What has defined Daniel Dobre’s career as a whole has been the consistency of his educational mission: “To educate future generations to eat more consciously, more healthily, and with respect for taste and nature.” He is not only a promoter of taste, but also a shaper of attitudes — a bridge between culinary tradition, education, and social responsibility.

By gaining experience in the food and HoReCa industry, he learned how taste connects with education and experience. Having inherited the art of traditional cooking from his mother and grandmother in Transylvania, the early 2000s marked the beginning of enriching his international cultural and gastronomic universe. During that time, he also became aware of international initiatives dedicated to responsible nutrition, which promoted awareness of healthy eating from childhood. Among these were programs such as “Education for Taste,” implemented in France, Switzerland, and Italy in the 1990s.

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

Daniel Dobre: Key moments: The official launch of the program in Romania (2010).

The first chapter of my journey was about passion for taste and tradition. Between 2000 and 2010, working in several Romanian, French, and Italian restaurants and visiting, as a tourist, some of the most important international culinary competitions, as well as meeting prestigious chefs, including Paul Bocuse in 2005, shaped my professional training in gastronomy. I discovered how culinary culture can be a powerful vector of education and identity, which over time transformed for me into a vision and a purpose in itself.

The second key moment was the launch and development of the educational program “The Celebration of Taste” in Romania, at the suggestion of Patrick Pierre Pettenuzzo, co-founder, as a Romanian-French educational program dedicated to cultivating taste culture, promoting balanced nutrition, and encouraging respect for local producers and seasonal food.

The creation of the “Lessons of Taste” tour — a traveling project through schools, where students learned about healthy food through taste and play.

The publication of the “Pedagogical Brochure of Taste,” a true manual of food education intended for children and teachers.

The program, officially launched in Romania around 2010, marked the beginning of a new stage in children’s food education. Within it, the “Lessons of Taste” tour was created, a traveling school project where students had the opportunity to learn about the importance of healthy eating. Complementarily, the “Pedagogical Brochure of Taste” was published, a true manual for children, parents, and teachers, offering diverse notions from fields such as general knowledge, mathematics, Francophonie, geography, history, and natural sciences. Thus, the program managed to combine food education with the development of knowledge and critical thinking, leaving a lasting imprint.

The third key moment was the program’s expansion nationally and internationally. In 2023, all third-grade students in Romania benefited from the educational program, marking an important step in consolidating its national impact.
In 2024, the Ministry of Education in Spain, through its official project submission procedure, approved the proposed study module in Spanish, intended for schools in the Valencian Community.

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

Daniel Dobre: The most difficult moment was the period when the project’s enthusiasm and vision were greater than the available resources. The attempt to expand nationally brought serious challenges: coordinating multiple stakeholders, the lack of stable funding at the beginning, and the need to convince partners and institutions that education about food deserves long-term investment and trust, at a time when sustainability was not yet perceived as an imperative priority in the choices and concerns of partner companies. We could say we were ahead of our time, anticipating directions that would later become essential. Looking at it positively: better late than never — especially when it comes to education, responsibility, and the future.

It was a test moment, with a real risk that the project would remain small-scale or even stop. The team’s determination, resilience, and constant connection to international best practices played an important role. We sometimes had to readapt the format of certain B2B events to retain and attract potential sponsors while remaining consistent with our initial educational principles. Perseverance, open dialogue, and the belief that real change is built step by step, like the foundation of a house, transformed that difficult period into a moment of maturation for the project.

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

Daniel Dobre: The dream that has always been present, regardless of obstacles, has been to change people’s relationship with food — not through fear, diets, or restrictions, but through understanding, joy, and respect.

From the beginning, the ambition was that every child, parent, or adult should know what they eat, where their food comes from, and what impact their daily choice on the plate has on their own health and on the planet. A simple dream in wording, but profound in its consequences: a society that eats more consciously is a society that is healthier, more balanced, and more responsible.

Enthusiasm and hope have always guided me, and this ideal has directed all important decisions, including in difficult moments when the road seemed too long or resources insufficient. The conviction that food education can become a form of culture, not just information, has been the engine that kept the project moving and gave it long-term meaning.

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

Daniel Dobre: At the beginning, I was, above all, enthusiasm and intuition. A lot of energy, bold ideas, determination, and a sincere desire to do good, even if I did not yet have all the tools, structure, or experience needed for a large-scale project. We were guided by conviction and passion.

The transformation has been profound. Anchored in reality and organized, we are aware of the responsibility we have toward communities, partners, and the public to protect the future by improving the present. We have learned to balance idealism with pragmatism and to build for the long term.

Today, we feel like a mature team that has preserved its original spirit, enriched with experience, patience, and clarity. The transformation did not mean losing enthusiasm, but refining it — into a more solid, coherent, and powerful vision.

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

Daniel Dobre: Pleasant but demanding, passionate and deeply attached to the project’s moral values. That I genuinely care about people and impact, not just results or visibility, and that we put a lot of heart into everything we do.

Many would mention that the Romanian expression “you throw me out the door, I come back later through the window” suits me. They would say I am stubborn in moving forward even when things become complicated or when we receive refusals — persistent, but in a good sense — because I do not compromise when it comes to the quality of the message, education, or respect for food and the environment.

At the same time, I hope they would say that working with me means dialogue, openness, and the feeling of being part of a meaningful leadership journey — not just a project, but a community built on trust, collaboration, and strong shared values.

Team: Daniel Dobre is a true Swiss army knife, as precise as a problem-solver when facing complications and certain Romanian habits that range between imposture, bureaucracy, procrastination, and random time management. He is rigorous without appearing so, taking the time necessary to craft the right scenario while seeming not to have a clear direction. In fact, he knows exactly where he is going and can intuit what remains unsaid by his interlocutors, already having the appropriate answer prepared. With those who do not respect their word, he is direct, not easily fooled, and makes it clear he has no time to waste on nonsense. With him, there is no room for approximate answers; he will clearly show you where you stand if you only pretend to listen. He expects your answer and will not hesitate until you respond sincerely, without falsity.

