Florin Manoloiu: From corporate to tech entrepreneurship in construction

Florin Manoloiu, COO at Exenne Technologies, shares his professional journey, lessons learned in digitizing the construction sector, and the principles guiding his leadership and innovation.

Florin Manoloiu is the Chief Operating Officer at Exenne Technologies, a professional with nearly a decade of experience in the digital transformation of Romania’s construction sector, being directly involved in the digitization of processes in over 200 companies in the industry. He coordinates complex commercial and operational strategies based on innovation, data analysis, and the development of sustainable partnerships.

C&B: If we were to look at a narrative thread of your career, what were the key moments that defined you?
Florin Manoloiu: Looking back, my career has not been linear but rather a progressive construction, where each stage was about learning and laid a brick in the foundation of what I am today. I would highlight four defining moments:
• Volunteering at BEST (Board of European Students of Technology): This was the “school” that shaped me before the job. There, I learned about collaboration, organizing large-scale events, and the dynamics of an international team.
• Experience in FMCG (Danone): Here, I had a “wake-up call” about what a career really means, beyond the romantic view I had as a student. I realized that “not everything that flies can be eaten” and that before being friends, we need to deliver results. It is a tough school that drives you toward performance, where I learned the importance of strategic marketing, working with large volumes, and extreme organization.
• Transition to Engineering and Technical Sales (Linde Gas & Schneider Electric): This stage refined my B2B negotiation skills, but the fundamental lesson was about responsibility. I learned that you are the only one responsible for the results of your work and that talent alone is not enough to achieve remarkable results. This was also where I had my first lessons as a segment leader.
• Joining Exenne Technologies (2016): Moving from a corporation to tech entrepreneurship was a moment of full maturation. Here, I could apply everything I had learned, building strategies from scratch and having a direct impact on the digitization of an entire industry. The daily lesson here is that without grit—perseverance and passion—you cannot build anything.

C&B: What has been the most difficult moment in your journey so far, and how did you overcome it?
Florin Manoloiu: The most challenging moment was undoubtedly realizing that your product is perceived as good only to the extent that the market trusts you. My dreams of being associated with a company scaling overnight collided with the construction sector’s resistance to change. After a year, even though our numbers were almost doubling, I felt like I was trying to break down a 2-meter-thick wall with a 5 cm drill. I overcame this by understanding that the path is long and that the secret ingredient is trust. When you persevere, listen openly, and innovate, trust follows. In construction—a field addressing the fundamental human need for shelter—trust is more important than anything else.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, regardless of obstacles?
Florin Manoloiu: Yes, my constant ambition has been to understand how the world works. To do that, you must constantly expose yourself to the stress of leaving your comfort zone. I strongly believe that if you are the smartest person in the room, you shouldn’t stay in that room too long. You need to seek environments that challenge you to grow.

C&B: What were you like at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you have transformed to date?
Florin Manoloiu: At the start, I was an enthusiastic executor with a romantic vision of business. I believed that all interests in the market naturally converge so that everyone benefits. Today, my perspective is much more nuanced. Yes, we all want what’s best, but “best” can vary for each person, or timing can be wrong. Therefore, my focus has shifted to deep understanding and aligning interests, because without this alignment, you risk doing Sisyphean work.

C&B: If we met with your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?
Florin Manoloiu: I would like them to see me as an analytical person open to ideas. However, I think they would say that for me, efficiency is a “religion,” with all the pros and cons that come with it. Beyond perceptions, what is visible in interactions with me is that:
• I enjoy precise, structured discussions.
• I always ask, “what impact could this have?” and on which data that impact is based.

C&B: What is the most important decision you have made that changed your trajectory?
Florin Manoloiu: The decision to join Exenne Technologies in January 2016. It was a bet on myself—to leave a comfortable position at Schneider Electric to contribute to the growth of a Romanian software product. It meant moving from the stability of a multinational to the direct responsibility of delivering performance to be able to pay the team’s salaries.

C&B: What role does innovation play in Exenne’s strategy, and how do you integrate new technologies into your products?
Florin Manoloiu: Innovation is not just a department at Exenne; it is our very reason for being. In the traditionally conservative construction industry, we bring automation and innovation with a precise goal: reducing time wasted on repetitive tasks so that professionals can focus on what truly matters.

C&B: What is the main differentiator that sets Exenne apart from other companies in the industry?
Florin Manoloiu: Our differentiator is the symbiosis between technology and contextual understanding. We do not just offer software (eDevize); we identify needs that the market does not yet know how to name and develop solutions to address them. I always tell my team: a discussion that starts with presenting product functionalities is a “lost” discussion. Our thinking must always be centered on the needs of the person in front of us; only then do we learn and develop quality products.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and what moments bring you the most satisfaction?
Florin Manoloiu: A typical day is a balanced mix of analysis/introspection and human interaction:
• Morning: Dedicated to growth projects I lead and actions needed to push them forward.
• Afternoon: Meetings, discussions, and interactions with the team and partners.
• Evening: Introspection and prioritization of tasks for the next morning.

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do, and how do you apply them daily?
Florin Manoloiu: I follow three simple but essential principles:

1. Integrity: Promises made to partners or colleagues are sacred.
2. Data-driven decisions: I try to eliminate subjectivity. If the numbers don’t support an idea, we reevaluate it.
3. Continuous learning: The market changes, technology changes. If we don’t learn daily, we fall behind.

C&B: What are the core values underpinning the organizational culture at Exenne Technologies?
Florin Manoloiu: Exenne’s culture is based on:
• Customer Orientation: Everything we develop must solve a real user problem.
• Transparency: We communicate openly, both internally and with clients.
• Pragmatism: We do not innovate for the sake of innovation, but for efficiency and profitability—both ours and our clients’.
• Accountability: The most important thing is identifying what we could have done better in a situation, not looking for excuses.

C&B: If you were to give a message to those following your example, what would it be?
Florin Manoloiu: Don’t look for the easy path and let go of corporate romanticism in favor of pragmatism. Talent is important, but without grit and perseverance, it is useless. Seek environments where you are not the smartest person in the room, because only there will you truly grow. And, last but not least, base your decisions on data but execute them with integrity toward people. Efficiency without direction is just noise, and ambition without work is just a dream.

Florin Manoloiu’s story demonstrates that success does not happen overnight but through perseverance, continuous learning, and trust in the team. His experience shows how innovation and authentic leadership can completely transform a traditional industry.