Corina Neagu – On Courage, Authenticity, and Purposeful Leadership

Corina Neagu is the founder of DARE – Development Advice & Resources and Sweets & Spices, two projects that combine courage, authenticity, and ethics in everything related to human development, leadership, and memorable experiences. She is an international HR consultant, coach, mentor, trainer, learning experience facilitator, and entrepreneur, with over 25 years of experience working with people from more than 30 countries across Europe and Asia.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in one sentence to spark the curiosity of those who don’t know you yet?
Corina Neagu: I am a catalyst for human and organizational transformation, a person who asks bold questions and creates spaces where authenticity is not only allowed but encouraged and celebrated.

C&B: If we were to look at the narrative thread of your career or business, what have been the key defining moments?
Corina Neagu: There were many, but three are essential:

• The moment I decided to leave the corporate world and follow my dream of creating DARE – a space where people can discover their potential, learn, grow, and find their voice.
• Launching Sweets & Spices in 2020, during the pandemic, a business built out of love for gastronomy, flavors, tradition, and community.
• And every encounter with people who trusted me to guide them – moments that confirmed I was on the right path and could be that “torch in the dark,” as many describe me.

C&B: What has been the most difficult moment in your journey, and how did you overcome it?
Corina Neagu: The most difficult moment was starting from scratch in a market unprepared for the kind of human, empathetic leadership I believe in. I went through uncertainty, failures, and judgment. I overcame them with faith, hard work, and support from key people who didn’t let me give up on myself, my values, and my passion.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, no matter the obstacles?
Corina Neagu: Yes. To leave the world a little better than I found it. To help people remember who they truly are and give them the courage to live according to their values.

C&B: How did you start out, and how do you feel you’ve transformed since then?
Corina Neagu: At the beginning, I was brave, ambitious, passionate, but often tired – driven, yet sometimes fearful. Now I’m just as brave, but more mature, wiser, more at peace with myself, and much more aware of the impact I have – not just in business, but in the lives of those around me.

C&B: If we met your team or collaborators, what do you think they’d say about you?
Corina Neagu: That I’m someone who tells it like it is, who listens deeply, who never compromises on ethics and quality, and who – despite having high standards – genuinely loves every stage of others’ development.

C&B: What’s the most important decision you’ve made that changed your path?
Corina Neagu: Choosing myself. Letting go of the “security” others offered and taking ownership of my own path. It was a hard decision, but it saved me. Choosing who I work with, and continuously investing in myself.

C&B: How did you build your leadership style or decision-making approach? Was it natural or learned?
Corina Neagu: It was a mix of continuous learning and self-discovery. I was a leader before I knew what it meant. Then I refined it through study, international experience, and authentic feedback from diverse people.

C&B: What do you think sets your business or professional approach apart from the rest of the industry?
Corina Neagu: People don’t come to me just to check a box in training or coaching. They come because they know they’ll find a genuine, unfiltered space that challenges them to evolve – without masks. DARE and Sweets & Spices are not just businesses – they are spaces of community, meaning, and belonging. With people, about people, for people.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and what moments bring you the most satisfaction?
Corina Neagu: My day is a mix of strategic meetings, writing, creation, sometimes operational work, and always… people. The most fulfilling moments are when I see that spark of awareness or gratitude in someone’s eyes. Or early mornings, sipping coffee as sunlight pours in and I know I’m doing what I’m meant to. Or chatting with my family – my husband and daughters – and doing things together. Or when people reach out because they genuinely feel I can help. Or receiving hugs and messages from people I just met. Or when I create gastronomic wonders. 😊

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do, and how do you apply them day by day?
Corina Neagu: Ethics. Contribution. Authenticity. Freedom. Courage.
I apply them in every decision – from the projects I accept, to how I treat my partners, to what I choose to promote and what I refuse, even if it could be profitable in the short term.

C&B: If you were to send a message to those who follow your example, what would it be?
Corina Neagu: Don’t let anyone tell you who you should be. Be honest with yourselves, kinder, nurture your voice, and be generous with others – but especially with yourselves. The authentic path is not the easiest, but it’s the only one that truly leads you “home.”

Corina Neagu doesn’t just build businesses or projects – she builds bridges between people, between ideas and emotions, between aspiration and reality. From every answer, it’s clear that leadership is not a label for her, but a way of living, feeling, and contributing.