Iulia Nartea - My story

I am a person of action. Curiosity has always pushed me forward, perseverance has kept me in the game, and the desire to stay relevant has made me a constant learner. Perhaps this energy is rooted in the place I come from: a small town at the foot of the mountains, Nehoiu. The mountains teach you early the discipline of the climb and the meaning of respect , and later, they surprise you with a different perspective: you see further and more clearly.

Those who know me often say I am not "easy going." I have high standards, I am direct, I do not waver on integrity and I avoid compromise , but anyone who has worked with me can confirm that I have strength of character, I am discreet and flexible, I know how to listen, ask the right questions and stay consistent. I also have a sense of humour ‚ an ally that has saved me many times, building bridges where it seemed impossible.

I studied Finance, Banking and Accounting at ASE. I started university during the dictatorship and finished in a free Romania that was finding its way - just like me.

I had the opportunity to start working at Romtrans SA, Romania's leading international freight forwarding company at the time, where I learned the ABCs of international transport -air, sea and road , the global trade language of INCOTERMS, and much more.

Then, unexpectedly, came the role of UPS Department Head, which turned the period from 1 February 1998 to 30 November 2020 into a professional journey that exceeded my own dreams. From Operations Director Romania, to Country Manager (CEO) Balkans, Country Manager (CEO) Italy, Country Manager (CEO) Switzerland and Director of Strategy Europe - the path read like an adventure novel. Some chapters were already written; others I had to write together with the people and teams I worked alongside and with whom we built success.

I continued with what I had learned to do best: general management, as Non-Executive Director of Societatea de Transport București SA and later as CEO of Stericycle Romania, market leader in medical waste management in Romania.

After years of executive leadership, I gave myself something rare and precious: time for reflection, for passions and for imagining the next chapter. That is how my today’s mission was born.

I do not fully identify with the label of consultant, nor with that of coach. I am a sparring partner, a thinking partner who has been through the ring of difficult decisions. I bring real experience, both operational and strategic, shaped in international organisations and multicultural teams. I help you think more clearly, see the invisible, find solutions to what is weighing on you and refine your decisions. I stay consistently by your side, as a real training partner.

I work with CEOs and leaders who seek clarity, courage and perspective when the stakes are high.

How I see leadership today

If you have read this far, I will share something personal: I am passionate about wine.

Wine fascinates me through the way it transforms. Some young wines have extraordinary potential, but can be rough. Left to mature in the right barrel, they become harmonious, complex, profound. This is also how I see my partnerships with the leaders who choose to work with me. I do not change their essence , I create the context in which their qualities settle, refine and gain depth. I am that barrel which, over time, gives structure and clarity.

And yes, I am not "easy going". I am there 100% for those I work with. Because I know from my own experience that true strength does not lie in needing no one , it lies in the courage to choose the right partner for the climb to the top.

If you have made it this far, you probably already understand the value of a real conversation. Let's start one.