Maria Culescu, Founder of the M.A.M.E. Association: When Personal Experience Becomes a Force for Change

Maria Culescu, founder of the M.A.M.E. Association, shares her professional journey, leadership philosophy, key decisions, and mission to build a real support system for vulnerable patients in Romania.

Maria Culescu is the founder of the M.A.M.E. Association and one of the leading figures in the nonprofit sector. With over 16 years of experience in developing and implementing innovative programs dedicated to children and adults diagnosed with serious illnesses, she has distinguished herself over time through her significant contribution to the modernization of socio-medical services in Romania, as well as through her constant efforts to promote health education, psycho-social support, and advocacy actions for the benefit of vulnerable patients in Romania.

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

Maria Culescu: I believe that the thread of my career is closely intertwined with the thread of my personal life, because my professional path was born out of a deeply personal life experience: confronting an oncological diagnosis. This was the first key moment that changed everything and determined me to dedicate my energy, time, and experience to those going through similar situations. During that period, I understood how fragile you can be in the face of such a diagnosis and in front of the medical system, but also how vital human and professional support is when everything seems to be collapsing around you and hope feels as though it is fading.

The second defining moment was the founding of the M.A.M.E. Association in 2009. I did not want to create just an NGO, but to offer people a place where they could find answers, solutions, and hope. It was the beginning of a career dedicated to doing good, to social responsibility, and to professional intervention in support of children and adults with serious illnesses.

Naturally, another major moment followed: the opening of the Little Stars Center, one of our most important projects, a space where hundreds of children affected by cancer or other serious illnesses receive therapy, emotional support, recovery, and counseling. It was a step that brought the organization to a level of maturity and significant impact.

Last but not least, a defining moment was the creation of a community around the M.A.M.E. Association, made up of volunteers, partners, doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physiotherapists, and other specialists from various fields, as well as donors and sponsors. The fact that we managed to transform an initiative born out of a personal need into a respected, sustainable organization with tangible results is confirmation that this path was the right one.

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

Maria Culescu: It was a period that rewrote my entire perspective on life. Beyond treatments and uncertainty, I faced vulnerability, fear, lack of information, and the feeling that the system was not prepared to offer the support that patients with serious illnesses and their families need.

In that moment, I felt for the first time not only the fragility of life, but also the extraordinary strength you gain when you choose to fight and have people by your side who support you. It was an overwhelming and painful experience, but I decided to turn it into a professional mission: to become real support for people whose lives are shattered and whose life course is changed by illness.

Later came a second difficult moment, this time on a professional level, when the M.A.M.E. Association went through a critical financial period. We were in danger of closing important programs for children and families, and the responsibility was immense. I felt the weight of everyone who depended on us, from the team to beneficiaries and partners. We overcame that period through intense work, by mobilizing the community, through transparency, and by building solid partnerships that strengthened the organization and ensured its continuity.

Today, looking back, I understand that the hardest moments were exactly those that gave me direction, meaning, and the power to build, step by step, a stable organization and a support model for those in extreme situations. I learned that resilience does not mean never falling, but getting up every time with a clearer vision and a stronger purpose.

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

Maria Culescu: Yes, there is a dream that has constantly guided me, regardless of obstacles: to create a real, human, and professional support system for vulnerable patients, so that no one, and especially no child, has to go through a serious diagnosis alone.

This dream emerged from my own experience and has accompanied me at every stage, whether it was difficult moments, periods when resources were limited, or administrative and financial challenges. It has always been there, like an inner compass that, no matter the turmoil I am in, guides me in the right direction.

I have wanted, and continue to want, to change mentalities, to improve access to support services, and to contribute to the modernization of the way the medical and social systems respond to patients’ needs. My dream is for the M.A.M.E. Association to be an example of best practices and a benchmark in the field, a model that can be replicated, expanded, and that can inspire other organizations or institutions to get involved.

In essence, my ambition has been and remains to transform vulnerability into strength, suffering into meaning, and difficult experiences into real change for people. This is the red thread that has always guided me and that gives me the energy to move forward, regardless of the obstacles that may appear in my path.

C&B: What were you like at the beginning of your journey and how do you feel you have transformed up to now?

Maria Culescu: At the beginning of the journey, I was a person caught between vulnerability and determination, between the fragility brought by my own medical experience and the strong desire to change something for the better. I was full of ideas, good intentions, and the desire to help, but I had little experience in the nonprofit field and in managing an organization. I started with a big heart but limited resources, with a lot of courage, yet also with many unknowns ahead of me.

Over time, this journey not only touched my soul in a special, profound way, but also guided my steps toward an uplifting cause, pushed me to grow, to get back up after every fall, and to believe more in my power to move forward. Today, I feel much stronger, more balanced, and more confident in what I can build together with my team. I have gained a professional perspective on the entire social and medical ecosystem, learning to manage complex situations, make difficult decisions, and think strategically, always with my eyes set on the future.

The experiences of recent years have helped me evolve from someone motivated primarily by personal experience into a true leader who builds, plans, and creates structure. I learned to develop large-scale projects, build teams, manage financial and institutional crises, create solid partnerships, and turn the M.A.M.E. Association into a benchmark in the field of support for patients with serious illnesses.

