Alexandra Mehedintu, Country Manager at ICAP CRIF Romania, a Jury Member at Business Review Awards 2024

In our ongoing exploration of insights from influential leaders who have accepted to become Jury Members at the upcoming edition of the Business Review Awards, we sat down with Alexandra Mehedintu, Country Manager at ICAP CRIF Romania. Alexandra shares her invaluable perspectives on the Romanian business environment in 2024 and provides a glimpse into her role as a distinguished member of the Business Review Awards Jury. As Alexandra lends her expertise to the BRA Jury, your voice matters too! Participate in the popular vote section until March 3 at midnight.

What recommendations would you have for the Romanian business environment in 2024?

I like positive news, so this is one: Romania has climbed four spots in the ranking of the 33 most attractive countries in EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) for private companies, standing at a promising 28th place1. It looks like a good moment to leverage this positive trend by exploring investment opportunities, partnerships, and market expansion within our country. Then again, in 2024 too, we all must prioritize Sustainability and ESG initiatives, for this is no longer a trend, nor a niche, but a requirement for all businesses, with visible impact on the way we shape the future. And as it has always been, aiming for a successful business in Romania requires good adaptability, lots of local insights, and a global perspective.

How do you anticipate the Business Review Awards race to be this year by category, given that 2023 was a complicated year in all respects?

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I anticipate that the 2024 competition will be tight, as the last one, because the vast majority of the registered companies proved in 2023 to align to the evolutions of the global business environment. So, for example, businesses that have prioritized resilience and adaptability, swiftly adjusting to changing market dynamics, supply chain disruptions, or regulatory shifts stand out in each category, and so are those that leveraged technology for efficiency, customer engagement, or data-driven decision-making. The environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations play a pivotal role in the dedicated category, of course, but companies committed to sustainability, ethical practices, and community impact show up in every category. We saw companies and business leaders or entrepreneurs acknowledging and acting on the need for strategic partnerships and cross-industry alliances and we also observed a sensible growth of the public speech about responsible leadership and of the figures allocated for employee well-being. So, singling out a winner for each category will be again a difficult task for the Jury.

What motivates you to be part of this year’s BRA Jury?

By volunteering my time and expertise, I feel that I contribute to the growth and development of the business ecosystem, by evaluating nominees objectively, as I use my background in an industry of numbers and data. Being part of this jury is also a chance to support and uplift others who are making a difference, and also allows me to feel that I’m shaping the narrative of excellence. 

What do you see as the added value that your presence on this year’s BRA Jury brings?

Well, I bring extensive experience and knowledge in the business information field, which allows me, by force of habit, to objectively assess the performance and impact of participating companies. Secondly, my daily exposure to diverse sectors and markets enables me to make use of different perspectives during the evaluation process.