Raluca's dedication to teamwork and her ability to navigate challenging projects, make her an invaluable leader. She believes in the power of collaboration and continuously strives for excellence in sourcing strategies. Raluca's journey inspires others, especially women, to pursue their career goals with determination and resilience.
1. What position do you currently hold, and could you give us a brief overview of your career journey leading up to this point?
Currently, I hold the position of Procurement Lead within the Other Clients Department at Promidea Company. In this role, my team and I manage projects that are not associated with integration contracts, similar to the agreements we have with Danone and Mondelez. Some notable examples include partnerships with Beiersdorf, L’oreal, Avon, and other companies within the beauty industry.
My journey at Promidea began in 2017 as a Junior Buyer immediately after graduating from university. Through dedication and hard work, I gradually progressed to my current position. Along the way, I've been fortunate to collaborate with and learn from skilled professionals, which has greatly contributed to my professional growth.
2. Congratulations once again! I know you've been nominated for Employee of the Year for 2023 at Promidea's Annual Party. What are your thoughts on being recognized with this prestigious award?
Thank you very much! I still feel a bit overwhelmed about the whole thing.
While I'm still processing the nomination, I'm incredibly grateful to have my efforts acknowledged. However, it's important to recognize that this achievement is a reflection of the collective teamwork within our organization. I owe a great deal of credit to everyone involved, from the dedicated individuals in our client service department to the meticulous work done by the cost analysis team. It's truly a team effort, and I'm fortunate to be surrounded by such talented and supportive colleagues.
3. In the fast-paced sourcing world, staying ahead of the curve is key. How do you keep your finger on the pulse of industry trends and market shifts?
Sourcing world is indeed an ever-changing, fast-paced playground.
My approach centers around adaptability, recognizing the ever-changing landscape of our industry. Curiosity is another key trait; I believe in continuous learning and adapting as we progress.
Of course, staying connected to the latest trends, including social media platforms, prominent online wholesale marketplaces, and maintaining direct communication with factories ensure that I remain connected and informed about the newest developments, enabling us to make informed decisions and maintain our competitive edge.
4. How do you view the importance of cross-departmental collaboration in optimizing sourcing strategies and achieving successful outcomes?
Collaboration across departments is truly key to making our sourcing strategies the best they can be. By keeping communication open and transparent with every department involved, we are able to work together seamlessly. This joint effort leads to a smoother process, making us more efficient and ultimately driving some really successful results.
5. What is the most exciting project that you have worked on?
Over the years, I've had the privilege of working on numerous exciting projects, though it's hard to pick a favorite. Typically, the ones that really thrill me are the challenging ones that push me to my limits in finding innovative solutions . One kind of project stands out , the annual VAI for our Beiersdorf client, is particularly demanding and span the entire year, sometimes even longer. It involve a multitude of item proposals, frequent updates, extensive sampling, and thorough discussions on cost optimization and material solutions. Ensuring compliance with stringent QA requirements, achieving precise colors, and meeting tight deadlines can be daunting tasks. However, witnessing the final products on the shelves of stores, we all get a deep feeling satisfaction and we know all was worth it, our hard team work was a success in the end.
6. As we celebrated Women's Day this Month, we'd love to hear about your journey as a leader in the sourcing field. How do you feel your unique perspective and experiences as a woman have influenced your approach to your role, and what advice would you give to other women aspiring to leadership positions in the industry?
Actually, it’s not a coincidence that 65% of the Promidea team members are women, as this business requires specific skills in which women excel and here we are talking about detail orientation, multitasking , time management, networking and negotiation. Again, women are always more flexible, which in difficult situations, gives them the ability of a 180 degree approach that can make a crucial difference in the urgent projects ( let’s be honest, we are living in the era of “I want now, even yesterday, if possible”). Women are also known for their great sense of aesthetics and taking the best decisions in the matter , universal skill of great value in this business .
A piece of advice for the ladies would be to find a job that is right for them and gives them the satisfaction they seek and to remain steadfast in front of outdated mentalities and stereotypes.