I have also transformed emotionally: I have become more empathetic, but also more realistic; stronger, yet very attentive to people’s needs; more professionally mature, without losing the sensitivity that has guided this journey.

Today, I feel that I am a more complete version of the person I was at the beginning, someone who has learned that good is built step by step, with patience, transparency, perseverance, and a great deal of dedication.

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

Maria Culescu: If you were to speak with my team or collaborators, I believe they would say that I am a committed, demanding, but fair person; a leader who works with heart and responsibility alongside the team, who never asks more than she is willing to give, who inspires and helps everyone become a better version of themselves. Beyond all this, I think they would say that I am a model of professionalism, character, and vision, someone who permanently changes the direction of personal and professional lives through the care I show for those around me.

They would probably say that I am a person of my word, who sees things through, who does not give up when encountering obstacles, and who finds solutions even in the most complicated situations.

I believe they would speak about my empathy, because in the field we work in, the human component is essential. They would say that I am attentive to the needs of those around me, whether colleagues, beneficiaries, or partners, and that I am willing to listen before making a decision.

At the same time, I think they would also say that I am a perfectionist, results-oriented, and concerned that things are done well, with responsibility and professionalism. I have active energy, I get directly involved in projects, and I genuinely care about the impact we have.

Because I am a sensitive person who loves life, nature, and everything beautiful, I think they would also say that I am a creative spirit, drawn to colors, scents, textures, and stories, and that I channel all this energy into handmade creations and projects that carry the imprint of the joy of building, of giving life and meaning, of transforming emotion into the art of doing good.

But beyond anything else, I believe they would say that I am a person with heart and principles, who respects her team and collaborators, who values loyalty and transparency, and who wants to create an environment in which every member feels valued and motivated.

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

Maria Culescu: The most important decision I made, which definitively changed my trajectory, was to transform my own experience as a patient into a mission and to establish the M.A.M.E. Association.

At that moment, I had no resources and no guarantee of success, but I had one essential thing: the conviction that no one should go through a harsh diagnosis alone and that the Romanian medical and social system needed a place where patients could receive real, comprehensive, and human support.

That decision was a turning point. It changed my career, lifestyle, priorities, and the way I see the world. It taught me how to build from scratch, work with communities, engage in advocacy, manage crisis situations, grow an organization, build a team, and create programs that change lives.

The second major decision was to continue, no matter how hard it was. There were moments when it seemed impossible to go on, but each time I decided that the main stake, offering support to children, adults, and families in critical situations, was worth every effort.

These two decisions, to start and not give up, built my entire professional and personal trajectory. They continue to be the pillars that support everything I do today.

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

Maria Culescu: My leadership style was built over time, through a process in which what came naturally and continuous learning were constantly intertwined.

I started from empathy, responsibility, and a sincere desire to help. These were the natural, fundamental elements I had from the beginning and that guided how I related to people and decisions.

However, as the M.A.M.E. Association grew and became a complex organization with large projects, teams, and increasing responsibilities, I realized that leadership could not remain purely instinctive. I had to learn to be structured, to prioritize, delegate, make difficult decisions, and think strategically in the long term. I learned from experiences, from mistakes, from crisis situations, and above all from interacting with different people: colleagues, beneficiaries, partners, and funders.

Today, my leadership style is a mix of heart and rigor. I listen to my team, value the ideas of those around me, and make informed, thoughtful decisions, but I never forget to consider the human impact of every decision. I have learned to look not only at what we do, but also at how we do it.

I do not believe in authoritarian leadership, nor in detached leadership. I believe in present, involved, well-intentioned, and transparent leadership. A leadership that grows people, not just projects.

So it has been both a natural and a learned process. Natural in values and intentions. Learned in structure, responsibility management, and decision maturity. And the process continues, because a true leader never stops learning.

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

Maria Culescu: What differentiates my professional approach and the way the M.A.M.E. Association operates compared to the rest of the sector is the combination of personal experience, professional rigor, and a focus on real impact, not just on ticking activities off a list.

First of all, my direct experience as a patient helps me deeply understand the real needs of people in extreme situations. I do not look at things from the outside, but from within. I understand emotions, fears, blockages, and the need for holistic support. This perspective influences every decision we make regarding the organization’s projects and services.

Secondly, the M.A.M.E. Association offers an integrated support model, not just isolated interventions. With us, people find in one place psycho-social services, counseling, navigation within the medical system, recovery support, educational activities, and prevention programs. This comprehensive approach is still rare in Romania.

Another essential element is the professionalism and high standards we operate by. We make no compromises when it comes to service quality, financial transparency, the way we work with beneficiaries, or professional ethics. Each project is built carefully, with clear procedures, evaluations, and measurable indicators.

I also believe we are differentiated by the authentic human relationships we build with beneficiaries and partners. We are not an organization that intervenes from a distance. We are close to people, we listen to them, accompany them, and support them in the long term.

And last but not least, we are differentiated by perseverance. There have been very difficult moments, but we never gave up. We built a stable, respected, replicable model of work, oriented toward the future.

