International Women's Day 2025 - Interview with Emilia Popa

Emilia, let’s get to know you a bit better! What is your current role within Forvis Mazars and what does a normal day in your life look like?

I am currently leading the marketing, communication, and business development (MarCom & BD) team within Forvis Mazars in Romania together with six talented brand builders. My role is multi-faceted, as I am responsible for overseeing all MarCom and BD programmes for our Romanian office, while also leading the MarCom efforts across the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) & Central Asia region.

A typical day for me starts with a flat white or a fire that needs to be contained. It involves balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution. My mornings often start with team meetings to align on priorities and ongoing projects. Throughout the day, I might be developing regional marketing campaigns, collaborating with partners on BD or working with my team to create compelling content that showcases our expertise. I love connecting with our international colleagues to ensure we are all pulling in the same direction while keeping our local flavour.

The dynamic nature of my position means that no two days are exactly alike, which is something I truly enjoy about my role. Whether I'm mentoring team members, analysing campaign performance, or representing Forvis Mazars at industry events, each day brings new opportunities to drive our company's growth and visibility in these important markets. It's this variety that keeps me energised and passionate for more than 15 years.

How did your professional journey look like up until now, and what were the passions and hopes that helped in shaping it?

My career has been quite the adventure! I climbed the ladder quickly, becoming a marketing director at just 26 and the youngest executive on the leadership team. Before reaching that milestone, I experienced a challenging period of burnout that resulted in two autoimmune diseases - a wake-up call that taught me so much about balancing ambition with wellbeing.

Despite these health hurdles, my love for marketing has only grown stronger over these 15+ years. What has shaped my journey most significantly is my deep belief in the power of authentic storytelling, meaningful connections, and watching great communication transform businesses. I truly can't imagine doing anything else!

This passion has carried me through tough times and continues to inspire my work at Forvis Mazars, where I bring both my experience and enthusiasm to our marketing efforts across the region.

Who were the inspiring figures that positively influenced your life and career up until now? How could you describe their impact on you?

When I reflect on the influential figures in my life, my mother immediately comes to mind. She recently passed away, and her impact on who I am today is priceless. From her, I inherited this remarkably active lifestyle. She taught me resilience, determination, and the importance of pursuing your passions with extra energy, qualities that have been essential throughout my career journey, especially when facing health challenges.

I've also been fortunate to work with a wonderful coach who has been transformative in my development. Having this professional guidance has helped me better understand my strengths and develop strategies to manage the intensity of executive-level responsibilities while maintaining my well-being. My coach has provided me with tools to balance my natural drive with necessary self-care.

These influences complement each other beautifully: my mother's spirit and tenacity live on in everything I do, while my coach helps me channel that energy in sustainable ways. Together, they've shaped not just my career trajectory but also how I lead my teams today, with both passion and awareness of the importance of balance.

What achievement of yours are you the proudest of, be it personal or professional?

The achievement I cherish most deeply is my amazing family. I'm incredibly proud of the partnership I've built with my husband, who embraces having an equally strong and independent woman by his side. Together, we're raising our wonderful son, who's about to celebrate his second birthday; watching him grow and develop his own personality has been very rewarding.

On the professional front, while I've consistently delivered strong results throughout my career, what truly fills me with pride is the lasting relationships I've maintained with former team members. To me, the fact that we still keep in touch speaks volumes about the mutual respect we developed while working together. These enduring connections reflect something I value even more than metrics or promotions: the ability to lead with authenticity and create an environment where people feel valued and supported. When former colleagues reach out to share their successes or seek advice, it reminds me that the impact we have on others often outlasts the projects we complete or the targets we hit.

What are the factors that influence your leadership style? What would you tell the future generation women in leadership, to use throughout their career?

My leadership style is deeply influenced by my belief in balancing ambition with well-being. Throughout my career, I've learned, sometimes the hard way, that sustainable success requires nurturing both professional growth and personal health. I believe in leading with grace, combining determination and empathy in equal measure.

To future generations of women in leadership, I would say: don't sacrifice your wellbeing on the altar of success. True leadership isn't about pushing yourself to exhaustion but about creating sustainable excellence. Find activities outside of work that replenish your spirit and give you joy.

Ballet is that passion for me. I never had the opportunity to dance as a child, but I started taking classes as an adult - proving it's never too late to pursue something you've always dreamed of. The discipline and artistry of ballet have become my sanctuary away from the corporate world. At my first ballet performance as an adult, seeing my parents with tears in their eyes reminded me that growth and achieving dreams don't have an expiration date.

This balance has made me not just a better leader but a more fulfilled person. I encourage women in leadership to remember that strength comes in many forms: sometimes it's in making tough business decisions, and other times it's in knowing when to step back, practice self-care, and pursue personal passions that make life richer and more meaningful.

If you could talk to your 10-year-old self, knowing all that you know now, what is the one thing you would tell her, that you would like for her to keep on this amazing journey?

If I could talk to my 10-year-old self, knowing what I know now, I would tell her, “It's okay to slow down and savour the moments. You've always pushed yourself incredibly hard, and that drive has led to amazing achievements, like your school competitions and being the valedictorian in your generation. But remember, the journey is just as important as the destination (I am still learning this 😃). You don't always have to say 'yes' to everything. It's okay to find joy in the present and always celebrate your wins.”

Thank you, Emilia, for taking the time to share your beautiful story and for the inspiring insights! Happy International Women's Day to you and to all the women out there!