“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born… and the day you find out why.”
— Mark Twain
I’ve carried this quote with me for decades — not just as a favorite, but as a belief. If more people discovered why they were born — their true purpose — the world would be a better, wiser, and more compassionate place.
My own journey has led me to that “second most important day,” and it’s the reason this blog exists.
A Life in Finance — A Calling Beyond It
At 75, I’m launching this blog in English, as a new chapter in a long and deeply fulfilling career. For over 30 years, I served in leadership roles across the financial sector — as Chairman and/or CEO of commercial and investment banks, leasing companies, and investment funds. I’ve founded, restructured, led, or participated in corporate governance — as chair or board member — of 17 financial institutions, 15 non-financial companies and 4 non-profit.
1991 I founded the Romanian Banking Association and co-founded the Romanian Banking Institute. Since the early 1990s, I’ve been deeply involved in the systemic reform of Romania’s banking system.
Also in 1991, I became the first Eisenhower Fellow from Romania after the Revolution, where I learnt and understood a lot about leadership.
And yet, despite a career in finance, my true vocation has always been working with people — building teams, nurturing talent, and helping others grow.
Shifting from Leadership to Legacy
In 2007, after completing the integration of three banks into what is now UniCredit Bank Romania, I stepped down as CEO and transitioned into the role of non-executive chairman. I was 57 and this downshift gave me the freedom to explore a different kind of leadership through mentorship, education, and reflection.
Freed from daily operations, I began reading voraciously — psychology, sociology, anthropology, and most of all, leadership. Eventually, my wife asked a powerful question:
“What do you plan to do with the second half of your life?”
It was a moment of deep introspection. I realized I wanted to give something back, not just time, but thought, experience, and perspective.
Giving Back: Mentorship and Education
In 2008, I launched a structured mentorship program within UniCredit Bank. Over the years, I worked with more than 100 young professionals, not just guiding them, but learning from them. Their questions helped refine my thinking. Their perspectives helped me understand emerging generations. It became, in many ways, a two-way street, a form of reverse mentorship.
During one of those early sessions, a mentee asked me two fundamental questions:
- What are the key ingredients of success?
- What are the key ingredients of leadership?
To my surprise, the answers were nearly identical. I concluded that you can’t succeed without leadership, and that insight shaped everything that followed.
The mentorship program evolved into “Mentorship for Leadership,” and inspired a second initiative: giving talks on success and leadership in high schools, universities, and leadership academies around the country.
Why This Blog Exists
This blog — THE CHAIRMAN’S PLAYBOOK — is the natural continuation of those efforts.
Over the years, many mentees and students have encouraged me to delve into the topics we discuss. I created this space to do exactly that: to reflect, to share, and to provoke thoughtful questions.
This blog is for those who want to grow.
To lead.
To adapt.
To rise to the moment and the future.
I’ll post once a week, and almost every post will end with reflective questions. Just as I did in my mentoring sessions, I’ll challenge you to look in the mirror and ask:
What do I believe?
What do I want?
What will I do next?
If that journey resonates with you, I invite you to walk it with me, one thousand words (or fewer) at a time.