A Landmark Event in Wonderful Romania

When you think of events that stamp a profound level of significance on any map, Romania might not be the first place to enter your mind. Lofty events have tended to find their homes in some of the more celebrated and cosmopolitan cities of the world.

Yesterday The Workplace Metamorphosis Conference was held for the first time at the Grand Marriott Hotel in Bucharest, amid some of the regions most historical and fascinating landmarks. Perhaps history was being created on this day.

Eighteen years ago, Alina Grozescu , a young and inspired Physical Therapist, started her company Max Relax, an onsite seated massage service for companies in the greater Bucharest region. It took this determined young entrepreneur a year to land her first customer. She was off and running.

Yesterday, over 7 million massages later, her extraordinarily diverse company, Wellington Corporate Wellbeing , which also includes Max Relax, launched its first ever Workplace Wellbeing Conference. Elizabeth Bachrad described Wellington as one of the most compelling Workplace Wellbeing offers she had experienced. I am inclined to agree.

The brilliantly compiled delegate handbook, an A4, full color, hard cover compendium of some 64 pages, stated it clearly on the opening page.

"It is time to celebrate together the joy of a remarkable transformation of the Corporate Wellbeing universe in Romania!".

Amen to that!

I knew I would be part of this event when, over breakfast at The Global Wellness Summit in Miami last November, Alina looked at me and said, in her captivating Eastern European accent, "Now! You are coming to Romania!" Well, I guess I was. She is amazing.

So I arrived a week early, available for some speaking gigs, and to just hang out and experience the place. I was invited to stay in Alina's beautiful home and was astounded that, during this most defining of weeks, she remained away from the office to allow her team to do their thing and make it happen. She was available for calls, to explore options, discuss challenges and share perspectives, but she stood back and allowed the key team members of her nearly 100 staff, do their thing.

She and her company are a walking, talking example of a Well Business, a thriving culture, freedom to express and grow, and a place where the owner trusts everyone and everyone loves the owner. It is like a family.

The day arrived. The team had hoped to attract 100 delegates but registered well over 250.

I was really chuffed to be part of the panel of speakers. What's more, I got to be second "cab off the rank", following the amazingly energetic, skillful and polished performance of Laura Putnam . She had to battle some technical difficulties as power surges in the building were creating havoc for the AV team, but like any true professional, she kept the show moving.

There is a beautiful resilience among the Romanian people. Alina and her team, whilst working feverishly behind the scenes to correct the problems, were never knocked off their game. And the delegates, a loving and grateful audience, hung in there too and everything advanced without a real hitch.

Alina, who had been nervous about her speeches all week, was amazing. She took to the stage like a pro and announced the stunningly innovative rebranding of Wellingtons Pillars of Wellbeing to the genuine excitement of the delegates. I could not help but feel the deep love flowing to this extraordinary and courageous agent of change, standing on stage, announcing the manifestation of some of her hopes and dreams in a most matter-of-fact tone. A true "Woman of Substance".

Alina brought her friend and designer Lia Ecaterina Gaman to the stage to celebrate her design genius in the creation of the new branding strategy.

After the break, Professor Dragos Iliescu came to the stage to give an insightful talk on The Path to Psychological Wellbeing. I resonated with his talk because, like myself, he is a champion of personal responsibility, and supporting all people through education to become more personally responsible.

We then heard from Larisa Petrini, renowned Age Reversal Expert and Epigenetic Specialist. As a consultant to many celebrities and significant corporations, she had some helpful wisdom to share.

Next, we were in for a real treat from the young and vibrant Cristina Man , senior advisor from Gallup . She had so much helpful, useful and fascinating data to share. I did not know that Gallup collect data in all but about 4 countries. I wish I could regurgitate some of her final figures as she left me stunned and with my mouth open. We really are all unique, one of a kind beings. So she sternly advised that we all fully show up because nobody else will ever come along with the same gifts we each possess. I am sure I can entice her to write about it for us in the near future.

Then, after waiting for most of the day, Talya Landau took to the stage and opened her heart. A key member of our Workplace Wellbeing Initiative of the Global Wellness Institute , former Global Head of Wellbeing for Wix , a single mother of three, and an Israeli woman who lives in Tel Aviv under the dark cloud of war and uncertainty, Talya stood tall and delivered.

I get a sense that Israeli Mothers are unique human beings, the gentleness of a mother combined with the fierce guardianship of a warrior. I sat their like a proud uncle as this amazing professional shared her wisdom to a quiet and appreciative audience.

And you know, they often say the best is kept till last. Perhaps that is true. A couple of years ago I watched a video of a brave new speaker, somewhat nervously delivering a Tedx talk. I am always so glad when people get to break the ice and feel the experience.

Well, this same lady, Elizabeth Bachrad , another key member of our Workplace Wellbeing Initiative of the Global Wellness Institute , strode onto the stage, with a slightly cheeky grin and blazing eyes and literally flooded the room with power. Her 40 minutes disappeared in a moment as I sat captivated and in awe of my beautiful friend sharing her best talents with this audience who crave learning. At the end, she stared the audience down with a devilish grin and a sparkle in her eye and said, "This is the future. You can decide to listen to it or not, but you need to know it is going to happen. You choose!"

A brilliant ending to a remarkable event.

After the event, several delegates came to talk and asked if I would be coming back so that I could come and talk in their workplace. I shared this with my wonderful partner Lassen Aria and she is as excited as me to visit this stunning place soon.

Last night, Alina Grozescu and her trusted leader Daniela Stoian Ganciu took us all to dinner. We stayed till late in the evening, discussing the conference, wellness and life in general with some Wellington Team members, several key clients and a couple of Alina's good friends.

As I sit here in my hotel on Saturday morning, I reflect over what has just taken place and realise two things.

First, Romania is in very good hands and it is in excellent shape. And second, if I follow the trajectory of all this, Europe soon will be too.