Măriuca Cremene: HR Business Partner at Evonomix Europe & Flaminjoy | Authentic Leadership, Growth & Organizational Culture

Discover the professional journey of Măriuca Cremene, HR Business Partner at Evonomix Europe and Flaminjoy. With over a decade of experience in Human Resources, she blends structure with creativity, fosters collaboration and honest communication, and builds healthy processes in a constantly evolving environment.

Măriuca Cremene is an HR Business Partner at Evonomix Europe and Flaminjoy, where she contributes to developing internal processes and creating clearer, more organized work experiences for her colleagues. With over a decade of experience in human resources, she blends a practical approach with creativity, finding simple and actionable solutions that support collaboration and team performance. Măriuca strongly believes in continuous learning, authentic communication, and building an environment where people can work better together.

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

Măriuca Cremene: If I look at the thread of my career, the key moments were not necessarily defined by positions or major projects, but by the way I developed, step by step, through continuous learning, change, and collaboration. I worked in diverse teams, each with its own dynamics, and I learned to adapt, understand different perspectives, and build healthy relationships even in complex contexts. There were easy collaborations and less easy ones, but all of them helped me grow, both as a professional and as a person.

An important chapter was moving into global contexts, where I discovered what cultural diversity means in practice. These experiences taught me to listen more, pay attention to nuances, and adjust approaches depending on the people and situations. Not every attempt was perfect; sometimes I made mistakes, other times I had to start over, but it was precisely those moments that shaped me the most.

Another defining moment in my journey was the entrepreneurial experience. Running a business taught me, perhaps more than any other role, how challenging it is to create and maintain a healthy structure. It showed me the unseen side of a business: the sacrifices, the pressure, the responsibility, and the fact that entrepreneurship is not for everyone; it is a trait some people have naturally. I realized that I did not have it, and I accepted that honestly. But this made me view entrepreneurs with a different kind of respect and understand more deeply how complex it is to build and sustain a business.

In all these contexts, I discovered that defining moments were not linked to job titles, but to how I was able to contribute, learn, adapt, and collaborate with the people around me. The title was always just a detail; the real value came from the person behind it and from the work, effort, and learning in each stage.

Looking back, my professional journey has been built from people, but also from change, new processes, continuous adaptation, and many lessons. Everything I am today comes from this combination: modesty, curiosity, respect for others’ work, and a genuine desire to create environments where people and organizations can grow together.

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

Măriuca Cremene: If I had to choose a moment that challenged me the most, I would not describe it as “difficult,” but as a process of adjustment and reprioritization: the stage when I became a mother. Motherhood was not an obstacle but a new and intense reality that taught me to find a personal balance between family and career. My child, of course, came first: he received 500 percent of me, yet I also wanted to remain present, active, and professionally involved.

What made this period manageable was the genuine support I received. I had employers and colleagues who respected both my role as a mother and as a professional. In special situations, I received understanding and flexibility without extra pressure. There were even moments when my child came with me to the office, and colleagues made him feel so welcome that, at one point, he seriously said he wanted to become a “computer person” like everyone there. It was an innocent and amusing remark, but for me, it remained a testament to the warm and open environment I was in.

The support of my “soul team,” namely my family, was incredibly important. Over time, I learned to ask for help without guilt, to share responsibilities, and to allow myself to be both a mother and a professional without one role canceling out the other. It was a lesson in maturity, not in sacrifice.

This stage taught me that balance does not mean perfection. There is no single recipe for women who want a career, a family, and personal space. The social dogmas about how a mother-professional’s path “should” look are just that: dogmas. Everyone finds their own rhythm, their own formula, their own way of doing things without needing to conform to a pre-established model.

Looking back, it was not a difficult moment but one of growth. It taught me organization, clarity, and a lot of patience with myself. It made me understand that personal leadership begins with how you manage your life, not just your work. Today, I carry this lesson with me in every role I have.

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

Măriuca Cremene: Yes, I believe there has always been an ambition guiding me, regardless of context: the desire to constantly evolve and become the best professional version of myself, no matter where I started. I experienced moments in childhood and adolescence that were not easy, and those experiences made me want to grow, learn, and build my path through hard work, perseverance, and curiosity.

This desire to continue developing accompanied me in every role. For me, ambition was never about a specific position, but about becoming a better, more balanced person, attentive to those around me. I wanted to build my career based on authenticity, professionalism, and the way I chose to position myself in various situations: with calm, listening, and respect.

