Ștefan Ponea owns Mateco, the leader of the access platforms rental market in Romania. The entrepreneur who founded this company 15 years ago (under the brand Industrial Access) and sold it in 2 phases, believes in efficiency, innovation and digitalisation.

Career path – Path to success

At the age of 28 I made the step towards entrepreneurship when, together with other 3 associates, I founded Industrial Access. Previously, I had worked in a group of companies where I evolved from the position of driver to that of manager, leading and developing an equipment division within it, with a turnover of millions of euros.

The most difficult moment was when I began, from scratch, to build Industrial Access. It was the most difficult, but also the most beautiful moment, because it gave me the chance to put my ideas into practice, to learn by doing, to try, fail and pay for the experience I had gained. I invented, I didn’t copy. When you are innovative, it is very difficult for others to keep up with you.

A place where I had the chance to test my ideas and become better was EXEC-EDU, where I have graduated almost all the programs within the Management Academy.

As I couldn’t succeed to do everything on my own, I found a trustworthy help in EXEC-EDU team, for my entire managerial team, to have a common, articulated vision and a specific common language. Every member of the management team is enrolled in one or more programs organized by EXEC-EDU. With their help, I have succeeded to make the leap from an initial investment of 3000 USD to a turnover of 27 million euro, in 2019, becoming the leader of a very difficult and dispersed market.

3 principles for a successful career

1. Look at your figures, learn the financial language and operational efficiency. Only this way, you’ll be able to stay competitive, especially in markets where the consumer behavior is unpredictable.
2. Don’t make compromises. In choosing your business partners, the people you work with and even the clients. Only when you guide your choices by healthy principles, you can have a long-term success.
3. Set high standards for you and for your team. Lead by example and try to be better every day.

4 programs recommended by Ștefan