Cristi Chitu: The lessons behind building Patiseria Tineretului and its community

Interview with entrepreneur Cristi Chitu about Patiseria Tineretului, lessons from failure, rebuilding, authentic leadership, and lasting success in Romania.

Cristi Chitu has been an entrepreneur since the age of 21. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Cristi also experienced life as an employee for two years, working in a large hypermarket in Bucharest and at an American bank with a branch in the same city. He took control of his own life early on and enjoyed working from a young age, even though he benefited from the comfort provided by his parents and grandparents.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in a single sentence, so that you make those who don’t know you yet curious?

Cristi Chitu: I believe in my own strengths and I have always wanted to be the artisan of my own life. I have always wanted to create added value, both for myself and for the people around me. The life of an entrepreneur is not an easy one. It is full of challenges, but also of infinite joys. As an entrepreneur, I am not responsible only for myself but also for the employees, colleagues, partners, associates, and the community I create around me. I also believe that nothing is impossible as long as I believe in it with my whole being and transform the dream into concrete and long-term actions. All these things fulfill me on the inside and give me the energy I need every day.

C&B: If we look at the narrative thread of your career or business, what were the key moments that defined you?

Cristi Chitu: I was defined by the moments of success that emerged from failures. The joy of success, achieved through work, perseverance, courage, and owning my mistakes, defined me in everything I have done and will continue to do. I believe that every crisis I went through helped me exceed my limits and learn new things I was not aware of before. I love stepping out of my comfort zone. I do not believe in success obtained easily (or overnight), just as I do not believe that money earned easily will help you build things that last and that you can truly enjoy. I learned that everything gained easily is lost just as easily.

C&B: What has been the most difficult moment so far in your journey, and how did you overcome it?

Cristi Chitu: The most difficult period in my life was the economic and financial crisis of 2009–2010, when I faced the disappointment of three bankruptcies and also the loss of the home where I lived with my girlfriend, Cristina. Being a naive young man with big dreams, I was not prepared for such a financial impact. All three companies I owned at that time were affected by the global economic crisis. The apartment we lost was repossessed by the bank from which I had taken out a loan in Swiss francs. Those years were the ones that defined my life and created the premises for my development today.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, regardless of obstacles?

Cristi Chitu: The global crisis began in 2008 in America and spread internationally. That was when I understood the level of interconnection in which we live. My immediate ambition was to understand, through research and in-depth study (formal and non-formal), how some countries manage to offer prosperity to their citizens while others “struggle” with poverty. My long-term dream is to prove to myself that it is possible in Romania as well. At that moment, it might have been easier to leave the country, since I had lost everything, but would I have been able to look in the mirror with pride years later? I promised myself that I would succeed again, from zero. After all, I was the creation of all the good things, as well as the mistakes that had led me to that point. My personal ambition is to develop a company that will remain after I leave this world and to contribute to a better, more prosperous society, confident in itself and in its own future.

C&B: What did you look like at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you have transformed until now?

Cristi Chitu: At the beginning, I was a naive young man with incredible work power and a strong desire to succeed in his own country. I refused to believe that things were impossible here. I refused to believe that I couldn’t build a big company through honest work, passion, devotion, and perseverance. Now I am more aware of my decisions and their consequences for myself and for those around me. In other words, I measure ten times and cut once. I never think only of myself but also of those around me. I do not believe in individual happiness without group happiness—whether we speak about a company, a city, or even a country. I see all failures as life lessons that I did not go through by accident. I believe they are necessary experiences to become better and to strengthen my self-awareness.

C&B: If we were to meet your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?

Cristi Chitu: Most of the team and collaborators would have words of praise for me, but I also know very well that I will never be able to please everyone, no matter what I do. Every person is unique, and the environment I have created offers future perspectives only to those who are similar to me. Honest work, respect, responsibility, courage, perseverance, and empathy toward others are the personal values that define me.

C&B: What is the most important decision you have made that changed your trajectory?

