Cosmin Dărăban is the CEO & Co-Founder of Gomag, one of Romania’s leading eCommerce platforms, which he built based on the belief that every Romanian entrepreneur deserves access to high-quality technology, regardless of budget or technical experience.

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

Cosmin Dărăban: My career has never followed a linear plan; rather, it has been a series of moments when I chose to take calculated risks.

It all started in 2005, when I founded SilkWeb, a digital agency. At a time when the Romanian internet landscape was still in its infancy, the idea of building a business exclusively online seemed, to many, like something out of a fantasy story. I saw something different: an enormous opportunity and a market that was about to explode.

Working closely with clients who wanted to sell online, I quickly realized that their problem wasn’t a lack of ambition; they lacked the right tools.

Existing platforms were either too expensive, too complex, or simply unsuitable for the realities of the Romanian market. That’s how the idea emerged to build our own platform from scratch, right within the agency.

It was a long process filled with testing and adjustments. It wasn’t until 2016 that the platform received the name it still carries today—Gomag—with a distinct identity. That moment represented a public commitment that we were no longer building an internal tool, but a standalone product with a clear vision and a market we wanted to serve.

It was a strategic pivot that permanently differentiated us from the competition and brought us to where we are today.

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

Cosmin Dărăban: The first thing that comes to mind is the period when I had to balance the platform’s growth with the resources available.

From what I’ve seen, every startup reaches a stage where pressure comes from all directions at once: customers demand more, the team needs clear direction, the market evolves rapidly, and you find yourself in the middle of the storm carrying the responsibility of staying on course.

I got through that period through a combination of discipline, accountability, and honest communication with the team. I never pretended to have all the answers. I involved the people around me in finding solutions, prioritized realistically, and accepted that you can’t do everything perfectly at the same time.

In practical terms, that translated into 12 years during which I personally worked without a salary.

The lesson I carry with me from that period is that resilience doesn’t mean never falling; it means having reasons to get back up every time you do.

C&B: How does Gomag contribute to the development of the eCommerce ecosystem in Romania and the region?

Cosmin Dărăban: Today, Gomag is essentially a driver of online commerce democratization, not just an eCommerce platform. We contribute to the ecosystem on several levels.

First, we reduce entry barriers. Anyone—from a craftsman in Transylvania selling handmade products to an entrepreneur with an established distribution network—can quickly launch a functional online store without needing an IT department.

Second, we constantly educate the market. Through content, webinars, events, guides, and community-building initiatives, we actively contribute to improving the digital competence of Romanian entrepreneurs. Why? Because we don’t want customers who depend on us; we want a community of entrepreneurs who understand what they are doing and why they are doing it.

Third, we are building an ecosystem of partners—agencies, freelancers, and consultants—who work with Gomag and, in turn, serve hundreds of businesses. That’s how impact multiplies.

At a regional level, we are already present in other markets, and our model—a SaaS platform with local support and features adapted to each market’s specifics—has proven to be a real competitive advantage over global solutions that treat all markets the same.

C&B: What does it mean, in practical terms, for an entrepreneur to “reach their potential” through a platform like Gomag?

Cosmin Dărăban: In short, it means selling more with less manual effort and being able to make decisions based on real data.

Let me be specific. An entrepreneur who joins Gomag can launch a fully functional online store within a few hours—with integrated payments, inventory management, automatic invoicing, and courier synchronization. No coding, no agency contracts, and no waiting months for implementation. This means they can test a business idea quickly and validate the market before investing significant resources.

As the business grows, the platform grows with it. Gomag offers over 400 native features, including GoBots for task automation within the platform, dozens of customizable themes, loyalty programs, customer segmentation, automated upsell and cross-sell tools, marketplace integrations, Facebook Ads and multichannel feeds, as well as a dedicated Google Shopping Ads automation service.

All of this is available without requiring external developers or customization budgets worth tens of thousands of euros.

For example, a merchant who activates native abandoned cart recovery can recover between 10% and 15% of lost sales automatically, without manual intervention. One who uses segmentation and automated post-purchase emails will see significantly higher retention rates. Another who integrates all sales channels into a single dashboard can save hours every week and invest that time elsewhere.

The combinations of possibilities offered by the platform are virtually limitless and can be adapted to the specific needs of each entrepreneur.

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

Cosmin Dărăban: Honestly? I think they would say I’m demanding but fair. My vision requires setting high standards consistently—for myself and for those around me—but one of my personal principles is never to ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t do first myself.

They might also say that I’m direct, sometimes uncomfortably direct, but that I never have a hidden agenda.

They would probably add that I’m deeply involved in the product, that I have an almost obsessive curiosity for details, that I ask a lot of questions, and that I never accept a “good enough” mentality. But I hope they would also say that I give people room to grow, that I listen to their ideas, and that I recognize everyone’s contribution when we celebrate company victories.

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

Cosmin Dărăban: Without a doubt, the decision to transform an internal agency tool into a standalone product.

We initially built the platform to better serve SilkWeb clients because it was a practical solution to a real problem. But at one point, I realized it had outgrown the boundaries of an internal tool and that its potential was much greater.

Giving a project its own identity—a new name, a dedicated team, and a separate strategy—means taking a double risk: you risk the agency’s resources and you risk the possibility that the product won’t be adopted at the scale you envision. In 2016, when we decided to focus on Gomag as a SaaS solution, we had no guarantees. We only had the conviction that the market needed what we were building and that we understood that market better than anyone else.

An equally important decision was staying focused—not getting distracted by premature diversification, but striving to become the smartest eCommerce choice for Romanian and regional merchants.

C&B: How did you develop your leadership style and decision-making approach? Was it natural or learned?

Cosmin Dărăban: It was both natural and forged through experience. I believe I came with certain traits already in place: curiosity, pragmatism, and energy. But my leadership style was largely shaped by difficult experiences, mistakes, and the people I worked alongside.

I learned that a good leader is someone who asks the right questions, not someone who has all the answers. I also learned that decision-making speed matters just as much as accuracy: a perfect decision made too late can cause more damage than an imperfect one made at the right moment.

And I learned something else: people don’t follow visions—they follow people. If you’re not authentic, you won’t build anything that lasts.

C&B: How does your impact translate into numbers and tangible results for clients?

Cosmin Dărăban: Today, there are over 5,000 online stores built on Gomag, which collectively generated more than €500 million in sales during 2025.

Those figures speak for themselves, but beyond the aggregates, I’m interested in individual stories: the entrepreneur who grew from 50 to 500 orders per month during their first year on the platform; the store that automated post-purchase interactions and increased retention rates by two or three times; the business that achieved in three months after switching to Gomag what it had failed to accomplish in an entire year on another platform.

Operational efficiency is actually one of the most underrated indicators. When an entrepreneur gains 10 hours per week through a well-implemented automation process, those are 10 hours they can reinvest into growing the business. That’s real impact, and it’s what our technology delivers.

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

Cosmin Dărăban: My mornings are dedicated to sports and exercise. It’s a ritual I try hard to protect. Beyond physical health, I believe it’s essential for the mental clarity it provides. Many of my best decisions have taken shape during a workout rather than in front of a screen.

The rest of the day alternates between strategic thinking, internal meetings, product analysis, conversations with partners, and sometimes direct interactions with customers or our community.

The moments that bring me the greatest satisfaction are, paradoxically, the small ones: seeing a feature we’ve discussed for months work perfectly on the platform, receiving a message from a customer who has reached an important sales milestone, or seeing a team member come up with an idea that is clearly better than what we had originally planned.

Those moments confirm that we are shaping something alive with our minds and hands—and they are invaluable.

C&B: What differentiates Gomag from other international or local eCommerce platforms?

Cosmin Dărăban: There are several structural differences.

The first is that we are built for the Romanian and regional markets, not adapted to them afterward. That means integrations with local couriers, payment processors, invoicing systems, and marketing platforms are native, not workarounds.

The second difference is the balance between complexity and accessibility. Gomag provides features usually found in enterprise-level platforms—advanced automation, customer segmentation, integrated marketing—but within an interface that entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds can easily use.

The third difference, and perhaps the most important, is support. We’re not a product you buy and then figure out on your own. We have real people who know the platform in depth and who guide customers step by step as they grow.

C&B: How do you maintain a balance between advanced functionality and ease of use for entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds?

Cosmin Dărăban: This is actually one of the fundamental challenges of our product and an ongoing discussion within the product team.

The principle we start from is that advanced functionality should be available, but not mandatory. A new entrepreneur should be able to launch a store within hours without feeling overwhelmed by options. At the same time, an experienced merchant should find the sophisticated tools they would expect from an enterprise solution.

In practice, this translates into progressive design: default settings are optimized for the most common use cases, while complexity reveals itself gradually as users need it. We constantly test with real users and listen carefully—the feedback from our community has generated some of the platform’s best features.

C&B: What are the most common obstacles entrepreneurs face when scaling an online store, and how does Gomag help them overcome them?

Cosmin Dărăban: The first obstacle is often technical: the platform can no longer keep up with growth. Performance slows down, errors appear, and integrations break. Gomag addresses this through a scalable infrastructure that grows alongside the business, without painful migrations or unexpected surprises.

The second obstacle is operational. At a certain order volume, manual processes become unsustainable. Inventory management, invoicing, and customer communication consume enormous resources if they are not automated. Our automation features are specifically designed for this stage of growth.

The third obstacle comes from marketing. Entrepreneurs often lose visibility into where customers are coming from, what is working, and how to scale further. Gomag provides analytics and integrated marketing tools—email, SMS, abandoned cart recovery, and customer segmentation—that transform data into actionable decisions.

And there is a fourth, more subtle obstacle: the entrepreneur’s sense of isolation. Scaling a business is difficult and often lonely. The Gomag community—made up of customers, partners, and educational resources—provides exactly that feeling that you are not alone in the process.

Through vision, perseverance, and a deep understanding of entrepreneurs’ needs, Cosmin Dărăban has turned Gomag into a benchmark for eCommerce in Romania. From democratizing access to technology to building an ecosystem that supports business growth, his journey demonstrates how innovation and education can create real impact in online commerce.

The post Cosmin Dărăban, CEO & Co-Founder of Gomag – about the future of eCommerce, entrepreneurship and scaling online businesses appeared first on careers-business.com.

In 2015, together with three other partners, he founded Captive Escape Room, which has now become one of the most appreciated escape room venues in Romania. He is also a partner at Breakout Escape Rooms and Gateway VR Studio. In his spare time, he sings with the band Alex & The Fat Penguins and records voice-overs for commercials. He has a golden retriever named Freddie and believes that in life you should do what you love if you want to be happy. His name is Mihai Ungureanu and, at 40 years old, he declares that he has already lived as much as others in three lifetimes. Today, we talk with him about business, decisions, challenges, and what is happening in the escape room market.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in a single sentence to spark the curiosity of those who don’t know you yet?
Mihai Ungureanu: As they were coming out one by one from one of Captive’s escape rooms, a few clients who had just escaped from our hardest room asked the game master who designs the rooms, who creates them. The game master pointed at me, giving me undeserved credit, since out of the four partners, I was the only one there, sitting in a corner, doing something on my laptop. At that moment, the team began to applaud me. Somewhat shocked and not knowing how to react, I stood up and bowed to them. That’s when I realized we had managed to build more than just games—we had created real experiences and that, more than entrepreneurs, we were a bunch of guys who had taken play and gaming to another level. It’s not a single sentence, but I found the story and its meaning relevant.

C&B: If we were to look at the narrative arc of your career or business, what were the key moments that defined you?
Mihai Ungureanu: I would say that the beginning of the business was among the moments that marked me the most. To make my answer more relevant and to explain why it had such an impact, I’ll give some context. At the time, I was working as a voice-over and MC, I was involved in a few music projects, and I was also doing audio production for commercials. So, I had a rather relaxed schedule and plenty of free time. In addition, most of the projects I was part of were collaborations, so I didn’t really have a team or colleagues. Captive Escape Room fundamentally changed that entire context and, along with it, my life. Suddenly, I had a daily schedule, clear responsibilities, and a team to collaborate with for everything to work. Obviously, I transformed. Then, naturally, other defining moments followed: from positive client feedback, which confirmed we were on the right track, to investments in expansion and, most importantly, the pandemic, which brought major challenges.

C&B: What were the initial challenges in bringing to market a relatively new concept at that time?
Mihai Ungureanu: The first and most important challenge was making the concept known. We knew we had gold in our hands—it was obvious from the clients’ feedback—but we were facing great reluctance from those who had never tried an escape room experience. Back then, we were trying to explain to friends, acquaintances, or even curious potential clients what such an experience was about, and it wasn’t easy at all. It’s the kind of activity that has to be lived to be fully understood. Communication and marketing were the toughest parts. In addition, there was also the challenge of earning people’s trust, since it wasn’t yet a proven concept in Romania at that time.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, no matter the obstacles?
Mihai Ungureanu: I’ve always been guided by the idea of doing what I love. I strongly believe that if you don’t find pleasure in what you do, there’s a big chance you’ll end up unhappy. I’m not saying every day is perfect and challenge-free, but the overall satisfaction you get when working on something you’re passionate about makes up for the tougher moments.

C&B: What did you look like at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you have transformed since then?
Mihai Ungureanu: On the outside, pretty much the same, but deeply changed on the inside. As I mentioned earlier, Captive Escape Room changed my perspective on work, responsibility, and success. At the beginning, I was a pretty laid-back guy, going from project to project without too many worries. Today I am much more grounded in reality, more responsible, but also more aware of the importance of balance between work and personal life.

C&B: If we met with your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?
Mihai Ungureanu: I think they would say I’m an open, smiling guy and a good communicator. I also like to believe they trust me or feel safe knowing I’m in charge of something. They would probably also say that I can be a perfectionist at times and that I insist on doing things “by the book.”

C&B: What is the most important decision you’ve made that changed your trajectory?
Mihai Ungureanu: The most important decision I made was to move music into the hobby category, rather than treating it as a career. I felt that, despite my huge passion for music, I didn’t have the consistency and discipline necessary to build a solid career in this field. By letting go of the pressure to make it a job, I freed myself and was able to enjoy it in a different, healthier way.

C&B: How did you build your leadership style or your way of making decisions? Was it a natural process or learned?
Mihai Ungureanu: I think it was both. I was gifted with an ease in communicating with people around me, which has helped me a lot in life. But at the same time, I learned a lot from the experiences I had, from mistakes, from what I observed in other leaders. I pay attention to people and try to adapt to each situation.

C&B: What sets Captive Escape Room apart from other escape rooms in Romania?
Mihai Ungureanu: I’d say that from the very beginning Captive stood out through its business vision. While most escape room venues, in the early days of the industry, had between one and, rarely, three game rooms, we planned from the start to have five. That helped us make a bigger impact and quickly attract public attention. On top of that, we put a lot of focus on original scenarios, high-quality set design, and the client’s experience. It wasn’t just about puzzles, but about creating an engaging and memorable story.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and what moments of the day bring you the most satisfaction?
Mihai Ungureanu: Lately, since we’ve also become partners in the Gateway VR Studio business, I have to split my time between three locations, which can be quite tiring considering the distances and traffic in Bucharest. My day usually starts with checking messages and reservations, then continues with trips between locations, meetings, technical and administrative checks. What makes me happiest is seeing clients coming out excited from the rooms or receiving positive feedback. That confirms that all our work makes sense.

C&B: How has the Romanian audience changed in terms of appetite for interactive experiences like escape rooms?
Mihai Ungureanu: Obviously, the interest is much higher now than it was a few years ago. First of all, nowadays it has become a very popular concept. In the beginning, as I said, people were reluctant or didn’t quite understand what it was about. Today, escape rooms are a go-to option for team buildings, birthdays, or outings with friends. The audience has also become more demanding, which forces us to constantly keep up with their expectations.

C&B: How did you discover the escape room concept and what inspired you to launch Captive Escape Room in Romania?
Mihai Ungureanu: I discovered it through friends who were planning to open an escape room venue themselves. I went to play at their place and I was instantly hooked. I found it to be an incredible experience and immediately realized it had huge potential in Romania. The idea of stepping into a story, solving puzzles, and collaborating with your team to escape seemed extraordinary to me. That’s how Captive Escape Room was born.

Mihai Ungureanu’s story is one of passion, courage, and the ability to turn play into unforgettable experiences.

The post The Story of Mihai Ungureanu, Entrepreneur of Memorable Experiences appeared first on careers-business.com.

Razvan Nutu is the kind of person who has learned to see potential where others only saw obstacles. As co-founder of LUISS – an increasingly prominent name in the premium bedroom furniture industry – he has stood out not only through the high-quality products delivered to top hotels in Romania and across Europe, but also through his leadership philosophy and the clear vision with which he leads his business.

A trained jurist with a degree and dissertation in Business Law, later also certified as an engineer in the wood industry, Razvan made the transition to entrepreneurship driven by a personal need: to offer products that are not just beautiful, but also flawless and durable. What began as an ambitious workshop has become, through rigor, courage, and discipline, a brand that breathes design, quality, and deep respect for the customer.

Behind this success is a demanding yet empathetic leader – a “system builder” who took on multiple roles until he understood that true strength lies in delegation, in trusting the team, and in upholding high standards every single day.

In this interview, Razvan speaks candidly about turning points, burnout, rebuilding, and tough decisions – such as choosing to turn down projects that didn’t align with the company’s values. You’ll discover a hands-on and strategic entrepreneur who prefers to create trends rather than follow them, and who never accepts “good enough” as a standard.

For Razvan Nutu, entrepreneurship is not about how much money you make, but about how much clarity you maintain when everyone else hesitates. And LUISS, more than just a business, is his manifesto for quality, trust, and truly restful sleep.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in a few words for those who don’t know you yet?
Razvan Nutu: I’m the kind of person who sees potential where others see chaos. I’m not afraid of hard work, I don’t shy away from challenges, I don’t get easily excited, and I never give up. If something needs to be done, we’ll get it done. If it seems impossible, we’ll make it happen. I’ve learned that entrepreneurship isn’t about how much money you make, but about how much clarity you can maintain when no one else believes in the path forward. I’m a builder — of systems, of teams, of products, but most importantly, of trust.

C&B: What were the defining moments that changed the course of your business?
Razvan Nutu: The most important moment was when I decided I no longer wanted to work in chaos. I had orders and a team, but I felt like things were slipping through my fingers. I realized that ambition alone wouldn’t build a strong brand — I needed structure. That’s when the painful process of organization began: I rethought workflows, introduced procedures, let go of people who didn’t align with the vision, and invested in digitization and automation. That’s how we evolved from an ambitious workshop into a competitive European brand.

C&B: What has been the biggest personal challenge you’ve faced along this journey?
Razvan Nutu: Realizing that every thread ran through me — I was the salesperson, the designer, the manufacturer, the accountant, and the motivator. I was burned out. The challenge was learning to delegate, to trust, and to build people who could become extensions of my values. A true leader isn’t the one who does everything, but the one who teaches others to do things with the same passion and respect for quality.

C&B: What dream or ambition has constantly guided you, no matter the obstacles?
Razvan Nutu: The desire to create products that are not just beautiful, but flawless and built to last. To prove that a Romanian-made product, designed from scratch, can compete in any showroom in Europe. LUISS is more than just a brand — it’s a revolution in bedroom design. Every bed is a promise of restful sleep and a thoughtfully crafted lifestyle.

C&B: How have you evolved as an entrepreneur since the early days of the brand?
Razvan Nutu: In the beginning, I just wanted to “do things right.” Now I want to do them efficiently, sustainably, and with long-term impact. I’ve become more strategic and more detail-oriented. I’ve transformed from a “one-man band” into an architect of teams and processes.

C&B: How do you think your team and collaborators would describe you?
Razvan Nutu: They’d probably say I’m extremely demanding, with very high standards, and that I don’t accept “it’s good enough.” But they also know I fight alongside them, I’m the first to stay late, and I never ask for anything I wouldn’t do myself. I’m tough when needed, but I support them and protect their work.

C&B: What has been the most important decision that changed LUISS’s trajectory?
Razvan Nutu: Choosing to turn down projects that didn’t align with our direction. I realized that our time, energy, and brand DNA shouldn’t be wasted. From that point on, we started choosing our clients — not just being chosen. That decision brought us more clarity, efficiency, and respect.

C&B: How did you develop your leadership style and decision-making approach?
Razvan Nutu: I’m a hands-on yet strategic leader. I like to know every detail, but I also give the team space to express themselves. I care deeply about people, but I don’t accept excuses instead of results. I teach them to think, not just execute. I’d rather they make bold mistakes than not try at all.

C&B: What do you think sets LUISS apart from other brands in the industry?
Razvan Nutu: Our obsession with the quality of every detail and our deep respect for the customer. We’re a complete brand: design, production, delivery, and assembly — all aligned under the same vision. And more than that, we don’t follow trends — we create them.

C&B: What does a typical day in your life look like, and what moments bring you the most satisfaction?
Razvan Nutu: No two days are the same. I start by reviewing projects, go through the factory, and get involved in both strategic decisions and fine details. Satisfaction comes from happy clients, a team that delivers perfectly, and one simple message: “I’ve never slept this well before.” That’s when we know we’re doing more than furniture — we’re making a difference.

C&B: What core values guide you, and how do you apply them daily?
Razvan Nutu: Respect, integrity, responsibility, quality, and continuous growth. Respect in relationships, integrity in doing what you say, responsibility in owning your role, uncompromising quality, and a constant desire to learn and improve. These values are the daily rhythm of our work and the reason why our clients keep coming back.

C&B: What advice would you give to those who want to follow a path similar to yours?
Razvan Nutu: There are no recipes, but there are principles: work hard, keep your word, learn every day, and don’t betray your vision for easy money. You’ll be tempted to give up, but if you hold on and stay true to your compass, anything becomes possible.

Below, a small glimpse from a creative photoshoot for a fashion magazine:

Editor’s Note – The LUISS Impact: Sleep That Makes a Difference
LUISS beds are not just pieces of furniture — they are fulfilled promises of restful sleep and genuine comfort. The products created by Razvan Nutu and his team have succeeded in transforming the bedroom into an intimate space where the quality of sleep is ensured by obsessive attention to detail and deep respect for the customer. Thousands of clients — from design enthusiasts to top-tier hotels — confirm that a LUISS bed is not just an investment in aesthetics, but above all in health and well-being. In this way, Razvan’s dream — to create a Romanian brand known for excellence — becomes reality with every peaceful night it delivers.

The post Razvan Nutu, Co-founder of the LUISS Brand – The Entrepreneur Who Promised a Good Night’s Sleep and Kept His Word appeared first on careers-business.com.

