Tell us about your journey!
I was born and raised in Romania, the beautiful country of Dracula. That’s what it is mostly known for, but it has so many beautiful features: the sea, beaches, mountains, castles, amazing buildings and squares. And tourists are very welcomed here, so I would invite anyone to visit. I am sure they will love it and will leave with amazing experiences and memories.
I grew up in a small, beautiful city surrounded by hills and forests in the western part of the country. I am grateful for a loving family who always made sure that I received the best education and encouraged me to be my own person. After high school, I moved to a bigger city and received degrees in International Relations, European Studies, and Medical Engineering. I worked for a few years as a Mechanical Engineer, but I always dreamed of building something of my own. I think we are offered opportunities in life, but it is up to us to recognize and seize them. That is exactly what I did. I had to learn everything from square one. But I made a commitment to give it my all, quit my job, and started learning and working on my dream. I took business classes, read everything that I could find, and started building the LA ARONET brand. Thinking back, I’m amazed at all I’ve been through. It was as exciting as it was challenging.
What ignited the spark in you to start a new business venture or to make significant changes in an existing business? How did the idea for your business come about?
I think I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur, but I wasn’t completely aware of it. Everyone around me had a “real” job and I felt that that is what I was supposed do, too. It was automatically ingrained in my mind. After a few years at my “real” job as a Mechanical Engineer, which I really liked, it became clear to me that the only limitations I have are made by myself. I knew I could always come back to engineering and I needed to make a leap of faith. I stumbled upon someone’s success story online and I said to myself that I wanted to live that kind of life, too.
LA ARONET was founded in the beautiful buildings, squares, and fashions of Europe that inspired a passion for luxury that could bring the world to everyone. Royelle Microfiber Luxury Hair Towel embodies this commitment to the experience of beauty and functionality. LA ARONET is all about empowering women to feel beautiful. We create high quality products that have functional beauty. We are committed to making all women feel beautiful. One of the pillars of the brand is its European heritage. Europe is associated with elegance, beauty and sophistication. The luxury hair towel, Royelle, appeals to women who would like to feel that they have those same qualities when they use it. LA ARONET delivers European style, grace and Je ne sais quoi to all.
What three pieces of advice would you give to college students (young and old) locally or internationally who want to become entrepreneurs?
It’s very important to be aware of the difference between being an employee and having your own business. You must stay determined and able to keep a balance in your life. There will be amazing days and terrible days. It’s a journey.
I can’t stress enough how important is to surround yourself with people with the same mindset. Follow them, talk to them, meet them. It will be vital for keeping you on track and giving you the power to keep going.
Learn. Apply. Aim high.
If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
What I would do differently is to not focus so much on doing everything perfect from the start. I spend a lot of time learning and researching the perfect solution, design, copy and so on. I still think we should pay attention to what we release into the world, but it’s better to do it as soon as possible and learn and optimize from the feedback you receive – that’s the best way.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
To be a successful entrepreneur most of all you need to have a strong will. You will always face problems that pop up and you will need to solve them – you need a strong will to keep going. Being an entrepreneur means being a problem solver.
Another skill that is essential is the ability to see the big picture, you need to have a clear plan of where you want to go. And then work backwards and divide it into smaller goals. My dad always told me while I was in school that there is no big problem, it’s just a lot of little problems.
Lastly, a successful entrepreneur needs to be people - oriented. We work for and with people; pay attention to their feedback and respect your employees and customers – they come first.
