From Prospector to Plateau Manager
How talent and drive can take you further than you ever imagined.
At DARE Academy, every career journey is unique, but some stand out as true stories of growth and perseverance. Liudmila Stegaru story is one of them. She joined ten years ago as a Prospector, and since then, she’s grown into roles as Buyer, Team Manager, and now Plateau Manager.
Behind this journey lies not only her determination, but also the guidance and learning opportunities offered by DARE Academy. By providing continuous development and the right challenges, DARE supported her in transforming potential into performance.
In this interview, she shares what kept her going, the challenges she faced, and the milestones that shaped her path.
Why did you join DARE?
Ten years ago, I joined DARE Academy as a Prospector in Iasi, Romania, because I wanted to learn the market, discover how the business worked, and see if I could build something meaningful. I was speaking Russian and English languages and my first tasks were simple but important – finding suppliers, making those first calls, and learning how to turn a cold lead into a real opportunity. It wasn’t easy, especially since Prospectors didn’t have their own supplier’s portfolio, back then. But I enjoyed the challenge and the fact that every new supplier I reached felt like a small victory.
What made you continue?
After just six months, I DAREd to do more than find opportunities. That’s when I became a Buyer, working on the Scandinavian markets. I loved negotiating, building trust with suppliers, and winning deals that made a difference for the team. Three years later, I discovered I had a passion for leading people. Becoming a Team Manager gave me the chance to create the same culture of trust and support that my mentors had once given me. Seeing others grow because of my guidance is what kept me going.
What were your biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?
There were many. In 2021, during Brexit, my UK team had to help design the new non-EU way of working with suppliers – a huge challenge with no playbook to follow. Then came the NEGOCIATOR project in 2022, where we piloted a brand-new structure: Buyers focusing only on active suppliers while Prospectors worked on finding new ones. It was uncharted territory, but the results proved it worked – 51% of revenue came from new business. Balancing these projects while still leading a team was tough, but it taught me resilience and the power of collaboration.
What motivates you to keep going?
Growth. Both my own and the people around me. I’ve learned that every stage – from Prospector to Buyer, Team Manager, and now Plateau Manager in Chisinau, Moldova – this journey has brought me new lessons and new chances to contribute. What motivates me is knowing that with every challenge, I can continue to make an impact while helping others grow, just like I did.
Liudmila’s story proves one thing: in clearance acquisitions, talent and drive can take you further than you ever imagined.
If you are ready to start your own journey in international, DARE Academy is the commercial school where it all begins.
DARE is the academy for people who want more and are willing to go the extra mile to get there.
The Academy’s mission is to attract, identify, recruit, train, coach high level commercial profiles, ready to become Veo’s and NOZ’s international traders in clearance.
DARE Academy was born to uncover hidden talent and give people the chance to grow into thriving careers in purchasing, at the heart of the world’s future leader in clearance. Since 2015, it has sparked ambition and growth through 150 training events across 27 countries, empowering over 2,000 graduates to rise, connect, and succeed in 15 different languages.
