Nicolae Mogoș and Can Do Network – Transforming Leadership and Recruitment in Romania

Discover Nicolae Mogoș’s journey and Can Do Network’s innovation in authentic leadership, professional development, and meaningful recruitment.

Nicolae Mogoș is an entrepreneur and leader with over 20 years of experience in retail, management, and organizational development. Throughout his career, he has led teams and companies across diverse industries—from NGOs and startups to multinational corporations—always guided by a desire to build authentic organizational cultures and support people’s growth.

He has held top management positions in companies such as Decathlon, Smyk, OPTIblu, NOZ, and Intersport, contributing to the expansion, efficiency, and increased visibility of these brands on local markets. His achievements include direct involvement in launching and developing Decathlon and Smyk in Romania, where he was one of the active managers during the early stages of expansion, as well as being recognized in Romania’s “100 Young Top Managers” ranking.

In the last 15 years, Nicolae has demonstrated a modern and human-centered leadership approach, consistently advocating for continuous learning and development. He is a promoter of the “Employees First” concept, through which companies strengthen their success by placing people at the heart of their organizational culture.

Starting in 2025, he decided to follow the path of entrepreneurship exclusively, founding together with Mihai Mușat the company Can Do Network—a strategic partner for organizations that believe in sustainable team development. Can Do Network introduces an innovative long-term recruitment concept to the Romanian market, a “meaningful recruitment” model complemented by personalized induction, training, and ongoing employer support.

Nicolae’s mission is clear: to contribute to transforming the business environment through education, authentic leadership, and the development of human potential.

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

Nicolae Mogoș: The first key moment was my involvement, during university, in a student association that opened many doors and perspectives for me.

Later on, I had the chance to be directly involved in the accelerated growth of major companies in Romania, such as Decathlon and Smyk, from a very young age. I am a growth-oriented person; I like to win, to see businesses develop, and I fit very well into that dynamic environment.

Last but not least, a defining moment was the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey in 2014, when I founded my first start-up together with my wife, an e-commerce business. It was an experience full of lessons, especially during a time when online sales were still in their early stages in Romania.

C&B: What challenges did you encounter at the beginning when building the Can Do Network community, and how did you overcome them?

Nicolae Mogoș: The biggest challenge was managing time and adapting to a new pace. A defining moment was bringing in Mihai Mușat as a business partner, a professional with solid experience in recruitment who perfectly complemented my vision. Also, my transition from employee to full-time entrepreneur was a profound change that required me to rethink my priorities and way of working.

Can Do Network emerged a year ago as a support network in which community members can offer each other mutual help. From there, we understood the real needs of both employees and companies, and we created the concept of long-term recruitment, which today is the foundation of Can Do Network.

Another major challenge was related to positioning. There are many recruitment companies, but we chose a different model: meaningful recruitment and continuous support for the employer through personalized induction and training processes.

Our mission is to help companies improve retention and productivity through carefully executed recruitment and tailored training programs. At the same time, we want to support candidates in their integration process so that the collaboration between them and the employer is long-lasting.

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

Nicolae Mogoș: I have always believed that anything is possible and that there are no limits. This conviction helped me evolve personally and professionally, and to attract opportunities and valuable people around me.

For the same reason, it’s impossible for me to give up on the things I believe in. I don’t quit and I don’t leave behind people who have potential and whom I believe in.

C&B: What did you look like at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you’ve transformed over time?

Nicolae Mogoș: I remember that idealistic, curious, shy young man who was eager to succeed in everything he aimed for. I feel that spirit is still there, only now it has more patience, a clearer big-picture vision, and a desire to give back.
I’ve had the chance to be involved in interesting projects that helped me grow and learn tremendously. Today, I feel it’s time to pass that forward.
However, I’m just as eager to learn. I still read with the same pleasure I had as a teenager, I learn every day, and I follow relevant courses.

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

Nicolae Mogoș: They would say I’m a convinced optimist, always with a smile on my face, and that I love building teams and companies.
They would also say I’m a dreamer who always wants more and comes up with “crazy ideas,” but not so crazy that they can’t be achieved.

