Silviu Andrei Petran on Motivation, Professional Authenticity, and the Power of Learning from Experience
On November 19, students from the School of Computer Science for Business Management at the Romanian-American University met with Silviu Andrei Petran, Managing Director of Exploratist and one of the entrepreneurs who have built employee experience projects with both local and international impact in Romania. The event took place as part of the Meet the Graduate series, organized by the RAU Alumni Network.
The meeting was more than a speech—it was an open conversation about choices, mistakes, work, motivation, and the new reality young people must navigate in an era of accelerated technology. Silviu shared both the lessons that have shaped his career and the challenges he faced on the path to becoming an entrepreneur.
From the Romanian-American University to His First Business and then a €5 Million Turnover
Silviu told the students that the last time he had stepped into a classroom at the University was during his accounting exam—a subject that, surprisingly, would prove extremely useful much later, as an entrepreneur.
Right after graduating, he wanted to work in corporations. His sales experience helped him develop a solid network of contacts and offered him structure: he learned how to budget, create proposals, communicate effectively, write procedures, and meet deadlines. In parallel, he worked throughout college to pay for his studies, which helped him gain experience that set him apart from his peers and led to quick hiring in major corporations.
Entrepreneurship came later—“progressively,” as he describes it—since it was not something he initially aimed for. His first business idea emerged from a blend of opportunity, curiosity, and the desire to do things differently.
He founded a travel agency dedicated to personalized trips, starting with €10,000 and non-reimbursable funds.
The first project was implemented in Italy, inspired by Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons, and it was such a success that participants still tell him it was “the best experience of their lives.”
Over time, the agency transformed into a provider of experiences and training programs for large national and global businesses.
Today, the business coordinated by Silviu has reached a turnover of approximately €5 million, includes an NGO active in diversity & inclusion projects, and collaborates with global companies.
A major turning point was the pandemic:
|“We had many projects, many employees, and overnight we found ourselves with zero projects.”
The team adapted quickly, moving events online through an American platform, and within just four months they recovered the losses from the beginning of the crisis.
On Work, Motivation, and the Dangers of Shortcuts
Silviu’s consistent message to students was that the right motivation and endurance make the difference—not perfection or knowing everything:
|“You don’t need to know everything. You really don’t. You just need the right motivation to make a difference.”
|“Don’t get comfortable. Endurance is something you must practice constantly.”
|“Shortcuts are dangerous. They steal the experiences that shape us.”
He also warned about the risks of outsourcing thinking entirely to tools like ChatGPT:
|“I find it very dangerous to place all your resources into a single solution. Cognitive capacity can decrease if you don’t train it.”
On Human Interaction, Anxiety, and Responsibility
According to Silviu, the changes of recent years have made many young people avoid real interactions—an issue he has observed not only among students but across age groups. This creates both challenges and opportunities:
|“People avoid interactions. They prefer to stare at screens and simulate human connection. But this can also be an advantage for those willing to talk and connect.”
Regarding work, his message was clear:
|“In our organization, you don’t need to come to the office—but you do need to do your job.”
|“If you say you’ll deliver, then deliver. Be serious. Do your job, don’t do things halfway.”
|“Be your authentic professional self. Everything you do should be flawless.”
Silviu believes employers look primarily for responsibility, initiative, common sense, seriousness, and involvement.
Questions, Business Ideas, and an Open Dialogue
Students discussed their own business ideas with him—what works in the market, what doesn’t, failures, limitations, and sources of funding. Silviu suggested various paths, from gaining corporate experience before starting a business to exploring alternative options depending on context.
His final message to young people:
“I think it’s important to know what you want and not to get comfortable. Be curious. Be responsible. Be accountable.”
About Silviu Andrei Petran
We place people at the center of a society built on respect and empathy.
As Managing Director of Exploratist, a top agency specializing in employee experience, Silviu Andrei Petran oversees the design and implementation of innovative, high-impact projects for both local and international clients across various industries. With over 10 years of experience in this field, he has developed solid expertise in employee lifecycle management, talent and performance development, employer branding, and organizational strategy implementation.
He is also responsible for the growth and performance of the brand engagement division—Project Atom—which provides 360° services for B2B, B2C, and B2E projects. He leverages his skills in omnichannel strategy, integrated marketing campaigns, customer segmentation, and content marketing to deliver creative and engaging solutions that generate business results and customer loyalty.
All of Silviu’s projects share a common goal: shaping today’s society into a friendlier place, where people feel valued, heard, and treated with respect and empathy.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silviupetran/
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