participated in numerous conferences and trainings for professional development in Romania as well as abroad.

Sorin Paslaru

Sorin Paslaru is a chief editor at “Ziarul Financiar”, the most powerful business publication in Romania. He entered the media in 1988, first working for the “Romania Libera’s” appendix, called “Observator Financiar”, where he had one position at a time, such as journalist, “finante-companii” rubric editor, deputy chief editor. Since 2005 he is the chief editor. He graduated the Faculty of Mathematics of Bucharest University in 1977 and the Academy of Economic Studies in 2000. He published over 1.500 articles and opinions in “Ziarul Financiar” which were put together eventually in a book called “GDP without a country. How to rebuild trust in Romania” (Editura All, 2012).

Madalina Balan

Is specialized in organizational psychology, psychologist, senior consultant and managing partner at HART Consulting. Madalina is certified in Hogan Assessments methodology, being the trainer for Romania and Moldova in this methodology. With over 10 years` experience as a trainer and consultant in human resources, Madalina has managed various projects on talent management, selection and development for manifold Romanian and multinational organizations.

Adina Bigas

Adina Bigas is an external consultant, running her own business in HR services, with a focus on organizational development and recruitment. With more than 12 years expertise in HR management and consulting in both local and global leading companies, Adina developed and implemented various projects in performance management, design of assessment centers, management development centers, process mapping and optimization, programs for talent development, for Employer branding, cultural change and / or identity, etc. Adina believes in the positive changes that diversity brings in decision-making, in interpersonal relationships, in driving businesses as well as in impacting social life in general. After being several years EMEA D&I Champ for Microsoft, she is founding member and VP Strategic Partnerships of European Professional Women Network in Romania. She holds a master degree in HR and Organizational Psychology from University of Bucharest and a Diploma in Management from Codecs Open University.

Dan Pascariu

He started his career with the Romanian Bank for Foreign Trade in 1973, becoming its Chairman and CEO in 1990. Between 1994 and 1996 he was the CEO of Banca Bucuresti, a newly created banking institution by Alpha Credit Bank of Greece and EBRD as well as Chairman of the Board of Bucharest Investment Group, the investment banking arm of Banca Bucuresti. Between 1996 and 1998 Mr. Pascariu was Chairman of the Board of Creditanstalt Financial Advisers, the investment banking arm of Creditanstalt Bankverein of Austria.

From 1998 to June 2007 he was the Chairman and CEO of the Bank Austria Creditanstalt banking subsidiary in Romania. Following the merger with the local subsidiary of UniCredit, since June 2007 he is the non-executive Chairman of the Board of UniCredit Tiriac Bank.

He was the founder and first President of the Romanian Banking Association between 1991 and 1994, as well as a co-founder and associate Professor at the Romanian Banking Institute.

Starting with 2012 he is the Chairman of the Board of Tarom.

He is an active advocate of the principles of personal and professional development through leadership, often holding lectures on the subject in various events for young people and beyond.

Annita Pakioufaki

Annita possesses a wealth of professional experience having worked with prominent multinational companies in the Consumer Products and Services, as well as Life Sciences and Healthcare market sectors holding leading positions in Sales, Marketing, Trade Marketing, Commercial and Supply Chain departments. 

Annita started her career with the Commercial Service of the United States Embassy in Athens. She then moved to Gr. Sarantis S.A. where she was responsible for the business operations in Cyprus, Lebanon, Malta and Portugal. After four years she joined Johnson & Johnson in Greece leading the Sales and Trade Marketing departments.

Before joining Stanton Chase Bucharest, Annita was the Commercial & Supply Chain Manager for Merck Sharp & Dohme in Athens. She was attracted to join the executive search industry and lead the operations of Stanton Chase Bucharest, one of the leading executive search companies in Romania, as she was challenged by the dynamic, results and people oriented nature of the specific business. She has been living in Romania for the past 3 years. She has worked extensively on an international level in many countries in the EMEA region and has successfully managed client assignments at the Executive and Senior Management levels for local and international companies in all industries.