Being strict with himself, he expects the same commitment from those with whom he debates. Without a serious argument, or in the face of digressions, he does not hesitate to bring people back to their responsibilities.

Yet he is also a pleasant person; often his actor’s side comes out. In relaxed moments, he can be Louis de Funès, Mr. Bean, or even Chaplin. Like all hardworking people, you must be ready to keep up and not pretend; you need stamina to match his pace. Still, he demonstrates every day that his tenacity and honesty bring results in advancing a complex and innovative project whose objectives go far beyond appearances.

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

Daniel Dobre: Every year, the chef’s hat of the educational program receives the support and trust of some of the greatest chefs on the planet. It is more than a symbol — it is a message-promise passed from hand to hand, from generation to generation.

Since 2014, the chef’s hat has carried the signatures of three-Michelin-star chefs from around the world, such as the legendary Paul Bocuse, Jérôme Bocuse, Alain Ducasse, Alain Passard, Daniel Boulud, Massimiliano Alajmo, Yannick Alléno, Régis Marcon, Martín Berasategui, and others. In 2015, another remarkable moment followed: no fewer than 16 executive chefs from royal households, presidencies, and governments around the world signed it — from France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, Israel, Canada, Monaco, and beyond. And the story continues with a surprise.

It may sound unusual, but I want to share an episode from the history of The Celebration of Taste, which took place in 2016 and relates to the question above, hence this introduction.

I met the famous French chef Marc Veyrat, awarded three Michelin stars. After visiting him at his invitation, he generously signed the chef’s hat, and for three days I had the privilege of working alongside him in his kitchen.

At the end, he offered me what for many would have been the ultimate dream: to stay and work for him in his three-Michelin-star restaurant. I said NO.

For many, that decision might seem like a missed opportunity. For me, even if it was somewhat difficult, it was an act of loyalty to my own vision. Even though at that time the project was going through difficulties and struggling to retain or attract partners, I chose to stay on my educational path.

It was not easy. But it was the choice that defined me — devoted and loyal to a vision alongside my team.

C&B: How was the partner network built, from public institutions to private companies and NGOs, and what role do they play in the success of the Taste Celebration?

Daniel Dobre: The success of the Taste Celebration would not have been possible without this network, built with patience, respect, and mutual trust—just as a good recipe needs the finest ingredients and skilled hands to bring them together.

We began with public institutions, which provided the official framework and support necessary for the project to be recognized and to achieve national impact.

Over time, the educational program has benefited from the consistent moral support of key institutions. The Ministry of Education has been present since the very beginning, in 2010, followed by the Embassy of France in 2012, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2014, the Bucharest City Hall in 2016, the Representation of the European Commission in Bucharest in 2017, the Department for Sustainable Development within the General Secretariat of the Government in 2019, the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism in 2024, and more recently, the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority – ANSVSA, in 2025.

The partners and sponsors we approached were carefully selected through a strategic and well-thought-out process, much like preparing a refined menu: each collaboration had to be perfectly balanced, based on shared values and mutual trust.

We carefully avoided partners whose products or services were contrary to the healthy lifestyle we promote; some were even declined, because the integrity of the project and its message have always been more important than any sponsorship opportunity.

At times, even when budgets were not what we had hoped for, we also faced limitations imposed by sponsors’ desire to be unique within their product category at events, which meant we could not collaborate simultaneously with competing companies. Even in such moments, we continued to be guided by the same principles and to build partnerships that truly served the vision and values of the Taste Celebration and, of course, those who believe in the program’s motto, even if this meant financial compromises or more limited resources.

C&B: The festival promotes the motto “Good for Taste, Good for Health, Good for the Planet!” What does this philosophy concretely mean for the founding team?

Daniel Dobre: If we want real change in society and in future generations, we must begin in childhood. School is the foundation of healthy thinking—the place where mindsets that define our future are built. The key lies in childhood, where education has the power to shape not only knowledge but also long-term values and behaviors.

As Abraham Lincoln said: “If you think education is expensive, wait until you see the cost of ignorance.”

At the same time, food is not a trivial act, but a deeply cultural and identity-driven one. Emil Cioran captures the essence of this idea: “Eating: a ritual, an act of civilization, a philosophical stance.”

Xavier Alberti completes this perspective by emphasizing that “at the table and in the kitchen there is far more than the act of eating itself; it is also where the foundations of our social patterns are defined.”

Thus, food education built from an early age, starting in school, can generate real impact and profound transformations in all aspects of individual and social life, contributing to the formation of more aware, responsible, and healthier generations, and of course to an innovative 360° vision for Romania—one that views food education not in isolation, but as an integrated system linking school, family, community, local producers, and the environment, with the goal of generating long-term sustainable change.

For the founding team, the motto “Good for Taste, Good for Health, Good for the Planet!”—the same motto as the French one-Michelin-star chef Alain Alexanian, “Bon, Bon, Bon!”, present at every launch of the educational program on World Food Day, October 16—is not an abstract slogan, but a clear set of criteria by which all festival decisions are made.

Good for Taste means real quality food: clean ingredients, authentic flavor, well-designed recipes, and producers or chefs who put passion and skill into what they do. The pleasure of eating well is essential.

Good for Health translates into promoting balanced foods, minimally processed, with an emphasis on transparent sourcing and options that support a healthy lifestyle without unnecessary excess.

Good for the Planet implies responsibility toward the environment: supporting local producers, reducing food waste, sustainable packaging, and choices that minimize impact on the ecosystem.

Overall, this philosophy reflects the team’s belief that excellent taste, care for people, and respect for nature can coexist harmoniously. In conclusion, it represents a mix of sustainable food ecology—and the Taste Celebration is the space where these values become concrete experiences for the public.

Raising awareness among younger generations, from an early age in school, about sustainable food is part of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, more specifically Goal 4: Quality Education, which in turn positively influences Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being, Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and Goal 13: Climate Action.

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

Daniel Dobre: A typical day for me is a balance between discipline and the satisfaction that the day has passed and something useful has been accomplished. My daily routine alternates between communication and meetings dedicated to building strategic collaborations that bring real value to the community and the Taste Celebration educational program, and moments directly in the field, alongside those who give meaning to our work: meetings in schools with third-grade students as part of the “Taste Lessons” tour.

These moments are, by far, the most fulfilling: interacting with curious children, the enthusiasm with which they welcome us, their lively questions, the joy of discovering flavors, and the affection they show us at the end of each session give us energy and reconfirm the educational impact of the project.

The fact that I was a performance athlete in childhood, later continued with fitness as an adult, and recently resumed competitive activity as a 100-meter sprint athlete within the Romanian Athletics Federation at the RMA club allows me to offer a concrete example of leadership through a healthy lifestyle, inspiring not only the younger generations involved in the project to practice sports, but also entire families and communities.

I feel the greatest satisfaction in simple yet profound moments, when I notice that during the day that has passed I have done something tangible and useful, when I see an idea come to life, when a partner resonates with our vision, or when I receive feedback from children, teachers, or Horeca professionals confirming that our work has real impact. At the end of the day, satisfaction comes from the feeling that I have remained faithful to my values and contributed, through education and personal example, to building a more aware, healthier, and more responsible future.

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

Daniel Dobre: We often ask rhetorical questions about the meaning of life or the purpose of our existence on earth. In my case, the answer came naturally: do good around you—and that is enough. This principle guides me to live with integrity, to respect people regardless of their condition or level of education, and to always choose what I feel is right, even when it is not easy.

I try to live in such a way that each day has meaning, to put passion into what I do, and to set an example through my healthy and balanced lifestyle. Whether it is discipline, perseverance, or the joy of discovering and sharing beautiful things, I believe that the true measure of life lies in the impact you have on those around you and in the good you leave behind.

The world is evolving. If we look back at the progress humanity has made in the last 25 years, technology has made extraordinary leaps, changing the way we communicate, work, and learn. Why should we not become equally involved, morally and spiritually, in contributing to a deeper and more balanced understanding? Just as technology propels us forward, values, awareness, and reflection can help us use these advances wisely and harmoniously to create greater balance.

We can constantly ask ourselves: what can we do so that the people we meet are happier? For me, health is the highest priority—there is a saying that “if you have health, you can do anything,” and that says it all.

The healthy lifestyle I try to apply every day rests on four fundamental pillars:

A diversified and high-quality diet that provides the body with energy and balance;

Sport, for vitality, discipline, and mental balance;

Quality rest, to restore both body and mind;

Well-being through harmonious relationships, in order to live each moment with joy and awareness alongside those around us and within our environment.

C&B: How was the Taste Celebration born and what was the initial motivation for transforming education about healthy eating into a national project?

Daniel Dobre: The Taste Celebration was born from a simple yet powerful need: to reconnect people with real food and its meaning.

When we started, in 2010, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health had already adopted a government decision encouraging primary school teachers to deliver lessons dedicated to a healthy lifestyle.

In this context, we responded to this initiative with educational material designed to help children discover, learn logically, and acquire responsible habits and behaviors related to nutrition, avoiding food waste, and adopting a balanced lifestyle.

We wanted the experience to be more than a playful activity, going beyond simply cooking in the classroom. Our objective was to create an authentic act of learning, based on practical and applied themes that would contribute to the development of critical thinking and children’s ability to make conscious choices.

The founding team started from the observation that, in the rush of daily life, eating had increasingly become an automatic act—fast, processed, disconnected from origin, seasonality, and its impact on health and the environment.

The ever-accelerating pace of modern life, combined with often superficial food choices, makes the challenges related to responsible consumption more complex and pressing than ever. In the pursuit of speed and convenience, we often lose touch with seasonality, product origin, and the impact on natural resources, amplifying waste and imbalances in how we eat and live. This includes not only food but also the consumption of resources such as gas, electricity, and water, highlighting the need for a more conscious and responsible attitude toward everything we use.

The initial motivation was educational. The founders noticed that information about healthy eating was often either too theoretical or moralizing and did not truly reach people. Thus emerged the idea of transforming food education into a living, accessible, and enjoyable experience: learning about food through taste, meetings with producers, workshops, culinary demonstrations, and real stories.

The transformation into a national project came naturally because the theme is universal. Health, taste, and care for the planet concern not just a small community, but society as a whole. The Taste Celebration set out to create a platform that brings consumers, educators, chefs, farmers, and institutions to the same table, offering a common language and concrete solutions.

Teaching young people and their parents to ask the right questions—what do I eat, how do I eat, why do I eat this way, and what impact will this have in the future on myself, my family, my community, and implicitly on nature—is essential. In this way, we contribute to the development of a sustainable food culture and provide younger generations and their parents with a logical framework of thinking, constructive and positive critical thinking to understand concretely what it means to eat healthily.

Long-term change in mentalities is not achieved through strict rules, but through the joy of taste, correct information, and the rediscovery of the value of food as a central element of a healthy and responsible life that allows us to live in a cleaner and more balanced environment.

C&B: What are the development plans for the Taste Celebration in the coming years? Expanding themes, new formats of engagement, or strategic collaborations?

