Success and turning points in a person’s career are often the result of a complex combination of factors. This includes preparation, sustained hard work, perseverance, the ability to learn from failures, and, of course, sometimes an element of surprise that never comes by chance. Corina Neagu is a Mentor and Coach for high performance, with a clear vision of professional transformation. As a passionate Edupreneur and global Trainer, she inspires and develops talents worldwide, blending innovative strategies with a personalized approach. With a solid career as a visionary HR Strategist, Corina helps professionals and organizations achieve excellence, fostering top performance and sustainable solutions. Through strategic consulting and dedicated coaching, she supports people in overcoming their limits and reaching their true potential.
C&B: How would you summarize your professional activity?
Corina Neagu: With a career spanning over 25 years in human resources, I’ve managed to become a respected and influential voice in HR consulting, management, training, coaching, mentoring, and career counseling. My extensive HR experience covers multiple industries and cultures, giving me a deep understanding of organizational dynamics and professional development. I’m known for my ability to create innovative HR strategies that lead to exceptional performance and the positive transformation of individuals and teams.
As an EMCC Senior Practitioner Mentor & Coach, I support professionals in discovering and leveraging their strengths, guiding them toward achieving their personal and professional goals. My passion for education and continuous development is also reflected in my role as a career counselor, where I help people find the right path in their careers.
With a holistic and empathetic approach, I continue my mission to do good, inspire, motivate, and contribute to the growth and success of those I work with.
C&B: What has been the secret, success, and turning points of your career? How much luck is there in this story?
Corina Neagu: First of all, I don’t believe in luck. The secret is that I have no secret at all. I believe that success and career turning points are often the result of a complex combination of factors. This includes preparation, hard work, perseverance, the ability to learn from failures, and of course, sometimes an element of surprise that never happens by chance.
Let me explain in more detail what defines me as a person first, then as a professional:
- Self-discipline and perseverance – the key to success often lies in the ability to remain disciplined and persevere despite obstacles. This means working consistently, improving your skills, and not giving up when things get tough.
- Continuous learning – not getting stagnant, always staying curious and eager to learn new things is essential. Adaptability and the ability to learn from mistakes are crucial for progress.
- Networking and interpersonal relationships – I’ve never been afraid to speak in public or to meet new people. Building and maintaining strong personal and professional relationships can open many doors and provide unexpected opportunities.
There have been many turning points; here are just a few:
- I’ve often had to make tough decisions in difficult contexts. Sometimes, a major decision can change the course of your career. Whether it was about accepting a new opportunity, changing fields, or moving to a new location, such as my four-month stay in Dubai in 2022.
- Meeting a mentor or an influential person has been a decisive moment, providing guidance or opening doors that might have remained closed otherwise.
- Successfully executing a project or achieving a major success at a critical moment in my career attracted attention and recognition, leading to promotions and new opportunities.
As for luck, which I mentioned I don’t believe in…
I think it’s more about timing or the opportunity that you sense and seize. Maybe an opportunity comes just when you’re best prepared for it or at a moment when someone needs someone with your skills.
There are also all sorts of unforeseen events that put you in a favorable position, and you have to be ready to recognize and capitalize on opportunities when they arise. Some of the most important opportunities can come from seemingly random meetings or conversations that turn into valuable collaborations.
C&B: What did you want to be when you were a child? And if you thought of multiple professions, do they have common traits? Or with what you’ve become?
Corina Neagu: I wanted to be a boss. And I became one. I was a boss for many years, hopefully a good one, as an HR Department Director in multinational companies, but also a “chef,” as during the pandemic I obtained certifications as a cook and pastry chef, driven by my passion for gastronomy.
C&B: What are the fields and activities that are parallel or collateral to your profession but are an integral part of who you are?
Corina Neagu: Definitely gastronomy, and gift creation, as I also make floral arrangements and design gifts for various occasions, both individual and corporate, through a company I have dedicated to this, Sweets & Spices.
C&B: What has been your biggest failure? By the way, I have another question I often ask people and students—it may be turned into a book—what do you think is “cringe”?
Corina Neagu: For me, failure is an opportunity to learn and an extremely valuable experience. I don’t think I’ve had any major failures so far because I’ve taken the best out of every experience. I’m also an incurable optimist, after all.
For me, cringe is false, artificial behavior—doing things to please others or to stand out, which doesn’t reflect who you authentically are. There’s also inappropriate humor that can be perceived as microaggression, especially when you make jokes in front of an audience you don’t know, and they might feel offended in some way. But here we’re not talking about stand-up shows, where that’s the whole point. Another cringe moment could be when you’re caught in the middle of a dispute that isn’t about you, and you don’t know how to react without seeming to favor one side over the other.
C&B: What advice would you give beginners and young people?
Corina Neagu: The best investment is in themselves, so… continuous education and learning, developing life and professional skills (communication, foreign languages, critical thinking, analytical thinking, digital skills, emotional intelligence), networking and interpersonal relationships, learning through practice (internships, work & travel, involvement in projects, etc.), self-awareness and setting goals with the help of a coach or mentor, building self-confidence, and strengthening their relationship with their parents, which is extremely important.
C&B: Where would you like to go—to a country, city, place (again, or for the first time)—and why?
Corina Neagu: I’d like to go to places I haven’t been to yet—Croatia, Portugal, Morocco, Egypt, the Nordic countries, New York… countries in Africa, Australia. They’re on the list; now we’ll see how we can make them a reality, as it’s not simple at all. I love traveling; I’ve visited hundreds of wonderful places so far, created memories, and I never get tired of it.
I always listen to music, but I choose the genre based on my mood. Energetic music dominates since I love dancing, and it gives me a lot of energy.
C&B: Please ask yourself a final question and give an answer.
Corina Neagu: If you had the power to change the world, where would you start?
By making people better—more self-aware, more responsible, more serious, more engaged, more interested in education, in the present, and the future, in how they contribute to a better life and a cleaner planet. I would encourage collaboration, mutual respect, learning from mistakes, and integrity. I would eradicate wars, terrorism, and abuses of any kind, at any level.
