”She believes in balance, in the balance between firmness and kindness, orientation towards results and empathy, the desire to succeed and care for people. She feels the need to be involved in many projects, varied, the part that comes with a good part – it keeps her mind always busy, curious, awake. She believes that we should really have more lives, that we can experience everything in the world. Today we meet Georgeta Dendrino – Managing Director Interact and she has over 22 years of experience in the field of training and consulting. Recently appointed Vice President of the World’s Largest Women’s Business Network – Professional Women’s Network.
1. What are the important moments in your life that you would choose to tell who you are?
I would say there were moments in primary school when I was unhappy, and I always said that I would go to Paris. My parents thought that I was not in my right mind – back then you could not leave the country, they thought I was making everything up. I believe I had a dose of idealism, a belief that I can do whatever I set my mind to do, some kind of power of starting over, similar to a roly-poly toy: they fall on their back and get back up. This helped me a lot when I had to start from scratch, when I lost everything, both personally and professionally. I say ‘almost’ everything because I always kept that something that no one could take away from me: the investment we have made in ourselves throughout our lives.
My parents always kept repeating that I should study, as the only way to succeed in life. Fortunately for me, I believed them.
An important moment was the decision to leave the schooling system 22 years ago when the private sector was in its infancy in Romania. It was a tough decision as I enjoyed being a teacher. Fortunately, Interact is in the continuous educational field, so in fact, I did not break away from the things that I believe in: education, working with people of all ages.
Studying at Insead was another moment. It was during a very difficult period of my life and I added another pressure. I enjoyed it a lot, however, those years were complicated – but in a way, I had the belief that ‘I can do it’. The two years of executive MBA and then the three years at Insead were years when, beyond the ‘business as usual’, I had to go to school, to study, to write many papers, to be in situations of emotional and mental stretching that were not always easy to carry. I think that many people go through difficult periods of their lives; what is critical is our level of resilience and endurance of all kinds.
2. What got you where you are now?
I would say there were a few things:
This belief that I would succeed, that I would find a solution
My almost bulimic tendency for knowledge, to study something else – this helped me not to get stuck in one way of thinking.
Furthermore, my need to be involved in many and diverse projects has its good side as well – it keeps my mind occupied, curious, awake.
3. What do you think is the main contribution a female leader can bring to a company?
Although I am part of projects that have the aim to support women in their professional lives, I plead for competence and promotion based on merit, results, not based on gender. I believe in the balance between firmness and kindness, an orientation towards results and empathy, the desire to succeed and to care for people. Women can bring this kind of balance, they can point out to the top management teams aspects that cannot be necessarily seen by a man. Sheryl Sandberg wrote in her book ‘Lean In’ about how she went to the Google founders and asked them to create parking spaces for pregnant women near the building entrance. They accepted immediately, acknowledging that they had not thought about this aspect.
4. Recently you were appointed as vice-president of the largest global business network for women – Professional Women’s Network; what did you feel when you heard the news?
The selection process was complex and extended over the course of many months. Besides my CV, recommendation, letter of intent, I had to create a video stating my vision for this position; and then I had an interview. All the presidents of PWN from different countries then had to vote. I even forgot that I had applied by the time I received the news.
I felt honored and, at the same time, I panicked a little. I thought that I would have to make a difference, to move forward, as an association.
5. How do you feed your creativity?
I read a lot of books, business as well as psychology, literature, I listen to a lot of podcasts, music, I like talking to people who are very knowledgeable. I have the chance to be surrounded by “Renaissance spirits”, they know so much from different fields, that I always admire them.
I also have young people around me, that keep me up to date with the times.
I get a lot of ideas from the interaction with other ideas, whether they are from books, movies, or discussions with other people.
6. Where do you get your energy?
I enjoy what I do. Due to the fact that I read a lot, that I work with different people, I get the sensation that I live multiple lives. In addition, I have learned, over time, to do things that I like, and to create a state of well-being, a state that generates energy and ideas. I know how to surround myself with things that I like, to listen to music that I enjoy, as well as a glass of champagne in the evening, it fascinates me to play with perfumes, to combine them in various ways, to create new and unusual scents, to make travel plans, to go to the cinema, to write. I think that we should have multiple lives in order to experience everything in our world.
7. Which is the quote/recommendation that you often revisit?
There are two:
The best investment that you could make is in yourself.
Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words.(Goethe)
8. What does authenticity mean to you? What about courage?
Authenticity: what you say, what you do, are in harmony, there is no discrepancy between what we say and what we do, how we behave.
Courage: to always try new things; to take risks; to keep your promises; to confront your own demons, your own shadows.
9. You have recently launched your own website: www.georgetadendrino.com – who do you address and what is your goal?
You see, I think I am in the type of activity where you need to promote yourself, and there needs to be a place where people who are interested can read about you. It is like an online business card. I consider my social media accounts to be the same.
I believe that there should be places where I can express myself and be available to potential clients (from here or abroad).
10. Did you think about writing a book?
I have not thought about writing a book. I write about what I experience, observe, or reflect upon certain situations. My writings are very personal; some people read them; others find this honesty destabilizing, or too much to handle. It is easier to read theories without being confronted by someone with a shadow that may lie within us.
11. Do you consider we should all have at least a mentor we can go to, when in need?
I think it is healthy for us to have different mentors in various periods of our lives. Our mind, body, and soul would feel more balanced.
Often, however, our ego is too inflated: we think that we do not need anyone, that we are above others, and that we do not care about what others think. I also met people who said they didn’t learn anything from others, that they were just self-taught. What can I say? I feel sorry when I hear that someone has not met anyone from whom he/she can learn or appreciate. Or maybe they did not want to see anyone, did they?
12. Starting from J. Campbell’s book ‘The hero with a thousand faces’: where do you find yourself in this life’s journey?
There is a show at the Bulandra theatre, called: ‘Six personnages en quete de…’ (Six characters in search of their author) by Pirandello. I would say that my whole life I was ‘en quete de…” in search for what? Maybe my own holy grail.
UNguilty pleasures:
1. What type of music makes you feel at home?
I feel at home in many places. Home is not just in my apartment, but in Paris, in airports, in Singapore, in my car, every place where I feel good. I especially like rock music, classical, and piano.
2. The book on your beside table or your favorite author?
There are a lot of books, having had the chance to read a lot. I enjoyed reading Marcel Proust, Michel Tournier, Marquez, Baudelaire.
3. What type of people do you surround yourself with?
I appreciate people who are curious, always searching for something, who accept others and support them. I get upset by arrogance, aggressiveness, forms without substance. I try to avoid those as much as possible.
4. Your favorite holiday destination?
I have a few places that I love: Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore.
5. Note to self?
Trust yourself!”
via: The Woman