Ciprian Ionuț Pintea, founder of Winarrow, is a serial entrepreneur and investor, a graduate of the Faculty of Automation and Computer Science at the Politehnica University of Bucharest, who has worked exclusively in his own businesses.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in a single sentence to make those who don’t know you curious?
Ciprian Pintea: At 20, I was driven to achieve rapid and significant success; I sought out successful mentors, learned from them, and quickly achieved very good results, guided by the mantra: “Laser Beam Focus.”

C&B: If we were to follow a narrative thread of your career or business, what were the key moments that defined you?
Ciprian Pintea: The firm decision to educate myself on the mindset of successful people and the determination to learn intensely, acting with strong leverage to generate major impact.

C&B: What has been the most difficult moment in your journey so far, and how did you overcome it?
Ciprian Pintea: The toughest moment in business was when all partners were financially successful, but a very strong team imploded because everyone wanted to start their own business. We shifted from a joint venture structure to a classic one with a CEO and achieved new milestones thanks to an aggressive action strategy and fast execution. I sought to work with the best professionals available, which made a crucial difference.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, no matter the obstacles?
Ciprian Pintea: I always wanted to exceed my limits and climb as high as possible. For a long time, I believed that intense effort, like in the gym, was the key to success. Later, I focused on having a positive impact on those I influence. I’m still trying to find a balance between all forces and motivations at every level. It’s a major challenge to find a balance that brings harmony in life, not just business success.

C&B: How did you look at the beginning of your journey and how do you feel you’ve transformed up to this point?
Ciprian Pintea: At the beginning, I was “hungry” and full of passion. Now I’m more confident, far less naïve, more skilled at dealing with people and identifying opportunities. I’d do many things very differently today, not just in business – and that shows how much I’ve changed.

C&B: If we were to meet your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?
Ciprian Pintea: From what I’ve heard, many appreciate the time they worked with me because they learned a lot. Many are now successful, some at very high levels. I was away from the country for a long time, and those who came to the office were probably glad I was gone. I wanted to push things to the max and was probably like a strict “professor.” At the time, some criticized me, but later they appreciated it because my standards helped them grow.

C&B: What’s the most important decision you’ve made that changed your trajectory?
Ciprian Pintea: The most important decision was to start as early as possible and to learn intensively, so I could grow at an accelerated pace.

C&B: How did you build your leadership style or the way you make decisions? Was it a natural process or something learned?
Ciprian Pintea: I learned from books and mentors. For any experienced person, it’s usually a combination of theory and practice. Leadership is primarily about vision. Without a clear direction, it’s hard to lead. Many executive decisions are more about management than leadership. High-performance management is rare.

C&B: What do you think sets your business or your professional approach apart from the rest of the industry?
Ciprian Pintea: I tried to innovate quickly and maintain high speed. I trusted that if we gave our best, we could win.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and what parts of the day bring you the most satisfaction?
Ciprian Pintea: I am now retired due to health reasons. During the period of intense activity, I worked a lot and constantly pushed myself out of my comfort zone. A principle I often applied was “Work hard, play hard.”

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do, and how do you apply them daily?
Ciprian Pintea: I keep learning. I’m now in a recovery phase. I believe there is life after death, and I want to act as well as possible, considering both this life and what comes after.

C&B: How did you come up with the idea to start this business, and how did you choose its name?
Ciprian Pintea: I created businesses based on demand, focusing on emerging and growing industries. I focused on online ventures due to my technical background. The name was chosen to reflect the competitive spirit and focus on success.

C&B: If you were to share one message with those who follow your example, what would it be?
Ciprian Pintea: The better you know yourself and understand your motivations, the shorter your path to your goals will be. Introspection and asking “why” are essential to understanding causality and how the world – and you – truly work.

Ciprian Pintea’s story is about ambition, transformation, and a constant desire to learn and make an impact. A true model of authentic leadership and vision in Romanian entrepreneurship.

The post Ciprian Pintea, Founder of Winarrow: “I Wanted to Climb as High as Possible and Leave Something Behind” appeared first on careers-business.com.