Twenty-five years ago, fresh out of university with a degree in Engineering Management and Technology from the Faculty of Machine Manufacturing and Industrial Management, I never imagined that my career would one day revolve around the fashion industry. At that time, the clothing sector was the furthest thing from my mind, and my future seemed forged in steel, not silk.
My first job, in the year 2000, was as a Technical Engineer in a heavy machinery factory, part of a German–American group located just 40 km from the town where I grew up. I was in charge of carousel lathes, a highly specialized part of the production process, and later promoted to Product Manager, overseeing manufacturing workflows, solving complex technical problems, and managing a production team.
One day, a friend told me about a job posting in my hometown. It was for a garment factory. At first, I laughed – me, in clothing manufacturing? But curiosity won, and I decided to apply. That decision changed my life.
I started in a factory of around 600 employees, producing woven, knitted, and jersey garments for brands in the UK, France, and Germany. My first role was as an Industrial Engineer, where work discipline and efficiency were the heartbeat of success. Soon after, I implemented the ISO 9001 Quality Management System, learning first-hand how structure, standards, and quality discipline could transform a business.
Over the next decade and beyond, I took on senior leadership roles in Shanghai and later Hong Kong, working with a diverse portfolio of brands with global presence, from luxury fashion houses such as Kenzo, Burberry, Chloé, and Christian Lacroix to premium and lifestyle labels like DKNY, Timberland, and Elle, as well as high-volume retailers including H&M, Etam Lingerie, Intersport, and others across Asia, Europe, the United States, and Australia.
These collaborations covered fashion, sportswear, home textiles, and accessories. My work spanned guiding product engineering and manufacturing processes, quality assurance, driving responsible production practices, and supplier development, ensuring that everything from raw materials to finished products met the highest standards while supporting long-term business viability.
In these roles, I partnered with factories and offices across Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and multiple locations in China, navigating complex supply chains and multicultural environments while fostering long-term relationships based on transparency, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
My career also extended into the hardlines sector through collaborations with leading hypermarket and retail groups, including Carrefour, Casino, ICA, Kesko, Ahold Delhaize, Hemtex, and Rimi Baltics. Here, I oversaw product categories far beyond apparel, from hard toys, gardening tools, and sports equipment to electronics, homeware, furniture, stationery, and even food products.
This breadth of responsibility meant covering nearly every production department and operational area: Product Management, Industrial Engineering / Lean Production, Quality Management, Technical Management, Operations Management, Product Development Management, and CSR & Sustainability Leadership.
My over two decades of professional experience have been evenly split between Romania and more than 12 years based in the main offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong. From these strategic hubs, I managed multiple offices and vendor networks across Asia while maintaining strong collaborations throughout Europe.
Working in such multicultural environments taught me how to adapt leadership styles to local contexts while maintaining global standards of quality, sustainability, and operational excellence.
Three years ago, I began putting my thoughts and experiences into writing. By the end of 2024, I published my first book, Manufacturing Excellence and Quality Management in Sustainable Fashion Apparel, a comprehensive guide for apparel professionals and educators.
The book is now used in PhD research and academic studies in top universities internationally, offering a structured, practical approach to sustainable apparel production and quality systems, based on real-world implementation in diverse markets.
My second book, Industrial Leadership: Driving Transformative Change, Inspiring Success, expands beyond fashion into leadership principles relevant to all industries. It focuses on building high-performance teams, embedding continuous improvement, and inspiring sustainable growth across diverse sectors.
Both books reflect not only my professional journey but also my belief that leadership is about empowering people, building systems that last, and leaving a positive impact.
This blog is where I will share practical insights, case studies, leadership strategies, sustainability perspectives, and personal experiences from my over two decades of global work. It is for professionals who want to bridge the gap between theory and practice, whether they work in fashion, manufacturing, retail, or any other industry where quality and leadership matter.
If my journey has taught me anything, it is that career paths are rarely straight lines. Sometimes, the detour is the destination. And sometimes, the job posting you least expect to apply for can open the door to a truly global career.
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