What We Add to Our Expertise: Perspectives from BRAND MINDS 2026
In construction, expertise is built over time through experience, technical rigor, a strong understanding of legislation and processes, and, above all, through the realities of projects and the situations that call for precise answers.
Yet a professional’s work extends well beyond the boundaries of their own specialization. People, decisions, negotiations, different interests and change are all part of the same professional landscape. Perspectives from other fields can therefore provide valuable new reference points to complement the expertise already built.
At Ghallard, this is precisely the purpose of learning opportunities outside the technical sphere: to bring new perspectives into the way we think and work. At BRAND MINDS 2026, Lavinia, Quantity Engineer, together with Roxana and Sebastian, Project Managers, joined conversations spanning strategy, marketing, leadership, competitiveness and human behavior.
Over two days, they listened to speakers with very different backgrounds and approaches, including Diana Kander, Jonas Ridderstråle, Seth Godin, Stéphane Garelli, Loredana Pădurean and Oprah Winfrey. The Business Strategy Masterclass, led by Professor Costas Markides, complemented the conference programme with a dedicated perspective on strategy in an ever-changing environment.
From a programme rich in ideas, each of them took away the insights that resonated most with their own interests and professional experiences.
Lavinia
For Lavinia, Diana Kander brought the idea of surprise into focus, both as a point of differentiation and as a way of creating moments that stay with people. The concept sparked her interest so much that, after the conference, Go Big or Go Home had already made its way onto her reading list.
Jonas Ridderstråle caught her attention with his perspective on premium experiences and differentiation, while Oprah Winfrey took her reflections in a more personal direction, towards the way we listen and what we can discover about ourselves in the process.
“The real magic lies elsewhere: it makes you listen to your own inner voice.”
Oprah Winfrey’s books also made it onto Lavinia’s reading list. And when asked what she is taking away from the experience, she says:
“I am convinced that, after this experience, I will move forward with confidence, with the joy of creating and with the desire to surprise, to create that sense of surprise as a team.”
Roxana
During Seth Godin’s presentation, Roxana was particularly struck by the way a speaker with a global audience managed to establish such a direct connection with the audience in Bucharest. His references to Romania and images of Piața Victoriei brought a sense of familiarity to a broader conversation about marketing and systems thinking.
“Seth Godin impressed me with the clarity of his ideas and the way he adapted his presentation to the local context.”
The two days also extended beyond the stage, through the conversations and interactions among participants:
“It was a wow experience and an opportunity to meet interesting, intelligent people who were open to new perspectives. I really enjoyed the energy created by this community.”
Sebastian
For Sebastian, attending BRAND MINDS connected naturally with his work as a Project Manager and with the situations he encounters across projects:
“I left with new ideas and perspectives that have enriched the way I analyse situations I may encounter in the future.”
Experience and technical knowledge provide the foundation for sound analysis within a project. Exposure to different ways of thinking can add new reference points to how situations are approached and decisions are made.
At Ghallard, professional development starts with a solid foundation of expertise and continues to grow through experience, the exchange of ideas and access to perspectives that complement each person’s specialization. In an industry where projects bring together different disciplines, people and interests, the ability to see the bigger picture becomes part of how we grow as professionals.