Daniel Dobre: The development plans for the Taste Celebration in the coming years, aligned with our post-COVID 2023/2030 motto, focus on consolidating our educational mission and expanding the project’s impact. We aim to broaden the themes addressed, introducing new perspectives on healthy eating, sustainability, local traditions, and culinary innovation, so that participants can explore taste in all its dimensions.

We also intend to develop new engagement formats that allow everyone—from young students to industry professionals—to actively participate, whether through workshops, masterclasses, culinary competitions, or interactive experiences, transforming gastronomic education into a memorable experience.

At the same time, we aim to strengthen and expand strategic collaborations with public institutions, private companies, NGOs, and sponsors who share the same values, in order to create sustainable and innovative projects capable of inspiring entire communities and transforming the way people relate to food.

In essence, the coming years of the Taste Celebration will be about smart growth, authentic education, and culinary experiences designed to leave a lasting mark, contributing to building a better future for Romania—the Green Garden of Europe.

We also intend to expand the project’s impact by giving it a broader dimension and contributing to the creation of a common framework for food education at the European level.

I have a question for each of us, a rhetorical question of introspection: what is truly our purpose in this journey of life, in the place where we live? Beyond career and care for family, do we not also have the mission to bring progress to our community, to transform the environment in which we live, and to leave behind a more beautiful and harmonious place?

Through vision, consistency, and partnerships built on shared values, Taste Celebration proves that change begins with education and personal example. Beyond events and activities, the project creates a framework where taste, health, and care for the planet become tangible reference points for the community and for tomorrow’s Romania.

The post Daniel Dobre and Taste Celebration: How food education is shaping future generations appeared first on careers-business.com.

Maura Anghel is a journalist at Ziarul Evenimentul, a trainer, a storytelling and PR consultant, founder of the Journalism and Public Speaking Club for Children and Youth, and also the president of an NGO dedicated to education and culture for children and adolescents. She is also the initiator of three publications with a social and educational mission: Glare Magazine – a glossy magazine about people and authentic lifestyles, EduLink – a magazine on education and pedagogical innovation, and Lumea Medicală – a platform for dialogue between doctors and patients. Through all these projects, Maura follows her dream of opening a cultural center for children and adults, a place where values, art, and inner dignity can return to being a natural part of life.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in a single sentence, in a way that sparks curiosity for those who don’t know you yet?

Maura Anghel: I am a person who translates the world into stories and teaches others to tell their own story—whether in a classroom, a newsroom, or on a stage.

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

Maura Anghel: The first was when I chose journalism as a way to understand and heal the world through words. Then, when I moved from the press to education, I discovered the joy of growing people, not just texts. The third moment was founding the Journalism and Public Speaking Club, which became a laboratory of courage and authenticity for children and youth. In recent years, I felt the need to take this language further—to adults, teams, and brands, through storytelling, PR, and conscious communication. All these experiences taught me that stories are not just strategies, but forms of meaning.

C&B: What was the first moment you realized there was a real need for this type of club?

Maura Anghel: When I saw how afraid children—and sometimes adults—were to speak about what they feel. It was clear we needed a space where communication was not just a technical exercise, but a return to authenticity. The club emerged as a response to this need: to learn how to tell our story without a mask, with meaning and presence.

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

Maura Anghel: Yes. My dream is to open a cultural center for children and adults, a place where everyone can reconnect with their values and cultivate them through art—whatever art means to them: words, music, painting, stage, or simply living life with purpose. I believe that education, culture, and authentic communication must meet in a vibrant space that shapes people, not just skills.

C&B: How did you start out, and how do you feel you’ve transformed since then?

Maura Anghel: At the beginning, I was a journalist who wanted to tell the truth about the world. Today, I am a person who seeks the truth behind every inner world. I’ve moved from news to meaning, from text to experience. I believe I’ve transformed from someone who writes to someone who listens.

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

Maura Anghel: That I am demanding, but fair. That I leave nothing to chance, but make room for freedom. That I have a special radar for authenticity and cannot work without soul. People in the newsroom would probably say that I live the word, and the children at the club would say that we do “serious play.”

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

Maura Anghel: The decision to no longer divide myself between “vocation” and “work,” but to unite them. I chose to stop separating journalism from education, PR from soul, business from meaning. This integration has led me to what I do today: conscious communication that respects people and their stories.

C&B: How do you manage to combine communication skills development with self-confidence and creative expression?

Maura Anghel: Through storytelling. When a person knows their story, they rediscover their power. In my workshops—whether with children or adults—I don’t teach techniques, but processes. I guide them from the words of others to their own words. That’s how confidence arises. That’s how authentic creativity is born—it’s not copied, it’s lived.

C&B: What types of activities or programs do you organize, and which are the most popular?

Maura Anghel: I work along three directions: Education for children and adolescents—through the Journalism and Public Speaking Club, which functions as a workshop for critical thinking, empathy, and courage. Personal development for adults—through storytelling, personal branding, and authentic communication programs. PR and narrative strategy consultancy—for brands that want to communicate with meaning and humanity. The most loved activities are those in which participants write their own story: from speeches and articles to their personal mission.

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

Maura Anghel: My day is divided between the Ziarul Evenimentul newsroom, coordinating the NGO projects, workshops with children and adults, and writing for my magazines—Glare Magazine, EduLink, and Lumea Medicală. But my favorite moments are when I see a spark of transformation: a child gaining courage to speak, an adult finding their voice, a reader writing that a text touched them. That’s where the meaning is.

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

Maura Anghel: Truth, purpose, and dignity. I believe that every word spoken or written must have dignity—that is, it must serve the greater good. In the newsroom, in school, in PR, or in personal life, I always strive to maintain that uprightness in communication that unites rather than manipulates.

C&B: How did the idea of founding the Journalism and Public Speaking Club come about, and what inspired you to work with children and adolescents?

Maura Anghel: The idea came naturally from the newsroom. I noticed how young people’s language was changing, how patience was decreasing, but also the desire for meaning. I wanted to create a space where children could learn to think and express, not just repeat. They themselves inspired me—their sincerity, the way they open up when they are truly listened to. That’s how it all began.

C&B: How do you see the club evolving in the coming years?

Maura Anghel: I see it growing organically, through a network of local clubs and educational partnerships. But beyond expansion, I see it as part of a bigger dream: the cultural center I want to open. A place where children and adults can meet, create, and learn from each other, through art, storytelling, and presence. A living space where value is not taught, but experienced.

Through her work, Maura Anghel demonstrates that stories are not just words but bridges between people, fostering courage, meaning, and authenticity every day.

The post Maura Anghel: The story that inspires children and adults to communicate authentically appeared first on careers-business.com.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in a single sentence, in a way that makes those who don’t know you yet curious?
Iulia Sfetcu: Rational, a little dreamy, tolerant, in love with people, coffee, and the mountains. I am a simple person, mother of Călin for two years, and for 15 years a teacher in special education.

C&B: If we were to look at the narrative thread of your career, what were the key moments that defined you?
Iulia Sfetcu: My professional journey began in special education, where I learned that every child has their own unique reality. My students come from vulnerable backgrounds; I have students with multiple disabilities in my class, beautiful children who deserve a chance at everything an inclusive society means.
In 2015, together with my colleagues from school, I founded the “Association for Motivation in Psychoeducation.” It was one of the best ideas because this small NGO became a pillar of support for the students in the school. Through volunteers, projects, and external funding, we managed to bring resources to the school, renovate some of its spaces, and invest where state institutions had given up. Today, our association has a small center for individual therapies for children with special educational needs.
In 2018, after eight years in the education system, I was awarded at the Merito Gala. That was a defining moment—not for the award itself but because I managed to bring a bit of visibility to this category of children.
Since 2020, when the pandemic moved many activities online, I felt the need, more than ever, to stay connected with my fellow teachers around the country. I then discovered that communication platforms can break barriers, and from that moment, I started offering training for teachers in mainstream education working with integrated students.
And here I am in 2025, still teaching in the same special school, still involved in educational projects, and I believe and hope that we will make the voices of people with disabilities even better heard.

C&B: What have been the biggest challenges in developing psychoeducational initiatives?
Iulia Sfetcu: The greatest challenge was making people believe that change is possible, even when resources seem limited. I believe it’s important to learn to know and accept our limits but also to believe in the wide-spread wings ready to fly.
Unfortunately, many people believe that working with disabilities is about limits, but in fact, it’s about being able to discover each child’s potential.
Another challenge is, unfortunately, the increasing number of children with different disorders.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, regardless of obstacles?
Iulia Sfetcu: Yes, that society should be a space where children and adults feel seen and valued, regardless of labels or diagnoses. Even when I had no resources or when it felt like I was going against the current, I held on to the thought that if one child smiles or a parent says, “Now I understand we are not alone,” then it is all worth it. And I also have a saying I like: The good you do will be returned to you by the time that comes. I don’t expect gratitude from anyone; I just do what I can and wait for the Universe to return that good. Simply.

C&B: How did you look at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you have transformed until now?
Iulia Sfetcu: At the beginning, I was full of fears; for a whole year, I cried almost every day. I would walk into class with my eyes full of tears and leave the same way. And when I got home in the evening, I cried again—I wasn’t asking myself if I would manage to make a difference in my students’ lives but if maybe I was harming them even more since I was totally unprepared at that time.
Now I have more inner peace and confidence because I’ve witnessed transformations I never thought possible. I’ve learned to bring more gentleness into everything I do, including towards myself, though I still have much to learn, discover, and improve.

C&B: If we met your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?
Iulia Sfetcu: I think they would say that I’m someone who doesn’t give up easily, somewhat egocentric—yes, I feel much more comfortable working alone, and that’s not really a quality. I am demanding, but at the same time, I also bring predictability, energy, and enthusiasm. And maybe that I have the gift of seeing solutions even when it seems like all doors are closed.

C&B: What is the most important decision you’ve made that changed your trajectory?
Iulia Sfetcu: The most important decision was to go beyond the classroom. To establish an association, to get involved alongside my colleagues in the Merito Community in training teachers across the country, to open my eyes, ears, and heart to always find new opportunities and projects. That took me out of my comfort zone but opened the way to various contexts through which I can reach far more children, teachers, and parents than I could have managed alone. And the decision to become a mother. I believe you only truly become a complete person and understand how a child’s mind works when you also have one at home.

C&B: What types of programs and projects do you run through the association?
Iulia Sfetcu: Through the Association for Motivation in Psychoeducation, we run support programs for children with special educational needs, workshops for parents and teachers. We strongly believe in emotional education, so many of our projects combine learning with personal and relational development.
For the students at school, the projects were meant to provide resources that improve not only their learning but also their quality of life. Children always need resources—physical, emotional, but most of all, relational.

C&B: How do you manage to respond to the real needs of the community you serve?
Iulia Sfetcu: I don’t know if we succeed every time. Sometimes the solution is training for teachers, other times a support group for parents, or a hands-on activity for children. We always try to stay connected to reality and see if there’s something we can offer—whether from our experience as teachers or therapists, or perhaps through resources.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and which moments bring you the greatest satisfaction?
Iulia Sfetcu: A typical day starts with my little boy, who brings me the greatest joy. Then I divide my time between school, the projects I’m currently involved in, and trying to respond as effectively as possible to the situations that arise. The most fulfilling moments are when I see a child’s progress or receive a message from a parent saying that what we did together brought them joy. And I’m also very glad that people outside the school are beginning to notice this branch of special education. My days are rather routine, and I like routine, stability, to have moments of play, cheer, laughter, but also of peace. I think our brain is constantly connected to something, and sometimes it’s good to give it a break. On days when I feel like I have no energy left, I go behind my building, sit on a bench, and watch the ants carrying their supplies to the anthill. That’s something I learned from my little boy, who loves to observe what’s happening around him: a leaf turning yellow, a ladybug climbing a tree, a neighbor walking down the stairs.

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do, and how do you apply them every day?
Iulia Sfetcu: I believe in respect, honesty, and gentleness. Every day I try not to forget that behind every number, plan, or diagnosis, there is a human being. That helps me approach every situation with more empathy and make better, more calming decisions. And I also believe that I am a fair person.

C&B: How was the Association for Motivation in Psychoeducation born, and what inspired you to get involved in founding it?
Iulia Sfetcu: The association was born out of a need I felt more and more strongly: to provide integrated support for the children in school. I met people who thought the same way, and we decided to join forces. The inspiration came both from my work in the classroom and from the valuable experience of my colleagues. I don’t remember the exact reason anymore, there must have been several, but I’m glad we did it and that the association has grown beautifully, organically, and will continue to grow.

C&B: Can you share a success story that reflects the impact of your work?
Iulia Sfetcu: Răducu comes to mind. At first, he communicated only through a few gestures and seemed as if he would never be able to express his thoughts. Through work, patience, and collaboration with his family, today he speaks in simple sentences and goes to school joyfully. It may not sound like a spectacular story to outsiders, but for him and his parents, it’s a miracle. Like Răducu, there are dozens of children who come to therapy with us. Small steps, sustained work, patience, firmness—all of these are necessary in the effort to bring a child onto their own path, a stable one. If you are able to measure progress and see a superhero in every child and parent, I believe you can restore a family’s hope for a better life.

C&B: What are the future plans of the Association for Motivation in Psychoeducation?
Iulia Sfetcu: We want to expand our activity and at the same time improve the quality of therapy services we provide. We’re considering organizing training programs for mainstream teachers who have children with special educational needs in their classes. To bring more resources to parents and expand the support network for our children. Our dream is that no matter where a child is, they should have the chance to be understood, supported, and to reach their potential. Concrete steps mean more projects, partnerships with schools, and direct involvement of the community.
And yes, of course, we’re not forgetting ourselves. It’s important to take care of the relational climate among the team members, to stay engaged in the area of social-emotional education, and to strengthen our resilience muscle in a society that is increasingly resistant and rigid.

The story of Iulia Sfetcu is proof that change in education starts with dedicated and courageous people. Through her projects, constant involvement, and love for children, she has managed to create a space where every student feels valued. Special education needs such voices, and Iulia is one of them.

The post Iulia Sfetcu – The Voice of Children with Special Needs and a Driving Force for Change in Education appeared first on careers-business.com.

Remus Lăzăreanu is the co-founder of Supraviețuire Inteligentă (Intelligent Survival), a project dedicated to developing practical skills in orientation, adaptability, and resilience in critical situations. With vast experience in survival and tactical training, he combines solid theoretical knowledge with applied exercises, offering both courses and resources designed to prepare people for real-life challenges.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in a single sentence, in order to spark curiosity among those who don’t know you yet?
Remus Lăzăreanu: To be accurate and precise, our Intelligent Survival team consists of Cristi Bozgan and myself, Remus Lăzăreanu, former Special Forces officers turned entrepreneurs and survival trainers, who combine military experience with a passion for education and personal development—through children’s camps, for over 8 years, and corporate teambuilding programs, for more than 12 years.

C&B: If we were to follow the storyline of your career or business, what were the key moments that defined you?
Remus Lăzăreanu: There were three key moments: the “light bulb moment”—the idea that the experience gained in the Special Forces could be turned into an educational project; the research and continuous specialization phase, through courses and partnerships; and finally, the development of a solid business that, for over a decade, has been shaping people to become stronger and more confident in their own abilities.

C&B: What were the first challenges in convincing people of the importance of preparing for unforeseen situations?
Remus Lăzăreanu: In the beginning, the challenge was to show people that preparing for extreme situations is not a luxury, but a necessity. People need leaders with real experience, who can practically demonstrate what planning, organization, and resilience mean. Only those who have gone through extreme situations can credibly pass on these lessons. And our team can!

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, regardless of obstacles?
Remus Lăzăreanu: Yes. For us, every project started as a dream and turned into a challenge that we carried through with ambition, perseverance, and a lot of preparation. The ambition to succeed and to prove that any obstacle can be overcome has guided us constantly.

C&B: What were you like at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you’ve transformed since then?
Remus Lăzăreanu: At first, it was difficult: we had lots of ideas but lacked practical business experience. We invested time in study, courses, collaborations, and research. The first year was a string of trials, but with every step we gained experience, built partnerships, and grew steadily. Today, we have a solid portfolio behind us and a professional team.

C&B: If we were to meet your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?
Remus Lăzăreanu: They would describe us as ambitious, fair, and people-oriented. We are two leaders who complement each other, who know when to assert themselves, but also how to listen, to provide support, and to demand results. I strongly believe that success is built together. Very important!

C&B: What is the most important decision you’ve made that changed your trajectory?
Remus Lăzăreanu: The radical decision was to leave behind a promising military career in the Special Forces and enter the business world. We started with sales, moved through management and consultancy positions, and in parallel, we built educational projects and teambuilding programs. We chose a difficult path, but one that brought us fulfillment.

