Lately, I’ve had a number of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations about meaning and how it evolves over time. One of my coaching clients said something that stayed with me: “Apparently, it’s all about the ‘M’ words.” When I asked him to explain, he said that initially, his career was driven by money, then by meaning.
Many of the professionals I work with recognize that they lack meaning in their careers and want to take a leap of faith toward a more fulfilling path. However, they also admit that the transition scares them.
With these ideas in mind, I started thinking about leaders I admire, those who have taken this leap of faith to make significant changes in their career paths. I invited a few of them to share their journeys and I am grateful beyond words that they accepted my invitation. Knowing them personally, I am inspired by their unwavering commitment to a new sense of purpose and the impact they create around them. I invite you to get to know them through these stories as well.
“For 16 years, I played the corporate game: big brands, ambitious targets, Fortune 500 boardrooms. The next title, the next bonus, the next promotion—it was a race, and I was winning. Or so I thought.
At first, I never questioned it. Everyone around me was sprinting in the same direction. But somewhere between the back-to-back meetings and high-stakes deals, a question crept in: Is this it? The strategies changed, the expectations grew, but the game stayed the same. And one day, I realized—I’d seen the full playbook.
What never felt stale, though, was the people. Watching my team step up, take risks, and own their space—that was different. That was exponential. It wasn’t about the numbers; it was about the transformations.
That’s when I knew: my next move wasn’t up the corporate ladder. It was out. I left the race to help ambitious women build careers that aren’t about playing along but about leading with confidence and authenticity. Because success should feel like yours, not just the next step on someone else’s path.
Today, meaning comes from seeing my clients claim their space at the table—not by fitting in, but by leading on their own terms. It’s a different kind of success, one that feels deeply personal and profoundly fulfilling.”
Julia Snedkova – ICF ACC Leadership Coach, Founder “Leaders Are Us”
“As I began my professional journey as an entrepreneur, the most powerful motivation behind my work was to create meaning for my clients. Since I was quite young, only 23 when I started, I quickly became deeply customer-obsessed, spreading this mindset to every new colleague I hired. We were in the marketing research business, so it was essential to me that we delivered services our clients could use to better understand their customers, improve their products, and increase their sales.
As we grew and eventually became the largest market research firm in the country, the meaning behind my work evolved. We were creating stable or temporary income for over a thousand people each year, which felt meaningful and brought a strong sense of responsibility and impact. At the same time, as a key player in the industry, we found purpose in continuously educating ourselves and the market on ethics, global best practices, and the latest knowledge in our field.
Throughout my 20s and 30s, I primarily attached meaning to what I was doing and how I was doing it, striving to achieve and succeed in various ways.
As I moved into my 40s and now my 50s, things gradually shifted. My focus turned from what and how I was doing things to who I am and why I do the work I do.
Today, I work primarily with leaders and leadership teams, aiming to instill a deeper sense of purpose, one that goes beyond numbers, targets, and rankings. Not instead of them, but alongside them.”
Cosmin Alexandru, Co-founder Teamology Institute
“For as long as I can remember, I have found meaning in the simple yet profound value of doing things well. Whether working in the banking industry, the nonprofit sector, or managing a social business, I have always believed that responsibility—toward the work itself, the people it impacts, and the bigger picture—creates its own kind of fulfillment. Even in roles that may not have seemed inherently purpose-driven, I found deep meaning in showing up with integrity, ensuring that every task, no matter how small, was done with care and accountability.
But meaning is not static—it evolves as we do. The most significant shift in my own journey came when I became a mother. At that point, even though I was excelling in my career and enjoying my work, something essential was missing. I no longer felt connected to the deeper why behind my efforts. Success in the traditional sense no longer felt like enough. I wanted my work to create an impact beyond financial results or well-executed projects—I wanted it to shape a better future, even in small ways, for other mothers like me and for the country our children will grow up in.
That search led me from a corporate career into the world of supporting mothers—first as a volunteer, then by overseeing a start-up NGO, and eventually by managing an impactful NGO and social business that empowers mothers through parenting education, a strong support community, and engagement in humanitarian projects. The transition felt natural, but it was far from easy. Choosing meaning over stability, adaptability over certainty, and impact over predictability requires a fundamental shift in mindset. However, it also brings a different kind of professional fulfillment—one that is deeply personal, intrinsically motivating, and ultimately far more sustainable.
Today, meaning in my work is no longer just about responsibility—it is about contribution. It is about creating something that lasts beyond individual efforts and seeing real change, even in small increments. And, just as before, it continues to evolve. But what remains constant is this: when we align our skills with something that truly matters to us, work becomes more than a job—it becomes a way of shaping the world around us.”
Oana Popescu – Executive Director, LaPrimulBebe
“The decision to transition from a military career to the business world was influenced by three main factors.
The first was positive impact. I felt that I no longer had the same positive impact I had become so accustomed to during my career. It was about developing people—trusted comrades with whom I had achieved exceptional performance in everything we did, including combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The high-quality leadership that I had both received and provided was beginning to suffer systemically within the Romanian Army. I no longer felt like I belonged, and I realized that the system, as well as the broader context, no longer had the necessary ingredients for military personnel to receive the exceptional leadership they so greatly deserved.
The second was growth. Despite my successes and the appreciation I received, I could feel my professional development starting to stagnate. Being in an environment that fostered continuous growth was very important to me.
The third, and perhaps most significant, was meaning. The military vow I took, along with the missions I carried out, were sacred to me and answered the most fundamental question: “WHY?”
I started to realize that the theoretical or officially conveyed answers to this question were no longer fully aligned with what was actually happening on the ground. And the pressure I was beginning to feel became something I could no longer endure.
This triad—impact, growth, and meaning—represents my North Star, and I regularly reflect on it. At Autonom, I fully experience all three today.”
Radu Predescu, Executive Director Autonom Lease
I would like to invite you to share what resonated with you from the stories of the four leaders I invited or contribute any other story related to meaning. I hope that, together, we can create even more inspirational material.
Great leaders grow together and great leaders find meaning together.