Cristina Man, General Manager, Valoris Center
- What was the most challenging thing your company, people, and you, personally, had to face in 2020?
First of all we had to face 2020. What else can be said more about last year, that hasn’t been already!? It changed everything. Even challenges were changed.
Our main focus was on keeping up the team’s vibe, while everything around was pushing it down. We focused plenty of resources to achieve this and we still do, as working from home continues in the beginning of 2021. This was so important for us, since our team spirit is the main advantage in Valoris. So we built a united work force that managed to stay together after Covid-19 changed the work environment.
People had to deal with this big change, to adapt and to keep up with the daily tasks, while managing the continuous stress caused by the virus and the disruption the pandemic brought into every aspect of our lives.
Another challenge was to achieve the objectives I had set in the end of 2019, when the pandemic was not part of our lives and plans. 2020 was very different from what I imagined, but in the end, I am happy to say that it had a positive outcome, and we managed to achieve our intentions.
- What pleasantly surprised you last year? / What are you grateful for?
We cultivated the capacity to adapt in Valoris for many years and we lived by it, but the open mindset that our employees used to switch to a totally different work environment was amazing and helpful. In March 2020 I was confident that switching from the working in the office to working at home is something that could be done, but I was impressed that this operation was done in less than 2 weeks and, at least from technical point of view, there was no major gap. I am grateful for the people I’m working with, for their positive mindset and trust.
- What are your plans and expectations for 2021?
Moving forward, 2021 is a milestone for Valoris, as we celebrate our 15th anniversary. We expect to mark this moment by reaching, a 2 digits mil euro yearly revenue. Another pillar of our strategy is to balance the working model, with the best mix between working from office and from home. Last, but not least, we aim to digitalize an important part of the services we deliver.
- What do you foresee it will be different this year and what impact it will have on our industry/Romania/your company/your people?
As 2020 was the year of changes, in my opinion 2021 will accelerate the transformations started last year in our industry. Even if we will continue the remote working, we’ll need to find ways to be close to our colleagues, to strengthen the relationships, to keep the feeling of belonging to our team. It might be that 2021 will bring some the “normal” back, it might be that it will define the changes that are here to stay or it might be a generator of new challenges. What I know for sure, is that we are here to adapt to whatever this year will bring.
- What is your message for the ABSL community?
2020 tested us, as companies and individuals, so look forward to 2021 as a time for resilience, empathy and care for yourself and the people around you.
- What could we do to grow stronger as a community?
The ABSL community should reunite more often and get to change ideas on what is working and what is not for each company and how can we address together the changes the industry is facing on short and medium term.
- A message for ABSL or a suggestion.
In the end, I would like to thank ABSL for keeping the community in contact.