C&B: How do you manage to combine the practical side—survival techniques—with the educational and community aspect?
Remus Lăzăreanu: “Survival is an art”: it’s not just about physical techniques, but also about mental, emotional, and team development. Each exercise—whether for children or adults—is a life lesson about trust, communication, resilience, and solidarity. Our team, made up of former Special Forces members, brings both technical expertise and a pedagogical style that makes learning engaging and relevant.
Connection with nature—and learning from it—allows us to transfer these activities into daily life, into professional and educational life. Our professional trainers have a strong pedagogical and psychological approach. All activities are coordinated by former Special Forces members who went through grueling selection and training processes.
Our team’s experience has been proven over 12 years through corporate teambuildings for renowned companies in telecommunications, beverages & food, insurance, banking, IT industries, etc., and more than 8 years of children’s camps. All with the same goal: learning and perfecting basic techniques for survival in both urban and wilderness environments.

C&B: What do you think differentiates your business or professional approach from the rest of the industry?
Remus Lăzăreanu: “Children and adults are challenged with experiences you only see on TV!” The difference lies in our authentic experience combined with methodology: theory immediately applied in practice. Participants live experiences “like in Discovery documentaries,” but in a safe, controlled, and well-organized environment. In fact, our participants carry out the same activities as those shown on TV survival shows. That’s why their final reaction is always the same: “Wow! I did it!”

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and what moments of the day bring you the greatest satisfaction?
Remus Lăzăreanu: The day starts with rigorous planning: logistics, location scouting, designing scenarios, and preparing surprises for participants. Nothing repeats itself, every program is unique. We design teambuilding activities together with clients, in a modular way. We choose equipment, create activities, and much more. But we also prepare surprises, to excite and amaze people.

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do, and how do you apply them daily?
Remus Lăzăreanu: To prove that what we teach, we can also do; that we can be good trainers; that people take away valuable knowledge and practice their skills under our guidance. Professionalism, perseverance, and respect for people. I believe that high-quality information and skills we share must stay with participants for a lifetime—even if one day they might forget us as trainers. We have to be “pro”!

C&B: How did the Intelligent Survival project come about, and what inspired you to turn it into an educational business?
Remus Lăzăreanu: The project started from an idea discussed with my colleague and partner, Cristi Bozgan, with whom I served in the Special Forces. The training we both went through at home and abroad, in the USA and Israel—with various special units like SEALs, Rangers, SWAT—shouldn’t go to waste without finding a “civilian” application. It could be turned into an educational program. This is how “Intelligent Survival” was born—specialized programs for Strong People.
Then came the whirlwind of promotion: teasers about survival, filming in the forest, attending workshops, pitching, promoting on social media, and so on. And now, as I’ve mentioned, we’ve reached 12 years of corporate teambuildings and 8 years of children’s camps: Wilderness Survival and Urban Survival.

C&B: Can you share an experience or feedback from participants that confirmed the project’s value for you?
Remus Lăzăreanu: One interesting experience was with an IT team whose leader was very smart and nonconformist, and who proposed a teambuilding activity with us. They enjoyed the theoretical part, but it was harder to challenge them to go into the forest to apply what they learned. We completed the activity, and they were enthusiastic: “Wow, that was awesome, we want more, we’ll come back next year, you guys are amazing!” We thanked them, congratulated them for their achievements, and smiled knowing we had prepared another surprise: that night, we took them back into the forest, for just one hour. They didn’t want to go at all—until their leader scolded them and told them it was mandatory.
Then came the trek into the forest, in the dark, each with a headlamp, in a wild area with bears. We entered with firecrackers, horns, and a lot of noise, plus strobe lights to scare away animals. We carried out two more activities there, using only the light of their lamps. At the end, we congratulated them, but then came the big second surprise: returning to the hotel with their headlamps turned off. Pitch black. No exceptions. This was the real challenge: fear of the dark, fear of wild animals, orientation in the forest, and applying the theory learned earlier in the day. They were literally shaking with fear. The girls clung to the two trainers—what would happen next? Luckily, Cristi had built a glowing stick trail marking the path back to the hotel while they were busy with their tasks.
The “wows” multiplied, they overwhelmed us with hugs and thanks, and the evening ended with a campfire and a glass of wine.
The next morning brought another round of thanks and promises that they would return the following year—and they kept their word. We gave them new surprises, too.

C&B: What are the development plans for Intelligent Survival in the coming years?
Remus Lăzăreanu: We will focus on corporate teambuilding—both urban survival and wilderness survival—including live-fire shooting sessions at the range. In addition, we are working on partnerships with tour operators from Romania and Norway to put Romania on the adventure tourism map: cultural visits, wine tastings, and survival programs, all in one complete package.

Remus Lăzăreanu and the Intelligent Survival team show that preparing for unforeseen situations is not only a practical skill but also a form of personal and professional development.

The post Remus Lăzăreanu and Intelligent Survival: Turning Special Forces Experience into Life Education appeared first on careers-business.com.

Alina Țuțuianu works at the intersection of art and education, developing projects that bring together artistic research, alternative pedagogy, and community engagement. She is the founder of Flori, fete și băieți, a non-formal educational center dedicated to preschoolers, where early childhood education is combined with creative methods of learning.
Here, children explore the world through art, play, and reflection, in an environment that cultivates autonomy, empathy, and critical thinking.
In parallel, Alina has extensive experience in contemporary art, working as a curator, cultural manager, and initiator of educational and exhibition programs. She has co-curated more than 30 exhibitions in Romania and abroad and has collaborated in curatorial and managerial teams for major institutions and initiatives such as MNAC, Salonul de proiecte, and Frieze Art Fair.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in a single sentence, in a way that would spark curiosity for those who don’t know you yet?
Alina: I’m Alina. I live in Bucharest with my husband, Adrian, and our two sons, Călin (7) and Sandu (2), and I work with children aged 2 to 6. My fields of interest revolve around contemporaneity, which I understand as a living, fluid territory where contemporary art and early childhood education meet, play, ask questions, and sometimes even provide answers.
I am deeply interested in how creativity, critical thinking, and experimentation can be nurtured from the earliest ages, as well as in how art can become a real tool for learning, discovery, and connection. For me, there are no boundaries between the “general public” and “little people” – everyone has the capacity to understand and experience art, as long as they are offered a genuine and vibrant space in which to explore.

