Sorina Cucuta Popa

Sorina Cucuta – Popa has almost twenty years of experience within the education, training, human resources and management, with a very good knowledge of the business environment.

She has held successfully a range of executive positions, most of them at Board level, across project management, academia, marketing, PR, human resources and general management. In addition, Sorina was Associate Professor with The Romanian – American School of Business in cooperation with University of Washington, associate trainer for the Institute of Organizational Management and now works in international coaching teams.

Founder and managing partner of New Link Consulting Group, a Bucharest-based consulting company, she established the firm in 2001 when she integrated her many years of human resources and project management experience with her knowledge of numerous industries.

Sorina works predominately with senior level management representatives of global business, of different nationalities. She leverages her diverse business experience by increasing understanding of cultural differences and using them constructively within different business contexts, by implementing performance management processes and personal and organizational development programs across a wide range of organizations

Additional Detail:

Beginning her career in 1992, Ms. Cucuta-Popa held project management and PR positions with a USAID financed program of University of Washington, being involved in several national and international projects developed by this American University in cooperation with different other universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations in Romania.

In 1993, Sorina started, together with a very enthusiastic Romanian-American team, the first Executive Master of Business Administration Program in Central and Eastern Europe, offered by University of Washington in cooperation with the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. In her role as Academic Coordinator and after graduating the program herself as Marketing Director, she had the chance to initiate and develop professional relations with the local business community as well as with foreign business people working in or just visiting Romania.

During the six years of building the curriculum and functional structure of the ASEBUSS EMBA Program, she became an Associate Professor teaching executive courses, especially in the area of communication (for specialized training on Communication, Presentation skills and Team Building).

Besides ASEBUSS, she carried out several consulting projects, to mention only the research study conducted on the Romanian agricultural market with a special focus on the local commodity exchange, pricing mechanisms and distribution practices, on behalf of an international company, as well as feasibility studies aimed at supporting the decision of one of the most important European bank to open new subsidiaries in Cluj and Timisoara.

Prior to founding New Link Consulting Grup, Ms. Cucuta-Popa was a Senior Consultant with Korn/Ferry International. She successfully completed here senior-level executive searches for many prominent organizations in a variety of economic sectors.

For approximately two years, Ms. Cucuta-Popa was HR Director with Pepsi Americas. In that role she managed the Company's HR areas (compensation & benefits, organizational development, recruitment, internal communication etc) and was directly involved in the change management activity, playing a significant role in integrating the business, starting the cultural change of the organization, establishing human capital processes (performance menagemetn dreaven) and building a strong Human Resources team.

Associations:

Founding member of the “Romanian – American Postgraduate School of Business” Foundation –ASEBUSS, 1993

Founding member of the Executive MBA Alumni Association, 1995

Associate professor for specialized training on Communication,Team building, Presentation skills, 1996

Founding member of the Romanian Entrepreneurial Women Association, 1998

Associate trainer for the Institute of Organizational Management,2006

Member of the International Coaching Federation, 2006
(Founder and Vice President for the Romanian Chapter)

Education:

1994 - 1996 Diploma of Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)from the The Romanian-American School of Business – ASEBUSS in cooperation with University of Washington, Seattle

1992 - Bachelor degree in Economics at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest

Professional Credentials:

2012, Organization & Relationship Systems Coaching Training from Center for Right Relationship an ICF Accredited Coach Training Program

2011, Delegative Processes for systemic team and organizational coaching” with Alain Cardon MCC

2009, Train for Trainers Certification Program by DCG. Recognized by Romanian Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Education

2009, DISC Certified Trainer

2008, Influencing Skills Workshop organized by PepsiCo International

2007, Fundamentals of Co-Active Coaching, Fulfillment, Balnce, Process &Coaching In the Boans from The Coaches Institute an ICF Accredited Coach Training Program

1993 Summer, Training program at University of Washington (Seattle) for the set-up and academic coordination of the Postgraduate School of Business.

1996 Spring, Postgraduate seminar on the challenge of Marketing for Business Schools. The International Executive Development Centre - Brdo, Slovenia.

2000 Spring, "Senior Associates Development Program" with an "Interviewing skills" component organized by Korn/Ferry International, Provence, France

2001 Spring, “Media Relations” Workshop with an “Effective Public Communicator” organized by the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE).

2002 Spring, Negotiation skills - Prof. Dr. Luis Maria Huerte, Doctor of Business Administration, Boston University, USA

2003 Spring, The Methodology Behind the Service Profit Chain. A CRM approach to business. Clienting - Prof. Dr. Luis Maria Huerte, Doctor of Business Administration, Boston University, USA

2003 Autumn, Sales and Facilitation courses for “Effective Personal Productivity” programs – Leadership Management International

2004 Spring, Driving Organization and Individual Performance Using a Balanced Scorecard Approach - Prof. Dr. Rodney Alsup, Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, Kennesaw University, USA

2004 Autumn, Emotional Intelligence Leadership - Prof. Dr. Luis Maria Huete, Doctor of Business Administration, Boston University, USA

2005 Spring, Measurement and tracking results in personal and organizational development programs – Leadership Management International, Vancouver, Canada

2005 Autumn, Coaching and potential development in/through personal and organizational programs – Leadership Management International, Stockholm, Sweden

2006 Summer, Facilitation course for “Effective Personal Leadership” program – Leadership Management International

2007, “Co-Active Coaching Fundamentals” an ICF Accredited Coach Program, ACTP – delivered by The Coaches Training Institute, USA,

2008 Spring “Influencing skills” Workshop – Giles Welch, SEMU, organized by PepsiCo International

"I have known Ms. Sorina Cucuta-Popa for at least three years as career coach. from thi experience I can say with confidence that Ms. Cucuta is a dedicated coach who can lead others by setting a strong example with her effort and intensity.

Ms Cucuta shares her knowledge unreservedly she is a great facilitator who excels in her knowledge and is highly sensitive to the learner's needs. She has the ability to deliver content and techniques in an interesting, convincing and inspiring manner.

By her personality he succeed to provoke great discussions and to deal with tough and important decisions.

She has a solid in depth understanding of ones professional needs and that is why I highly recommend Ms. Cucuta as a professional coach for any company or individual who wants to make a difference. I have yet to meet a coach or attended a seminar that has matched her standard of excellence."

Shachar Shine, President, United Romanian Breweries Bereprod

"I have been working with Sorina for years, during which time she assisted me in her capacity as a coach working with me on "Personal Productivity coachingg sessions.

During the time of our association I have observed Sorina as an extremely intelligent, trust worthy and highly motivated person in all aspects related with her work. She is very knowledgeable in her field of activity and demonstrated a strong capacity to manage tight schedules and last minute situations. Her enthusiasm is greatly appreciated and as a result I have extended out partnership due to her outstanding performance.

I am pleased to recommend her present capacity of Managing Pernerar New ink Consulting."

James D. Steward, Jr., Vice President- Treasury and Capital Markets Division, Raiffeisen Bank Romania