Cristi Chitu: The most important decision I made was in 2012, when I chose to learn from all the lessons up to that point and to establish Patiseria Tineretului from scratch, together with my girlfriend, Cristina, and Florin, my best friend from high school. I did not let myself be overwhelmed by material losses and managed to turn them into spiritual gains and an additional experience.

C&B: How did you build your leadership style or the way you make decisions? Was it a natural or learned process?

Cristi Chitu: I believe that my leadership style was a natural one that I refined over time. I believe personal responsibility and taking ownership of decisions are just as important as participatory democracy, internal debates (based on solid arguments), and ideas accompanied by concrete actions.

C&B: What do you think differentiates your business or your professional approach from the rest of the industry?

Cristi Chitu: The major difference lies in the stubbornness with which I created and kept products with natural ingredients (e.g., apple or pumpkin pies, French croissants, or homemade cozonac). The image and name of the business do not copy any competitor. I believe in originality and consistency. I believe in continuous innovation and creativity, along with offering a memorable experience to our clients. Through everything we do, my team and I want to inspire those who want to start a business in the field, young people who want to step out of their comfort zone and gain confidence in themselves, and everyone who wants to discover and follow their passion.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and which moments of the day bring you the greatest satisfaction?

Cristi Chitu: Waking up early and physical exercise have become a habit, and daily work energizes me. I feel guilty if I start the day later, and the greatest satisfaction is when I manage to build projects from scratch. Even if not all projects (big or small) achieve the desired success, I find that they bring added value to those around me—whether we talk about clients, colleagues, collaborators, associates, or the community.

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do, and how do you apply them daily?

Cristi Chitu: I am guided by self-confidence and respect for those around me. I believe nothing can be achieved without responsibility and accountability. Empathy is especially important when you want to build functional teams. In life, I am guided by two proverbs that I love:

1. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together!”
2. “Be the change you want to see in the world!”
   Currently, I lead a group of companies consisting of over 150 colleagues, collaborators, and partners. It is not easy, but I feel fulfilled. I do not believe you can achieve significant things alone, and I always seek partnership and collaboration. I do not like to complain and I aim to be an example for those around me. I believe that personal example and one’s own actions are the best moral incentives for the people around me.

C&B: How did the idea of starting this business and giving it this name come to you?

Cristi Chitu: After the failures experienced during the global crisis of 2009–2010, I wanted to return to my roots. I fondly remembered all the beautiful childhood moments when my grandmother baked pumpkin pies, apple pies, cheese pies with eggs, or even cozonac with walnuts and Turkish delight every weekend for me and my brother. Although I was born and raised in Bucharest, I spent almost my entire childhood and summer vacations in the countryside, in Gostinu Commune, Giurgiu County. So, in 2012, I wanted to revive those moments and transformed the pastry franchise I had at that time, across from Tineretului Park in Bucharest, into “Patiseria Tineretului.” I sought a partner experienced in the field, reinterpreted some of my grandmother’s recipes, and opened the first location under this name.
In the beginning, the inspiration came from the name of the area, but then I completed my mission and wanted to become a source of inspiration for young people, encouraging and sponsoring them in various scientific circles, student associations, olympiads, competitions, etc.

C&B: If you were to send a message to people who follow your example, what would it be?

Cristi Chitu: Always believe in yourselves and in your strengths. You will be amazed at how many things you can achieve if you overcome fear and the fear of the unknown. Surround yourselves with good and smarter people. Do not be afraid if someone steals your idea or puts into practice things you thought of. From idea to action is a long road, and each person is unique in their own way.
Yes, entrepreneurship is hard and offers many moments of disappointment, despair, and doubt, but if you remain optimistic, passionate about what you do, and constantly searching for solutions, success has an incomparable taste.

Cristi Chitu’s journey and the growth of Patiseria Tineretului show that true success is built through hard work, discipline, and the courage to start again when everything seems lost.