C&B: If we were to follow the narrative thread of your career or business, what key moments defined you?
Alina: The first was when I gave up on the (very elitist) Law School in Bucharest and moved to London to study contemporary art – a radical but liberating decision that set me on an authentic creative path and gave me access to a completely different approach: I was no longer in competition, I was in a place of knowledge, where sharing mattered more than keeping to yourself; art is not in an isolated place, it connects to everything else; the space of art is one of generosity, curiosity, exchange, and constant learning.
The second decisive moment was becoming a mother – a profound transformation that completely rewrote my priorities and gave me an inner clarity that no school could ever provide. These two moments taught me courage, presence, and the importance of owning my story.

C&B: What has been the most difficult moment in your journey so far, and how did you overcome it?
Alina: The hardest challenge has been, and still is, facing the feeling of helplessness when confronted with the need to support more people than my time and resources allow. It was difficult to accept that, although I wanted to help everyone, I couldn’t do it all alone.
I gradually learned to recognize the signs of emotional overload and to give myself permission to take breaks without guilt. Recently, practices such as meditation, self-reflection, and swimming have helped me maintain balance and return with energy and clarity. It’s an ongoing process that continues to teach me how important it is to take care of myself in order to be able to care for others.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, no matter the obstacles?
Alina: Looking back, I realize there has always been one dream guiding me through everything: to build a space where children are seen, heard, and encouraged. A place where education is not about conformity, but about trust, curiosity, and inner freedom.
Flori, fete și băieți was the concrete response to that dream. It wasn’t an easy journey – neither in vision nor in implementation – but it was profoundly aligned with what I believe about how people and society are formed.
For me, it is not just an educational project. It is a form of gentle activism, a declaration of faith in the potential of every child and in the impact that a safe, vibrant, and authentic space can have on a generation.

C&B: What were you like at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you’ve transformed since then?
Alina: At the beginning, I was brave but insecure. I had clear intuitions but not always the confidence to follow them through. I moved between “what I feel” and “what is expected.”
Over time, I’ve transformed into someone much more grounded in my own vision. I learned to listen to myself, to own my choices, and to stop seeking external validation for what I know deeply makes sense.
I shifted from searching for a “fitting” place for me, to building one. Now, I don’t want to check boxes anymore. I want to create vibrant spaces, cultivate presence, and remain true to a way of being that doesn’t compromise the essential.

C&B: If we were to meet your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?
Alina: I believe they would say I am present, engaged, and visionary. That I know how to hold space for people and ideas without forcing or controlling. They would probably also say that I am demanding but not rigid – that I hold high internal standards, but apply them with kindness.
That I care more about direction, meaning, and deep coherence than about superficial perfection.
And, above all, that I am fully there – when it truly matters.

C&B: What is the most important decision you have made that changed your trajectory?
Alina: The most important decision that shifted my path was partnering with Flavia.
It wasn’t just a business decision, but a profoundly personal one. Flavia is that rare kind of person beside whom you can show yourself completely – with your most fragile ideas, vulnerabilities, wild dreams, and big plans. She has a warm yet clear presence, a balance between emotion and structure.
Our collaboration brought me not only a trustworthy partner but also an honest mirror, a constant source of stability in chaos, and courage in difficult times. She helped me clarify my path, grow, and build more authentically than I could have alone.
Looking back, that “yes” I said to her was, in fact, a “yes” to a braver and more aligned version of myself.

C&B: What do you think differentiates your business or professional approach from the rest of the industry?
Alina: What differentiates my business and professional approach is the combination of radical love, true inclusion, and a fluid pedagogical vision that weaves together several philosophies – Reggio Emilia, Montessori, and Waldorf – in a living, contextual, and empathetic way.
I believe in an educational space that doesn’t standardize children but listens to them. That doesn’t impose rhythms but observes them. And above all, I believe in an education carried out with gentleness, presence, and the deep belief that every child deserves to be seen, not just “molded.”
For me, inclusion isn’t a principle written on the walls, but a daily practice: in language, in gestures, in the way we sit together at the table, regardless of our differences. Even the name Flori, fete și băieți speaks to this: to diversity and the freedom to be yourself, beyond labels.

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do, and how do you apply them every day?
Alina: The values that guide me are humanity, the courage to be authentic, and the responsibility to build spaces where people don’t just function but feel at home.
I deeply believe that education and care for others cannot exist without community. In a world where more and more parents raise their children alone, far from extended families, I believe we need to rebuild that “village” that supports the child – and implicitly the adult.
Every day, I practice this through small but essential decisions: how I listen, how I speak, how I create space for differences – be they cultural, emotional, or rhythmic. In my projects, diversity is not a detail, but a foundation. And activism is not a label, but a constant choice to make room for everyone.
I believe every gesture educates. And if we want a gentler world, we must model it starting with the way we look at each other.

C&B: If you were to share a message with those who follow your example, what would it be?
Alina: Trust your vision, even if it doesn’t look like anyone else’s. Your difference is your strength. Build from conviction, not from fear. Choose collaborations that nourish you, not just ones that work on paper.
And above all: stay true to your values even when it’s hard – because that’s where true leadership shows. Sustainable success doesn’t come from doing things “like everyone else,” but from creating a space where others find themselves precisely because you had the courage to be yourself.

Alina Țuțuianu’s story reveals how art and education can shape vibrant spaces where children and communities grow through creativity, empathy, and freedom.

The post Alina Țuțuianu: Blending Art and Alternative Education to Create Living Spaces of Creativity and Inclusion appeared first on careers-business.com.