“When someone comes to me and tells me that I’ve changed their life, it fills me with gratitude knowing I have such an impact,” says Irina Arsene, a Romanian entrepreneur who leads Mindit, a company with over 250 engineers. Mindit.io’s vision is to become the partner of choice for software product engineering and to offer specialized support teams for international companies.
Irina started in Romania, but today she lives in Switzerland with her two children while continuing to run her successful business.
What was the initial idea behind your business? Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur?
If I had to say what defines me, it’s the process of learning. I’m a ‘life explorer.’ Ten years ago, I started in the HR business, but I’m a computer science engineer, and since 2015, I’ve been in the software business. I love sitting in front of a computer and creating something out of nothing. It’s beautiful and fascinating. For me, programming is amazing; it involves a lot of creativity.
I enjoy finding potential in people who don’t see it in themselves and supporting them. When you support someone, you can change their life. I believe no one is perfect, and we shouldn’t focus on our weaknesses but rather on our strengths. That’s where growth happens.
By the time I was thirty, I already had a great career and two wonderful children. I realized how fantastic my life was and wanted to help others achieve the same. I discovered that my strengths lie in business and helping others. When someone comes to me and tells me that I’ve changed their life, it fills me with gratitude knowing I have such an impact.
What led to the founding of your company?
I founded it in 2015. We specialize in software development and employ over 250 people. Also, we run an HR company, which is a completely different field from IT. We operate in Switzerland, Germany, and partly in Austria.
What’s important to me is that we function as one team and it’s not just about providing services. When you put both your mind and heart into something, it creates something magical. It’s not just code; it changes people’s lives. We have skills that we develop and think about how to use them. To create something meaningful, you need to invest a piece of yourself into it.
With today’s fast technology development, what do you think is the future of AI? Will there still be a need for programmers eventually?
People will still be needed. I don’t see AI as a threat; I see it as an opportunity. It’s all about the mindset—seeing the possibilities that artificial intelligence brings. I view it as a chance to create innovative and intelligent solutions. While some people live in the past and reminisce about how things were when they were younger, I have the opposite problem: I live in the future. I should focus more on enjoying the present moment. But I’m someone who’s always dreaming. When I want to do something, 80% of it happens in my mind and only 20% is in the actual task.
Recently, you posted on LinkedIn saying you’re a ‘future astronaut.’ Could you explain that further?
When I was a child, I wanted to be an astronaut. I started in a small town in Romania, in a poor family. It seemed impossible at the time. But nothing is impossible. People say, ‘The sky is the limit,’ but for me, not even the sky is the limit.
I’m proud of my Romanian heritage and the educational system where I learned so much. But there’s also a beautiful world outside with many opportunities. The more you learn and discover, the more you realize that people are similar despite different cultures, religions, locations, and industries. We all ask the same questions: How to be a better parent? How to be a better person? What is the meaning of my existence? That’s the essence.
I believe that when you step back and look at a person as a whole, it gives you a sense of unity. That’s why I would like to go to space—to see the world as one whole. I also ask existential questions about the meaning of life. My family and I have lived abroad for a while, facing challenges and integrating into a new culture, which wasn’t always easy. But it brought us closer together. You start focusing more on what connects you rather than what divides you.
I love people and enjoy finding potential in those who don’t see it in themselves.
You live in Switzerland but part of your team is in Romania, how do you co-work with them?
During the pandemic, we were also separated and worked remotely. We had meetings to have a bit of fun. We enjoy meeting up for coffee and discussing ideas. I really miss the energy of being in the same room together. And I miss that energy when we’re apart.
Balance between genders is important. It brings a fresh breeze into company.
Yes, we’re complementary, and that’s a good thing. Given the chance, women can be excellent leaders even at the top management level. Family is very important to me. I believe you can have both a family and a career if you have support. You need support both at work and at home.
For me, freedom means I don’t have to work, but I choose to because I want to do work that I’m passionate about. When I have a passion, I’m a better mom. Instead of just telling my children what to believe or how the world is, I show them that if they work hard, their dreams can come true. I lead by example and bring that passion into their lives. And when I’m with my kids, it’s not because I have to, but because I want to.
Irina
What is the system like in Romania for mothers?
Maternity leave is two years. I was a working mother, and I think the system is okay, but it’s focused on the mother rather than parenting as a whole. It’s embedded in our culture. There is pressure when a woman has a child; even in my own family, when I went back to work after three months, my sister asked me what kind of mother I was.
Ironically, these questions often come from other women. I told my sister that I am the best mother my child could have. It’s about mindset. If we have a voice and influence, we need to educate people and talk about it. We should tell young people, colleagues, and women that if they want to support a young mother, they shouldn’t automatically push her towards motherhood but rather support her dreams and passions and listen to her. This way, she will become a better mother.
Irina, what were the biggest challenges you faced building Mindit?
We started from scratch, and the first two to three years were very tough. Every project was a ‘make it or break it’ situation. Every month that we managed to make payroll was a significant victory. Now we’re going through a transformation; we’re no longer a small company but a mid-sized one, so we need to establish different processes. But I’m excited about it. Everything depends on the team—everyone is important and on the same level; we don’t have a hierarchy. Everyone is part of one big flower, and we need everyone to make that flower beautiful.
I believe in the future of our company because we are building it together. All I need to do is continue learning, inspiring others, and supporting my team throughout our ongoing process of growth.
Aren’t you scared of leading a big company?
I find intellectual stimulation in the idea that having a bigger business and larger numbers gives me the chance to have a greater impact. All limits are only as big as you set for yourself. I learn a lot from transformation, and as a company grows, you can’t avoid it. It’s about the joy of learning new things. I don’t set limits for myself, so big numbers don’t surprise me. I have the advantage of having the choice.
Irina
Irina, what do you consider your biggest success by far?
I view the entire process of building a business as a journey to success. But if I had to choose one event, it might be being named Inspiring Woman of the Year by Ernst & Young. I received this award earlier this year in Romania. Or perhaps the fact that I’ve been in business for 10 years. I don’t need external validation. I do it to make an impact. But the best part is enjoying the journey and knowing that what you do is meaningful to others.
When I accepted the award, I stood on stage as the only woman among about twenty men, and I thought there should be more women up there. If I can inspire even one woman, I would consider that a win.
How would you advise women working in a business environment?
I don’t like to give advice because everyone has to find their own answers within themselves. But reflecting on my own journey, I’ve found that when I focused on what was important to me and believed in it, I simply couldn’t give up. People often fear declaring what their life’s purpose is or what their business is about. You need to find your sense of purpose or something that drives you forward and not give up. It doesn’t matter what others think. Be true to yourself, stand by your truth, and follow your passion. Some may leave you, but others will join you, and you’ll discover beautiful things in these people, in the world, and within yourself.
