TL;DR: I’m an architect of connection, a universalist, and a humanist :-)
- Founding Team Member, Head of Community, and Growth Lead at Sessions
- Triumphant Launches
- Significant Funding Achievements
- Strategic Liaison
- Growth Ignition
- Trust and Brand Building
- User-Centric Roadmapping
- Event Hosting Excellence
- Independent Consulting Ventures
Led the development of the Sessions Community, cultivating a dynamic ecosystem of co-creation that fueled the growth.
Successfully launched on Product Hunt, earning multiple "Product of the Day" awards and a Golden Kitty in the "Work from Anywhere" category.
Helped the company to over $4.5 million in seed funding and an extension of $1.5 million from venture capitalists, complemented by more than $2 million from AppSumo and an additional $2 million through crowdfunding efforts.
Defined our approach at the intersection of product and users, acting as a pivotal liaison that transformed newcomers into engaged power users.
Drove growth from inception to product-market fit and beyond through a blend of experimentation, adherence to industry frameworks, and adaptive strategies informed by user feedback.
Established a strong brand presence both online and offline, becoming the product’s primary face for users. Collaborated closely with engineers, UX/UI designers, and marketers to deliver exceptional experiences, while authoring diverse content—from onboarding flows to comprehensive "State of the Business" presentations.
Crafted the product roadmap based on user needs, writing detailed specifications, prioritizing feature development, and validating outcomes with the QA team and beta testers.
Organized a variety of events, ranging from intimate one-on-ones to engaging large-scale webinars, fostering community and user engagement.
Partnered with various companies to facilitate the successful launch and growth of their products. My portfolio spans serious initiatives, such as AI assistants, Vertical LLM Agents, an AI-driven content writing platform, and a geo-location app for traffic solutions. Additionally, I explored creative projects, including an app that transforms users into characters in different art styles, a social media platform for dog lovers, and an online generative music visualization tool.
An Oravița Boy
We should all take pride in our origins and embrace them, both the good and the bad. I was born in Oravița, a small town in Romania where limited opportunities set me on a journey to explore the world in search of a place and a purpose. First, I drew inspiration from my imagination, fueled by literature and cinema. Then, I explored the world on foot, journeying from New York and Washington to Athens and London, traversing Paris and Berlin to St. Petersburg and Moscow, and wandering through Marrakech and Casablanca to Rome and Milan, as well as from Stockholm to Istanbul and so on.
Along the way, I grew into a seasoned professional and a well-rounded individual with a broad knowledge base and an eye for detail. I keep an open mind, ready to adapt and embrace change. With a people-oriented nature, I consider myself both a humanist and a universalist.
Throughout my life, I’ve faced adversity, tough times, and hardship, experiences that have forged in me a unique blend of knowledge and the ability to connect the dots. For as long as I can remember, I've played the long game, avoiding zero-sum thinking in favor of building things that compound over time—whether in relationships, knowledge, or business ventures.
A Professional Profile
As a tech enthusiast, I’ve sought out innovations that amplify my impact, looking to create value beyond simply trading time for money. I’ve learned the importance of creating and selling, taking responsibility and risks, and building a reputation founded on accountability.
My career, spanning both public and private sectors, has shaped me into a versatile professional with deep expertise in community building, growth strategies, business development, sales, and various campaign types—particularly in tech and startups. I've led teams, driven expansion, and crafted user-centered solutions, honing these skills through roles like my tenure at Sessions, a videoconferencing platform, and consulting for a diverse array of clients.
I combine book-smarts with street-smarts—thanks, Oravița! :-)—holding both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in International Business and Economics from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, with further exploration of law, macro- and microeconomics at Mises University in the USA.
My previous advisory roles at the Presidential Administration of Romania and the Ministry of Economy gave me strategic oversight, policy, and communication experience on a national level. In between, I co-founded a family-run interior decoration studio—a venture close to my heart and one that has allowed us to develop projects with a personal touch. These foundations have enabled me to tackle complex issues, manage high-stakes projects, and work with diverse stakeholders.
Sessions: The Odyssey of Finding Product-Market Fit and Fulfilling User Desires
Note: The runway at Sessions came to an end, pushing us to embark on new paths. However, being part of a startup that raised over $10 million—from idea to completion over a five-year journey—has been an incredibly valuable experience.
The Alchemy of Change: Forging a User-Centric Realm for Remote Connection
My time at Sessions was nothing short of transformative. As a founding team member, Head of Community, and Growth Lead, I played a pivotal role in shaping the company's product and user experience from the ground up. Sessions aimed to tackle the challenges of remote work by creating a platform designed for collaboration, integrating video communication, data management, and workflow tools into a cohesive solution.
From the outset, I focused on connecting the product with its users, ensuring that every aspect of their journey—from onboarding to evangelism—was seamless and valuable. I collaborated closely with cross-functional teams to turn user feedback into actionable features, creating a genuinely user-centric experience.
One highlight was leading Sessions to several successful launches on Product Hunt, where we earned Product of the Day multiple times and won the Golden Kitty Award in the "Work from Anywhere" category. These accolades boosted our visibility and played a crucial role in raising over $4.5 million in seed funding from VCs, solidifying our market presence.
