What you don't see when building a brand

My profile may show you a woman with a brand that is growing beautifully. But there are many things you don't see.

At 20, I was trying to figure out where I wanted to go.

At 22, I'm juggling jobs, projects, and many challenges.

At 23, I took a risk and started out on my own — with a first failure that I had to bear.

At 24, I opened my first company in my own name.

At 27, I laid the first foundations of what would become Vanilla Days. I changed direction many times until I felt I was exactly where I needed to be.

At 32, in the midst of a pandemic, I didn't send anyone on temporary unemployment. What's more: I had just taken over five women from a tailor shop — no collection, no income, just responsibility and expenses. And I was the one who made the hard decisions that kept us afloat.

At 34, I was moving a factory — with all the stress, logistics, and pressure that comes with it.

Today, at 37 years old, I lead a team, create collections, have showrooms and a brand that grows every month. And I move forward with the same determination.

And yet…

It wasn't obvious when I worked all night because I was a one-man show.

It didn't show when I taught myself marketing, production, logistics, e-commerce, finance – as best I could.

It didn't show when I went through harassment, abuse, complaints, fake articles — and I continued to work quietly.

It didn't show when I cried in the workshop because I couldn't find the right solution.

The loneliness of decisions that only entrepreneurs understand was not seen either.

The stress of the days when we didn't know where the money for our salaries would come from, while the account was empty, was not visible.

The moment when I took heart in my teeth and, through tears, asked my mother for money—and it wasn't just a few lei—was not seen.

The huge responsibility of knowing that people and families depend on you was not seen.

And they don't see each other even now.

But they exist.

And they built what is seen today.

At some point I chose to take myself seriously.

Not to wait for rescuers.

To do what is right, even when I have been judged, criticized, or underestimated.

I invested in real skills.

I've learned to choose people who really believe in me and Vanilla.

I learned to create teams.

I learned to manage production, grow a brand, create a community.

I learned to talk, sell, create, and solve — no shortcuts.

And I learned not to be perfect anymore.

To leave space for the process, for mistakes, for evolution.

Too many women waste years waiting for the perfect moment.

There is no perfect moment.

There is only one choice: to start or not to start.

The truth?

No one is coming to save you.

If you want more, start now.

You learn. You build. You invest in yourself.

And the version of you in a few years will thank you for your courage.