Costin Neacsa began his career driven by a passion for solving complex challenges in fast-paced industrial environments, which has shaped his professional journey. Whether leading large teams or managing critical projects, he has built a reputation as a leader who blends strategy with empathy. Across all his roles, Costin has learned that success depends on effective collaboration and honest communication with his team.
His core values—integrity, perseverance, and the ability to listen before acting—guide his work. To Costin, authentic leadership means nurturing people, providing them with the space to learn and grow. He believes a good leader recognizes the value of mistakes, as they present real opportunities for growth.
Costin encourages young professionals aspiring to make an impact to be bold and curious, to explore and take calculated risks, even if it means challenging the status quo.
C&B: You started your career with a passion for solving complex challenges in industrial environments. What initially attracted you to this type of setting, and how did it help develop your leadership skills?
Costin Neacsa: My career began in industrial settings because I wanted to work in a company that was still in its early stages, allowing me to grow alongside it. This choice led me to witness milestones like the company’s first ERP implementation—giving me strong operational insights—my first business trips, the opening of new stores, and even managing personnel as a store manager. These experiences combined to provide me with a clear business vision and accelerated my path to a leadership role.
C&B: You’ve led large teams and managed critical projects. How do you balance strategy with empathy to achieve the best outcomes for both the organization and your teams?
Costin Neacsa: Initially, I struggled with micromanagement, but leadership is a skill you can train. I always try to provide as much information as possible to ensure transparency and clarity regarding strategies and objectives. Additionally, I aim to be approachable and supportive for my team. This approach fosters communication, and where there’s communication, there are solutions.
C&B: Integrity, perseverance, and listening before acting are your core values. How do you incorporate these principles into your leadership style, and how do they influence your team management?
Costin Neacsa: Integrity is about fairness and honesty, and I apply it directly by being straightforward and truthful with my team. Perseverance was also a muscle I had to develop; initially, I stopped at the first “no,” but over time, I learned what it takes to achieve goals and encourage my colleagues to do the same. The ability to listen before acting is essential in leadership. It creates a connection, and when people feel heard, they feel valued. Many great ideas emerge simply by taking the time to listen.
C&B: You’ve emphasized that authentic leadership is about nurturing people and providing them space to learn and grow. What strategies do you use to support employee development and foster a culture of continuous learning?
Costin Neacsa: It largely depends on the tools available. My general approach is to identify potential and help it reach the next level. It’s about trust—the more you trust and give people space, the greater the chance of positive surprises.
C&B: How do you handle mistakes within your teams, and how do you turn them into opportunities for individual and collective growth?
Costin Neacsa: Mistakes don’t bother me much; they are opportunities to learn and proof of effort. You could say I encourage them to a certain extent. However, I dislike repeated mistakes and am still working on ways to better capitalize on these moments.
C&B: How do you maintain honest and effective communication among team members, especially during stressful situations or major challenges?
Costin Neacsa: Through vulnerability. I find it a courageous but highly effective trait. I openly describe the situation, risks, and plan. This honesty often leads to reciprocal vulnerability and a collective effort to overcome challenges.
C&B: What have you learned about leadership and collaboration from managing critical projects, and how do you apply these lessons in your day-to-day work?
Costin Neacsa: I’ve learned the importance of the control component in management: test things yourself but don’t interfere unnecessarily. This means avoiding micromanagement while still being accountable for results. It’s key to managing any project.
C&B: You advise young professionals to be bold, curious, take calculated risks, and challenge the status quo. How do you support early-career individuals in developing these traits and becoming successful leaders?
Costin Neacsa: I’m fortunate to work with young colleagues across departments. I always encourage them to be proactive, to declare their curiosity boldly, and to get involved in what interests them, even without being asked. Many opportunities arise simply by asking, “Can I participate too?”
C&B: What are the biggest challenges for a leader trying to balance the need for performance with the personal growth of their team, and how do you manage these aspects?
Costin Neacsa: Balancing these two priorities is a challenge in itself. I find that combining vulnerability with firmness helps me navigate this balance. When vulnerability is embraced, it often aligns the team toward a shared goal.
C&B: At SMART HR, you discussed leadership as a continuous process of learning and adaptation. What was the main message you wanted participants to take away about the importance of this approach in today’s business world?
Costin Neacsa: My main message was this: being skilled doesn’t automatically make you a good leader. To become a great leader, you have to be intentional—study, genuinely care about people, and be courageous. This is how you can identify and nurture potential, elevating both the team and the business. The current business environment desperately needs strong leaders.
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