Changing seasons

Taking a deep breath in… inhale, exhale. Autumn is here, and I’ve realised there are only four months left of this year. 2024 is the first year I’ve made concrete steps toward building a portfolio career. If I were to create a timeline of all my achievements in this direction so far, it would look something like this:

• Launched my website
• Joined Pleo as a Strategic People Partner in the commercial division
• Started my collaboration with Scoala de HR as an HR trainer and mentor?
• Played the lead role in Gai?ele, a production by Teatru Simplu
• Published several articles on LinkedIn and especially as part of Scoala de HR ’s newsletter
• Completed over 30 hours of career counselling with various clients, which will help me towards achieving my career counselling accreditation (30 more hours and a few courses to go still)
• Painted in my spare time – you can view my arts portfolio here

And in the midst of all this, I’ve also been a semi-decent, semi-functioning mother, wife and human (room for improvement, especially on the health front).

After a summer where I managed to squeeze in some moments of relaxation and self reflection, a new professional season is kicking off and the pace is picking up again this September.

For many of us, autumn brings not just a change in the weather, but also an opportunity to reassess our professional priorities and goals. It’s the perfect time to reflect and celebrate how far you’ve come, while still having plenty of time left in the year to decide what you want to tackle next. Whether it’s developing new skills, changing careers or taking on new projects outside work, it’s important to approach this period with a mindset of continuous learning and personal growth.

My challenge is to preserve enough of my mental and emotional battery whilst continuing to do the things that bring me joy, some of which I’ve covered below.

MPTHR 2025 in the works

As a trainer (and former graduate) of the Master Programme Transformative HR (MPTHR), I can’t help but share a few words about what past participants have called the most comprehensive HR training programme in Romania.

I had been following Andra Pintican for a while, but it wasn’t until 2023 that I decided to enrol in the MPTHR programme, thinking it wouldn’t hurt to update my skills. Personally, it provided me with an excellent platform to learn from industry experts, network with other professionals and gain practical knowledge that I could immediately apply in the organisations I worked with.

However, the most significant impact this programme had on me was in the area of personal development and human behaviour. I think it was only after completing this programme that I truly understood how little we know about ourselves and others, and how people have the power to either elevate or completely derail an organisation through their mental models, limiting beliefs, ego states and willingness to expand their personal horizons.

MPTHR isn’t just about gaining knowledge; it’s about creating a community of like-minded individuals. If you’re a professional who understands that the role of HR is to be a curator of human relevance, you can sign up to be part of the MPTHR 2025 cohort. More details about the curriculum and registration details here .

Factory Bootcamp, 3rd edition

I’m excited to share that I’ll be returning as a speaker for the second time this year at Factory Bootcamp III in September! ??

Starting a business with a close friend or a small team can be exhilarating. There’s a shared passion, a common goal, and a sense of camaraderie that fuels those early days of hustle. But as the business grows, so do the challenges. Suddenly, what once felt like a tight-knit group faces the complexities of scaling up.

Having worked in various startups and scale-ups, I’ve learned that building a strong team isn’t just about finding the right talent; it’s about fostering a culture where individuals can bring their unique strengths to the table while working towards a common goal.

Factory Bootcamp is a free, 2-day intensive programme organised by start-up.ro , where Romanian entrepreneurs can sign up to learn more about business transformation and securing funding. On 27-28 September, I’ll share my insights with 25 Romanian entrepreneurs eager to learn more about building, motivating and retaining their teams. I look forward to meeting these dedicated founders and contributing positively to their success stories!

Registration and details here .

Back to School or Back to Stage?

After a 10-year break, last year I made a conscious decision to reignite my passion for theatre and integrate it back into my life. Theatre has always held a special place in my heart— not just as a form of entertainment, but as a powerful tool for self-development.

If you’ve followed my journey so far, you probably know I played the lead role in the Romanian play Gai?ele, a production by Teatru Simplu , which premiered in June 2024 in Bucharest.

If you missed the show earlier in summer, you can see me on stage again on 10 September 2024 at Teatrul de Art?. Drop me a line if you’re in Bucharest that evening, and I can reserve a seat (or more) for you!

In My HR World

Even though I work remotely, this month I’ll have the chance to meet my colleagues and stakeholders face-to-face at two internal events organised by Pleo.?

This week, I am packing my bags to attend a leadership summit in Lisbon from 2-6 September, and from 17-20 September I’ll be with my People & Culture team at a retreat in Spain. While I’ll be away from my family for a good part of the month, I know I’ll come back energised and with some valuable insights to share.

Speaking of insights, I was recently asked to write an article about how to land a remote HR role. It’s published via ?coala de HR ’s newsletter and I covered essential strategies for successfully navigating the remote job market, how to build a strong personal brand online and which skills are most sought after by employers in this new work context. If you didn’t get a chance to read it or aren’t yet subscribed to this newsletter, leave me a message in comments with the title “HR remote” and I’ll send you the link.

I’m curious, what is autumn bringing for you on either the personal or the professional front? How are you getting back into the swing of things after the summer break?