This was the dream that guided me: to build my path through continuous learning and by choosing how to respond to the world, not based on where I started, but based on who I want to be.

C&B: How did you start your career and how do you feel you have transformed since then?

Măriuca Cremene: At the beginning of my HR journey, I was above all very curious. When I got my first opportunity in the field, I did not know exactly where this profession would take me, but I had a sincere desire to understand how people, teams, and processes work within an organization. I was lucky to have an extraordinary person who inspired me, encouraged me, and made me believe I could learn anything. I will be forever grateful to that person.

Equally important was the team I joined: a diverse group, from entry-level individuals to true seniors. I had something to learn from each of them. They showed me, without necessarily intending to, what it means to be professional, human, patient, willing to share and support. From each person, I learned something different, and together they shaped the way I see the HR role today. Each left a mark on my development.

Collaboration did not stop at the HR team. Because HR inevitably works with all departments, I had the chance to interact with people from completely different areas. Through knowledge sharing, discussions, concrete situations, and joint projects, they helped me understand the big picture: how a healthy organization functions, what its structures are, how things balance internally, and what it truly means to support a team from every angle. These encounters taught me more than any manual.

Today, looking back, my professional transformation is visible through the maturity with which I view things, through understanding how people and processes are interconnected, and through deep respect for all those who guided me. I started as a very curious person, eager to learn everything at once, and I have become a professional who understands that real growth is built over time, with good people alongside and with gratitude for every step taken together.

C&B: If we met your collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?

Măriuca Cremene: If you asked my collaborators, I think, or hope, they would say “good things.” In reality, I like to believe they would speak about a person with whom they could easily build, who was present, serious when necessary, and always with a smile when the situation allowed.

Regardless of the roles or projects we shared, each interaction taught me something. Even if I have not spoken to some of them for years, I would like them to know that I carry the same gratitude for them: for smiles, collaborations, feedback, and direct or indirect lessons. For me, the people I have worked with, even briefly, contributed in some way to my journey.

I do not know exactly what they would say, but I would like their answers to reflect the fact that I always tried to be fair, to listen, to do my job well, and to leave behind a pleasant collaboration, regardless of its duration. If I have achieved that even halfway, I am more than satisfied.

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

Măriuca Cremene: Honestly, I think it was the decision not to continue down the path of medicine, even though growing up, I imagined a different future for myself. At the time, career options were not as diverse and visible as they are today, and professions were much more clearly defined: doctor, lawyer, engineer, teacher. Medicine seemed, in my mind at the time, the natural path and the model I aspired to. I grew up in an amazing environment, surrounded by extraordinary, dedicated doctors, role models whom I admired and respected deeply. The pressure did not come from outside at all, but somehow from within: the desire to live up to them and follow a noble, stable path.

Over time, I realized it was not my path. I chose a different direction and pursued humanities studies, a choice that suited me. There, I discovered how naturally I could combine creativity with structure, how much I enjoy communication, and how much working with ideas, people, and diverse contexts shapes me. Those years greatly developed my communication skills, I believe.

My first corporate job was the next turning point. Someone saw potential in me for HR, a field that immediately fit with who I am. I did not end up “healing” people as I initially dreamed, but in a funny and fitting way, I contributed to the health of organizations. Ultimately, it was always about people, just from a different perspective.

Looking back, it was the right decision for that moment. I still sometimes wonder what it would have been like to walk through a hospital in a white coat, but the thought quickly passes. Today, I accept fully that I chose a path that truly belonged to me and that shaped me exactly in the direction I needed to grow.

C&B: How did you develop your leadership style and decision-making approach? Was it natural or learned?

Măriuca Cremene: My leadership style has developed over time through a combination of experiences, continuous learning, and a lot of observation. It was not exclusively natural, nor imposed; it was a constant evolution in which I adjusted my approaches as I better understood people and context.

Patience was the first thing I truly learned. In HR, things are never resolved in a hurry. Then came trust: trust in people, in processes, and in the idea that things are built more solidly when you do not try to control everything. Communication has remained central: a two-way street where honest and transparent feedback does far more than any formality. I speak a lot, but not for the sake of conversation; I speak to understand different perspectives, to listen, and to see what is behind seemingly simple situations. This helps me build further, with clarity.

A decisive factor in my decision-making has been adapting to change. The field of people and organizations has evolved enormously and at a rapid pace. What worked a few years ago may no longer apply today. It is important to accept this and not cling to “how it was.” We test new approaches, sometimes they do not work, and that is okay. Every organization is different. We analyze, adjust, rebuild, and move forward with what truly fits the structure and culture we face.