On Community. Cultivating a Tapestry: Enabling Users to Inspire Collective Growth
A strong community has always been at the core of my professional philosophy, and at Sessions, community-building was integral to our growth strategy. From day one, we recognized that combining product-led and community-led growth was key to our success.
I spearheaded the creation of a Minimum Viable Community (MVC), actively engaging early adopters in a co-creation process that shaped the product from its inception. I hosted Community Town Halls, conducted one-on-one feedback sessions, exchanged DMs and emails, and provided regular "State of the Business" updates to keep users engaged and informed. This feedback loop was critical for driving product improvements, and it wasn’t long before our users became our strongest advocates. By transforming newcomers into power users and eventually into ambassadors, I helped ignite the network effects that fueled our growth.
Sessions evolved into a co-creation flywheel, where user-generated ideas were reflected in the product, fostering a deep sense of loyalty and trust between the product team and the community. In my role, I focused on building our brand presence both online and in person, collaborating with engineers, UX/UI designers, and marketers to deliver a product that truly met users' needs.
Every effort I made—from the initial community iterations to our successes on Product Hunt, maintaining a constant high performer status on G2, launching campaigns on AppSumo, and participating in blogs, podcasts, and in-person events—was aimed at establishing trust.
In the competitive landscape of startups, trust is paramount; initially, you are an unknown entity competing against industry giants. Why should people choose your product? My strategy focused on achieving win after win to build credibility, awareness, and lasting relationships. In essence, Sessions Community wasn’t an afterthought; it was woven into the very fabric of our product.
On Growth. The Art of Flourishing: Navigating Success Through Data and Discovery
Beyond community-building, my goal was growth. I used data-driven experimentation, customer interviews, and user feedback to refine our strategies, leading to adoption across 182 countries, over a hundred new features, and solid B2B and B2C strategies.
I blended product-led growth frameworks with customer insights, ensuring our strategies were nimble, sustainable, and scalable. By focusing on our North Star metric, I ensured people not only adopted the platform but actively shaped its future.
My work also extended to platforms like G2 and AppSumo. On G2, we earned High Performer recognition with a 4.6-star rating, while our AppSumo campaign ranked among the top five all-time, generating over $2 million in revenue. Feedback from these platforms helped us shape ongoing development, ensuring alignment with market needs. These milestones, alongside our Product Hunt success, set the stage for a successful crowdfunding round on SeedBlink, raising another $2 million from retail investors.
Consulting Chronicles: Navigating the Path to Launch, Growth, and Profit
I believe that a firm’s most significant competitor lies within its numbers. By this, I mean that it’s essential to keep a close eye on financial metrics and prioritize profitability. Only after addressing these internal fundamentals can you step outside and effectively compete with others in the market. Therefore, achieving a "default alive" state—where the business is self-sustaining and profitable—is my top priority in every initiative.
Beyond my time at Sessions, my work as a consultant has enabled me to apply these same growth and community-building principles across a diverse array of products. From serious, data-driven applications to creative endeavors, my goal has remained consistent: to engage with companies and help them successfully launch and grow their products.
I've worked on a variety of projects, including AI assistants, Vertical LLM Agents, an AI-driven content writing platform, a geo-location app for traffic solutions, and a library for generating Kubernetes YAML files. Additionally, I've been involved in more playful initiatives, such as an app that transforms users into characters in various art styles, a social media platform for dog enthusiasts, and an online generative music visualization tool. :-)
In my consulting roles, I frequently assume responsibilities akin to a founding team member—cultivating the right mindsets, building team cohesion, fostering an emerging company culture, developing communities, refining growth strategies and pricing, and establishing robust user feedback loops. By working closely with product teams, I’ve helped businesses continuously improve their offerings, driving user adoption, sustainable growth, and profitability.
New Horizon: The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of
My diverse experiences at Sessions, as a consultant, founder, public sector adviser, investor, and a boy from Oravița, have equipped me with a unique blend of skills and specific knowledge.
- Strategic Vision: As a founding team member at Sessions, I developed the ability to think both short-term and long-term, balancing immediate user needs with the company's overall trajectory.
- Community Leadership: I excel in creating and managing vibrant communities that fuel product development, generate feedback, and build brand loyalty.
- Growth Expertise: I possess a deep understanding of how to scale a product from inception to significant market presence, employing a blend of experimentation, data analysis, and user feedback.
- Results-Oriented Mindset: My work on platforms like Product Hunt, G2, and AppSumo showcases my ability to deliver tangible results that drive revenue and user growth.
My journey in tech has taught me that success is not just about building a great product—it’s about creating something people love, trust, and want to be a part of. I’ve driven growth from early stages to product-market fit and beyond, building trust and a strong brand presence as the product’s public face. I’ve collaborated with engineers, designers, marketers, and product managers, written content from onboarding flows to business presentations, and validated features through testing.
In addition to helping secure venture capital funding, I’ve run campaigns for products and leaders, crafting strategies, business models, and policies. I’m eager to continue making a meaningful impact in the tech industry by applying these principles to new challenges and opportunities.
Thank you for reading to the end—I truly appreciate it! :-)
(…)
He deals the cards to find the answer
The sacred geometry of chance
The hidden law of a probable outcome
The numbers lead a dance
I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart