Diana Oana Cicirean: From Medicine to Business and People Management – The Inspiration Behind Future Careers

With vast experience in various fields, from medicine to business events, Diana Oana Cicirean, founder of Future Careers, has found her true calling in guiding and inspiring people toward success. She realized that professional satisfaction comes from contributing to the growth of those around you, and this awareness led her to create the Future Careers project, dedicated to young people at the beginning of their careers.

Diana believes in the power of leading by example and understands how important it is to support those around you in discovering their own potential. Perhaps this is why Diana is an authentic and empathetic leader, always paying attention not just to what gets done but especially to how things are done. Her vision for the future of Romanian people management blends human values with technological innovation, all with a single purpose: to truly harness opportunities for future generations.

To young people just starting out, Diana offers simple advice in three natural steps: be authentic, listen carefully, and act with passion!

C&B: You’ve had a varied professional journey, from medicine to organizing business events. What led you to shift toward people management, and how did you discover this calling?

Diana Oana Cicirean: It always came from the desire to do good and create impact. My start in the medical field—specifically pediatric physical therapy—instilled in me the value of helping people with respect. Over time, I realized that I could make a broader impact on people’s lives within business event organizations, where I gained a vision of how to bring together people, ideas, and opportunities to create change on a larger scale. So, the puzzle came together between my desire to help and the development context, leading me toward people management and communities.

I realized that human uniqueness is the most valuable thing, and it’s important for us to support each other HUMAN-TO-HUMAN to develop authentically. Therefore, this shift from “a field that heals people” to one that shapes new generations came naturally.

C&B: Future Careers is a project dedicated to young people at the beginning of their career journey. What inspired you to create this project, and what impact do you hope it will have on future generations of professionals?

Diana Oana Cicirean: Future Careers was born from the desire to provide young people with support and guidance in the challenges they face early in their careers. Over the past 10 years, I’ve seen more than 2,000 talented young people who volunteered at events and who were seeking direction or support to make the best decisions. I reflected on my own journey and how much it would have helped to have this kind of support—access to personal and professional development events and opportunities to build a career aligned with my values.

That’s how Future Careers came to life—from years of accumulated experience. Our goal is to inspire Generation Z, through the essence of our knowledge and soul, toward a proper integration of transgenerational values and technological advancements. They will represent the central hub harmonizing our HUMAN and AUTHENTIC values with the integration of emerging technologies.

C&B: You strongly believe in the power of leading by personal example. How do you ensure that the teams and people you work with are inspired by your actions and behaviors?

Diana Oana Cicirean: It’s not just about what you say, but more about what you consistently do from the heart and with dedication. I try to maintain authenticity in every decision, show empathy in work relationships, and remain open to feedback. Transparency and respect are essential to me, and I always choose to lead by example in this regard. Recognizing achievements and offering a “kind word” when needed fosters the value of the environment and the team in which we want to thrive.

C&B: In your leadership, you emphasize how things are done, not just what gets done. How do you implement this approach in your teams, and how does it contribute to increased performance and job satisfaction?

Diana Oana Cicirean: When you aim for something lasting, it’s like nurturing a child—you must ensure every step is taken with responsibility, care, and attention to detail.

In my teams, I encourage continuous collaboration and dialogue. We also focus on constant learning and improving processes. Even when we face difficulties, we concentrate on how we approach them, discussing solutions rather than just problems. This approach improves performance because every team member knows that it’s not just about the end result, but also how we get there. This attention to detail creates a sense of pride in their work and significantly boosts job satisfaction.

C&B: You mentioned that you want to blend human values with technological innovation. How do you think these two aspects can be balanced to create a modern, future-oriented work environment?

Diana Oana Cicirean: I believe technological innovation can be an incredible accelerator for professional development, but it must be guided by strong human values. It’s essential to keep empathy, collaboration, and authentic communication at the heart of our organizations, even when using advanced technological tools. At Future Careers, we strive to balance these two dimensions: we encourage the adoption of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and automation, but always with the goal of improving interpersonal relationships and supporting efficient collaboration. This blend helps create a modern work environment that not only supports performance but also the continuous development of individuals.

C&B: What role does empathy play in your leadership style, and how does it help you create a work environment where people feel supported and valued?

Diana Oana Cicirean: Empathy and respect are the key that opens every door for me. I believe that an authentic leader must understand the needs of their team and be sensitive to everyone’s challenges. Emotional openness and creating a safe space where everyone feels encouraged to express their ideas, concerns, and aspirations is essential. This approach fosters an atmosphere of support and trust, where people feel truly valued and are emboldened to innovate.

C&B: How do you motivate young professionals to be authentic, listen attentively, and act with passion, as you recommend in your three-step advice?

Diana Oana Cicirean: For Generation Z, personal space is essential, providing an environment where they can be authentic without societal pressures. I make sure to acknowledge and encourage them to be exactly who they are, to follow their passions, to be open to feedback, and to take risks. I firmly believe that passion combined with perseverance is the key to success, and young people should be guided to follow their hearts while also paying attention to the details.

C&B: Future Careers is a project dedicated to young people at the start of their careers. What inspired you to create this project, and what impact do you hope it will have on future generations of professionals?

Diana Oana Cicirean: Future Careers was born from the desire to support and guide young people through the challenges of starting their careers. Over the past 10 years, I’ve worked with more than 2,000 talented young people who volunteered at events and were looking for direction or support in making the right decisions. I thought about my own journey and how valuable it would have been to have access to such support, to personal and professional development events, and to opportunities for an authentic career that aligns with my values.

That’s how Future Careers came to life—through years of accumulated experience. We hope that by sharing the essence of our hearts and the knowledge we’ve gained, we can inspire Generation Z to integrate seamlessly into a world of cross-generational values and technological innovation. They will become the central force harmonizing our HUMAN and AUTHENTIC values with the integration of emerging technologies.

C&B: You strongly believe in the power of leading by example. How do you ensure that the teams and people you work with are inspired by your actions and behaviors?

Diana Oana Cicirean: It’s not just about what you say, but more about what you consistently do from the heart and with dedication. I strive to maintain authenticity in every decision, show empathy in work relationships, and be open to feedback. Transparency and respect are essential to me, and I always choose to lead by example in this regard. Additionally, recognizing achievements and offering a “kind word” when necessary creates an environment where people feel valued and encouraged.

C&B: In your leadership, you focus not only on what gets done, but also on how things are done. How do you implement this approach in your teams, and how does it contribute to increased performance and job satisfaction?

Diana Oana Cicirean: When you aim for something sustainable, it’s similar to nurturing a child—you must ensure that every step is taken with responsibility, care, and attention to detail.

In my teams, I encourage continuous collaboration and dialogue. We also focus on constant learning and process improvement. Even when we encounter difficulties, we concentrate on how we address them, discussing solutions rather than just problems. This approach enhances performance because every team member knows that it’s not just the final result that matters, but also the way we get there. This attention to detail creates a sense of pride in their work and significantly boosts job satisfaction.

C&B: You mentioned wanting to blend human values with technological innovation. How do you think these two aspects can be balanced to create a modern, future-oriented work environment?

Diana Oana Cicirean: I believe that technological innovation can be a tremendous accelerator for professional development, but it must be guided by strong human values. It’s essential to maintain empathy, collaboration, and authentic communication at the heart of our organizations, even when using advanced technological tools. At Future Careers, we work to balance these two dimensions: we encourage the adoption of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and automation, but always with the goal of enhancing interpersonal relationships and supporting effective collaboration. This combination helps create a modern work environment that not only fosters performance but also encourages the continuous development of individuals.

C&B: What role does empathy play in your leadership style, and how does it help you create a work environment where people feel supported and valued?

Diana Oana Cicirean: Empathy and respect are the keys that open any door for me. I believe that an authentic leader must understand their team’s needs and be sensitive to everyone’s challenges. Emotional openness, and creating a safe space where everyone feels encouraged to express their ideas, concerns, and aspirations, is essential. This approach fosters an atmosphere of support and trust, where people feel truly valued and have the courage to innovate.

C&B: What are the main challenges you’ve faced in people management, and how have you overcome them, given the complexity of the fields you’ve worked in?

Diana Oana Cicirean: I’ve encountered multiple challenges depending on internal and external contexts, but one of the main ones has been finding the balance between individual needs and the common goals of the team or company and brand value. I’ve learned that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution because we are all UNIQUE. I’ve overcome challenges through adaptability, empathy, and understanding.

C&B: In your opinion, what are the most important skills an authentic leader needs to guide a team to success in a dynamic and constantly changing environment?

Diana Oana Cicirean: An authentic leader must be flexible and open to change. They should be capable of inspiring by example and maintaining integrity, regardless of circumstances. In a dynamic environment, innovation and courage are just as important as core leadership skills.

C&B: At SMART HR, you will be speaking about inspiration and people management. What is the main message you want to convey to those listening to your story?

Diana Oana Cicirean: Empathy, authenticity, and collaborative respect are, for me, the three pillars of building a sustainable team and an authentic business. Each of us has our own LEADERSHIP VOICE—we just need to discover it and give ourselves the chance to express it, to inspire future generations.