Another guiding principle is accepting that I do not know everything and I do not have to. My role is to ask the right questions, listen actively, and learn fast enough to provide real support to the teams I work with.

At the end of the day, I believe leadership is a journey, not a destination. It is a balance between listening, learning, and having the courage to adapt in a rapidly changing world. I like the idea that “a good leader does not light the path for you but helps you see better with your own light.” This is how I build my own way of working: with patience, transparency, and trust that people can grow extraordinarily when properly supported.

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

Măriuca Cremene: It depends a lot. A typical day for me is a balanced mix of structure and flexibility, plus lots of coffee. I start with my old-fashioned checklist, a notebook where I write down tasks and priorities for the day. For me, it is more than a list; it is a clear way to organize my thoughts and set my intentions. I enjoy checking off completed tasks because I can see progress concretely.

At the same time, I have learned not to cling to the list. I work in dynamic companies where new situations can arise hourly. That is why I always keep energy and mental space for context, the unexpected, ad-hoc discussions, or situations that require quick decisions. Structure helps me, but flexibility saves me, and I believe the two coexist perfectly in my role.

The rest of the day involves meetings, clarifications, open discussions, real-time problem-solving, and a lot of two-way communication. I have steps and boxes, but I step out of them whenever necessary because every situation, team, and project has its own dynamics.

The greatest satisfaction comes from moments when I feel my role truly matters: when a manager finds the clarity to move forward, when a team discovers a better solution after brainstorming, or when a process becomes clearer and easier to apply. I am energized by seeing that my work contributes to the well-being, direction, or success of the teams I work with.

I am also hugely energized by moments of creativity. Although I love structure, lists, and my boxes, which help me stay grounded and clear, there are situations where I have to break completely from routine. That is when “Creative Mariuca” emerges, the one who sees different solutions, draws new scenarios, and truly thinks outside the box. These moments may be rare for some, but for me, they occur often enough to bring real excitement and fantastic energy. I enjoy the balance between the two: rigor and creativity, organization and freedom to rebuild.

And in the evening, no matter how many boxes I tick off, the feeling is always the same: it was a day in which I built, understood, supported, and moved forward together. That remains the greatest satisfaction.

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

Măriuca Cremene: I believe in real fairness and the responsibility to make transparent, well-argued decisions applied uniformly, regardless of role or seniority. Empathy is, in fact, one of my strongest touchstones. Understanding a person’s context, a manager’s pressure, a team’s needs, or the limits of a situation is part of how I work. Kindness does not mean “being nice to everyone,” but maintaining humanity in decisions, even when they are not easy.

Honest communication is another principle I do not deviate from. I see it as a two-way street: I communicate clearly, but I also listen just as clearly. I encourage direct and realistic feedback because that is the only way to build healthy processes and solid professional relationships.

My entrepreneurial experience reinforced many of these values. There, I truly understood what it means to wear multiple hats, such as responsibility for the company, decision sustainability, support for people, project pace—everything at the same time. I learned the challenges, pressures, and beauty of building a business, and above all, the balance between organizational needs and those of people.

Another important principle for me is adaptability. The people domain changes extremely quickly, and solutions never work “copy-paste.” I try, adjust, analyze, and rebuild when reality requires it. I like structure, but I am very comfortable stepping out of it when necessary.

In recent years, I have added a new value: openness to technology and AI. I sincerely believe that, when used correctly and ethically, AI can become a real support tool in many industries. I do not see it as a replacement but rather as a facilitator: a connecting point that brings clarity, speed, and efficiency—a major benefit when used with discernment. It is, in a way, a quiet but very effective partner.

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

Măriuca Cremene: The message I would give to those building their path is to remain authentic and open to exploration. Ask questions, try, change direction when it does not suit you, and do not compare yourself to anyone else. Everyone has their own rhythm and valid choices.

I deeply believe in respect, empathy, and kindness. We never know the story behind a smile or a difficult day, and how we choose to treat each other matters enormously, especially in a fast-moving world. Personally, I always try to bring optimism and good energy, to help when I can, and to leave a positive impact around me.

I did not become a doctor as I once thought, but I am happy with the path I have built and grateful for everything I have today. This is what I convey to my son as well: to follow his own path with confidence, authenticity, and respect, and to believe in the beauty of the choices he makes.

Măriuca Cremene’s story is one of growth, authenticity, and genuine care for people, an example of modern leadership shaped by continuous learning, empathy, and the ability to create environments where teams can thrive together.