Leadership Mentoring

I help IT leaders manage the part that
doesn't come with a manual.

Mentoring for managers navigating new roles, difficult teams, and hard conversations.

Day to day leadership is complicated, not because the work is hard, but because people are. I help you see the situation differently and find the pragmatic path forward.

Let's Talk How I Help
Mihai Costea
15+
Years Experience
200+
Team Members Led
€14M
Budget Managed
The Reality

THE PART NO ONE PREPARES YOU FOR

Day to day leadership is complicated, not because the work is hard, but because people are. Most managers get stuck not from lack of effort, but from looking at the situation from the wrong angle.

The technical skills that got you promoted will not save you here. Managing people, navigating politics, having hard conversations, growing into a new role — none of this comes with instructions.

What changes everything is perspective. Seeing the situation as it actually is, not as anxiety or frustration frames it.

How do I manage a difficult situation?
When the team is stuck, the stakeholder is unhappy, or the conversation keeps going nowhere.
How do I grow into this new role?
When the expectations are higher, the visibility is greater, and the old playbook no longer works.
How do I manage my team or my manager?
When the relationships are complex, the dynamics are tense, or you are not sure how to lead.
The Approach

HOW I HELP

We tend to overcomplicate what is often simpler than it looks. Through 1-on-1 mentoring, I help you step back, look at the context differently, and find the pragmatic path forward.

No templates. No generic advice. Just a clearer view of your specific situation, grounded in 15 years of real leadership experience across sales, IT delivery, and global teams.

My approach is rooted in empathy, honesty, and practical wisdom. I offer real conversations that help you think more clearly and act more decisively.

I contribute as a mentor at Bridging Gaps, a non-profit supporting middle managers, first-time managers, and senior SMEs navigating leadership transitions. Mentees from Bridging Gaps looking to continue their journey are welcome here.

🎯
First-Time Managers
Navigating the leap from individual contributor to people leader.
🧭
Role Transitions
Growing into new expectations when the old playbook no longer fits.
💬
Hard Conversations
Building the confidence and skill to handle what most people avoid.
👁
Perspective Shift
Seeing the situation as it actually is, not as fear or frustration frames it.
Between Sessions

THE PRACTICE TOOL

Hard conversations don't get easier by thinking about them. They get easier by having them.

Between our sessions, you can practice real situations from your own experience in a safe environment. Describe what you are facing, simulate the conversation, and get feedback grounded in proven leadership frameworks.

No judgment. No consequences. Just repetition until it feels natural.

Access is available to active mentees by invitation only.

Request Access via Contact
Simulated conversation
I already told you last week I'm not happy with the direction this project is going. Why should anything be different now?
I hear you. I want to understand specifically what's not working for you so we can address it directly.
That's what you said last time. I'm not sure you actually listen.
AI Feedback
Good use of acknowledgment. Your response stayed calm under provocation. Consider asking a more specific question to move past the resistance rather than restating intent.
About Me

WHO I AM

I started my career in sales and account management, developing strong commercial instincts and a deep understanding of client needs before moving into IT project and delivery leadership.

Now serving as Business Partner within Cegeka's Global Delivery Center, I lead growth initiatives in Greece and support multiple international business lines across Europe.

I'm appreciated for a hands-on, collaborative leadership style, acting as a trusted partner, mentor, and sounding board for both clients and teams. I believe great delivery starts with great relationships.

Passionate about continuous learning, I am actively involved in pro bono coaching initiatives that support the next generation of leaders, helping middle managers, first-time managers, and senior SMEs navigate leadership transitions.

My background spans Romania, Greece, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, and Germany, giving me a truly international perspective on delivery and business growth.

Career

RESUME

April 2025 - Present
Business Partner / Delivery Director
Cegeka · Global IT Company
  • Strategic Business Partner for Romania, Greece, and Republic of Moldova, integrating new business units into the Global Delivery Center.
  • End-to-end delivery accountability, serving as senior point of contact for clients, ensuring SLA compliance and strong customer satisfaction.
  • Improved efficiency by 10% YoY and reduced escalations by 60% through executive-level reporting and proactive risk management.
  • Partnered with Sales and Pre-Sales to secure +€2M new business annually, strengthening strategic partnerships.
  • Championed innovation and continuous improvement, shortening delivery cycles and optimizing cost efficiency.
December 2019 - April 2025
Business Unit Manager
Cegeka
  • Grew the delivery center from 73 to 200+ professionals across Bucharest, Iași, Chișinău, and Athens.
  • Executed the Nearshore Strategy with the Group Nearshore Director, driving 20-25% annual growth.
  • Managed project pipeline and forecasts across BE, NL, SE, IT, and DE business lines, achieving NPS of 9.
  • Oversaw operational performance with budgets up to €14M, risk, and quality metrics.
  • Implemented retention strategies that achieved 96% Engagement score and reduced attrition from 41% to 12%.
September 2016 - December 2019
Delivery Director
Levi9
  • Contributed to +30 FTE YoY, reduced overhead by 10%, and achieved targeted EBIT across the European delivery center.
  • End-to-end delivery accountability for internal and external clients, achieving 9+ customer satisfaction score.
  • Built high-performing teams of 17 managers and 200+ team members across multiple geographies.
  • Actively contributed to pre-sales activities supporting acquisition of new clients and long-term business growth.
September 2015 - September 2016
Delivery Manager
Levi9
  • Delivered diverse IT projects in Agile environments, achieving +30% margin.
  • Managed daily IT operations, risks, budgets up to $10.5M, quality and scope.
  • Led cross-functional teams of 100+ members across Romania, ensuring high-quality outcomes.
2013 - June 2015
Project Manager
Mobile Touch
  • Directed project delivery, ensuring all deliverables were produced on time and within scope.
  • Managed resource allocation, risks, contingencies, and cross-team dependencies.
  • Established effective communication frameworks with all stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
2005 - 2013
Early Career — Sales and Account Management
Advertising · BPO · Retail · Cloud Solutions · Distribution
  • Progressive roles in sales, account management, and team leadership across multiple industries.
  • Built strong foundations in business development, client relationship management, and team leadership.
  • This commercial background shaped a business-focused mindset that continues to inform my technology leadership today.
Credentials

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2025 · Expires 2030
Advanced AI Prompt Engineer Certification for Directors of IT
CompleteAiTraining.com
2025 · Expires 2027
Generative AI Fundamentals — Academy Accreditation
Databricks
2019
Professional Scrum Master
Scrum.org
Coming Soon

WORKSHOPS

In Development

Group workshops and training programs for leadership teams are currently in development. If your organization is interested in early access, reach out via the contact section below.

Express Interest
Get In Touch

LET'S TALK

Whether you are coming from Bridging Gaps, were referred by someone, or simply feel this is the right fit, reach out and let's have a conversation.

mihaimircea.costea@gmail.com LinkedIn +40 742 225 474
My Practice

SESSIONS

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Describe your real situation. The more specific you are, the more realistic the simulation.

🤝
Cooperative
Open to dialogue
🧱
Resistant
Pushes back
⚡
Hostile
Confrontational
Direct Report
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