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

Nicolae Mogoș: There have been several important decisions—from studying in France to changing companies and fields. But the most significant one was the decision to become an entrepreneur.
It wasn’t easy to detach myself from corporate life, but I felt it was the right moment.

I am a stubborn person—in a positive way—curious and always seeking the new, a profile well-suited for an entrepreneur. My entrepreneurial spirit surfaced naturally.

C&B: What impact have you seen so far for those who joined Can Do—collaboration stories, projects, professional growth?

Nicolae Mogoș: We are still at the beginning, but we cherish every experience. Together with my colleagues, we approach each recruitment process, training session, or meeting with the same passion.
We meet valuable people, leaders who know what they want and who wish to grow their businesses but struggle with a lack of employees or internal motivation. That’s where we come in.
We are strongly oriented toward the Employees First principle. From experience, we know that when employees are motivated, companies perform.
We already have success stories—successful matches that have changed people’s lives and brought real value to the companies where they started.

C&B: How do you define quality networking, and what makes Can Do Network different from other professional communities?

Nicolae Mogoș: First of all, we are a company that creates high-quality matchmaking between employees and companies—what we call long-term recruitment.
Our community is built gradually, as we bring together companies interested in this model and people looking for the right place.
Around Can Do Network, we have already gathered recruiters, trainers, coaches, and professionals who support us.
In the future, we want to develop recruitment, networking, and training events—the next stage in our evolution.
We started as a support network, and we want to remain true to this mission: to offer real support to people and companies, so that together they can build fulfilling lives.

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

Nicolae Mogoș: I start the day by clearly defining what I want to achieve. I like having concrete goals and ending the day knowing I accomplished what I set out to do.
A typical day includes family—we always find time for a meaningful activity, an outing, or a meal together. Sports and reading are also part of my routine.
I enjoy connecting with people—colleagues, partners, clients—and I draw energy from these interactions. I try every day to support those around me, and the greatest satisfaction comes from being able to help.

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

Nicolae Mogoș: I am a people-oriented person; I like being among people, listening, and asking questions that bring clarity.
Family is the center of my life, and I try to spend as much quality time as possible with them.
I am curious, creative, and passionate about continuous learning. I believe in education and promote it whenever I have the opportunity.
Sports are also an important part of my life—not only for health but also for mental balance and self-confidence. Sports provide not only health but also mental support and confidence. I enjoy exercising and take advantage of every opportunity.

C&B: How did the idea of founding Can Do Network come about, and what motivated you to start this initiative?

Nicolae Mogoș: It was a combination of experience, beliefs, and observed needs in the market.

First of all, my attachment to people and the desire to support them in living fulfilling lives.

My experience showed me the impact of an Employees First organizational culture, and I want to take this concept further.

I felt the need for a support network for both employees and companies—one that can offer high-quality matching and real support.

I noticed how many people leave companies dissatisfied due to poor fit and an internal culture that doesn’t align with them.

And companies, in turn, struggle with retention and a lack of integration and development programs. Can Do Network aims to address exactly these needs.

C&B: How do you envision the evolution of Can Do Network in the coming years—expansion, international projects, diversification of offerings for members?

Nicolae Mogoș: We look to the future with confidence and curiosity. For us, technology plays an essential role, and we want to integrate it more and more into our processes, both in recruitment and in training. I believe the future of HR and education belongs to companies that know how to combine human empathy with artificial intelligence. Our plans include developing our own digital solutions to support long-term recruitment and continuous development, so we can bring even more value to our clients and candidates.

We are also considering international expansion to extend the impact of Can Do Network and help as many people and companies as possible reach their potential. We started with an international mindset, and our mission is not limited to Romania—we want to change lives through high-quality matchmaking and relevant training and coaching programs.

Nicolae Mogoș and Can Do Network continue to redefine how companies build teams and organizational cultures, placing people at the heart of success.