In essence, the difference is this: for us, it is not just a professional activity; it is a profound mission, built with experience, heart, and vision.

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

Maria Culescu: For me, a typical day is a balance between professional rigor and the authentic joy of being close to people. I start my morning with a moment of gratitude for my family, for the path that shaped me, for the challenges that helped me grow, and for the extraordinary people I meet at every stage of my life and work.

Daily activity unfolds at a pace where professionalism and high standards are the compass for every decision. At the same time, I always leave room for creativity, for emotion, for that deep intention to build projects that change lives for the better. These are intense days, full of responsibilities, but it is precisely this intensity that motivates me, because I know that every step I take has a real impact on the community I live in.

The greatest satisfactions come in moments when I can concretely feel that our work has meaning: when a family receives the support it needs, when a child feels safe in therapy, when we manage, together with the team, to overcome a difficult situation and turn an obstacle into a solution. These moments give weight to every day and remind me why I do what I do.

And in the evening, when I return home, I enter another universe, my own, where I am embraced by the calm and warmth of my united family. The constant support of my husband, the hugs of our wonderful children, we have two biological sons and two adopted daughters, the sincere joy of our pets. All of these are gifts of life, my anchor. They are the space where I recharge, where I find balance, inspiration, and the strength to begin a new day with the same dedication.

In this blend of profession and family, of meaning and love, lies for me the essence of an “ordinary day,” a day in which I remind myself who I am and why I am here.

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

Maria Culescu: The M.A.M.E. Association is not just a service provider or an NGO that implements projects. It is an organization built on an authentic, lived experience, which helped us deeply understand the real needs of a patient facing a serious diagnosis.

This is reflected in everything we do, because our approach is integrated and human. We do not offer only short-term, isolated interventions, but a long-term set of services. We provide free services such as medical and nutritional counseling, psychotherapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, physical therapy, patient navigation, health education, and advocacy. For us, the patient is not just a case, but a person with emotions, fears, and complex needs.

Although we are a nonprofit organization, we have assumed standards similar to those in the private sector: clear procedures, professional reporting, total transparency, and rigorous management of projects and funds.

We have always been guided by firm values: dignity, confidentiality, respect, and genuine care for people. In our field, these make the difference between a formal service and one that is truly transformative.

The Little Stars Center, for example, the organization’s most important project, is a unique model in Romania, offering integrated services for children with serious illnesses. Our way of working has been and can be taken as inspiration by other organizations and institutions.

In an industry where many initiatives appear and disappear, we have existed for over 16 years. We have grown organically, built our reputation, and earned trust by consistently delivering concrete and visible results.

I believe the real difference lies in how we relate to our mission: with responsibility, professionalism, and authenticity. We do not just provide services; we build hope, trust, and a more bearable path for people in extreme situations.

C&B: How did the idea to start this organization come to you and to give it this name?

Maria Culescu: The idea of founding the M.A.M.E. Association came from the desire to create an organization that would concretely address the real needs of children and adults with serious illnesses, as well as those of their families. Personal experiences, direct contact with many patients, and the systemic shortcomings I witnessed led me to create a professional, well-structured framework in which support would be offered in an integrated and responsible way.

The name “M.A.M.E.” was not chosen by chance. It represents the initials of the four strategic areas in which we operate, according to the organization’s statute.

M – Medicine, because we implement health-related programs, support patients with serious illnesses, and facilitate access to medical services, recovery, and psycho-social support.

A – Advocacy, because over time we have been actively involved in improving legislation related to the rights of children, families, and patients, as well as in public campaigns that have generated changes in public policy.

M – Maternity, because we develop projects dedicated to women’s health, support for mothers, and prevention programs.

E – Education, because health education is one of our major directions, through which we run information sessions in schools and high schools, addressing topics such as prevention, emotional health, bullying, and cyberbullying.

This acronym perfectly reflects the identity and mission of the organization. It integrates all the areas in which we intervene and conveys the idea of a solid, clear structure that works professionally for the good of patients and the community.

This is how the M.A.M.E. Association was born: from a vision, from a real need, and from the desire to create a support model with long-term impact, built on four essential pillars for the health and protection of vulnerable people.

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

Maria Culescu: If I were to send a message to those who wish to follow a similar path, I would tell them not to wait for the perfect moment, because it does not exist. There is only the moment when you feel you want to do good and you choose to begin.

Not to be afraid of difficulties, because they are part of the process and often the very things that shape you. To remain anchored in values, in truth, and in respect for the people they help. To build with patience, transparency, and professionalism, because lasting good is not done in haste.

I would tell them not to forget that every gesture, no matter how small it may seem, can change someone’s life. And that real impact does not come only from big projects, but from consistency, seriousness, and presence.

And perhaps most importantly: to preserve their humanity. In a world where things change rapidly and pressure can be overwhelming, what remains essential is how you choose to be for those around you.

If there is a recipe for this path, then it would be this: heart, courage, work, and the belief that what you do has meaning.

Maria Culescu’s story goes beyond a successful career in the nonprofit sector. It is proof that vulnerability can be transformed into strength and that personal experiences can give rise to initiatives with real, long-lasting impact.