Leaders of CGM: Ioana Andriese – From Burn Scars to Brilliance: The Story of a Fierce Woman Who Refused to Break

Born and raised in the small town of Siret, in Suceava County, Ioana Andriese grew up hearing one thing over and over from her parents: "You have to study hard to become SOMEONE. A big person. To have more opportunities in life." Back then, there were no dreams shaped by hobbies or passions. Choices were made based on what was seen as a "secure future." 

As a little girl, Ioana had two wildly different career dreams. On one hand, she wanted to be a... homemaker. Yes, you read that right. She absolutely loved helping her mom around the house, doing laundry, cleaning, and tidying up. And the greatest reward was her mother's praise.  

On the other hand, she dreamed of becoming a doctor. A dream with a deep-rooted reason: at only 1.5 years old, she suffered a severe accident when a pot of boiling water spilled on her, burning her entire right arm. A good part of her childhood was spent in hospitals, undergoing surgeries and treatments. That experience made her resilient and gave her a desire to heal others as a surgeon or a medical researcher. 

Ioana was a solitary, boyish child, always more comfortable hammering nails in her father’s workshop than playing with dolls. Even today, her toolbox is one of her most prized possessions, and she fixes everything around the house with skill and pride. And as we know her, she carries a „toolbox” at work too, finding solutions and fixing problems like a pro. 

When she wasn’t in the hospital or in school, Ioana could be found outdoors, running through flower fields, exploring forests, playing near the river. Winter meant days on the sled, summer meant swimming in Siret and barefoot adventures across the meadows. She was a nature child, with deer and sunlight as her playmates. 

But always, always, she learned. Because she knew that was the only way to become "a big person." Her favorite subject? Romanian language. She wrote essays, poems, recited verses, and the entire universe of her studies revolved around the beauty of words. 

Ioana’s fire wasn’t lit in a classroom or at a career milestone. It was forged in hospital corridors, in nights filled with uncertainty, in the deep silences that follow a loss too great to put into words. Her father, the man who taught her how to use tools and to never back down from a challenge, passed away from cancer when Ioana was just 23. He wasn’t just her dad. He was her hero, her biggest cheerleader, the one who saw her strength even before she did. Losing him left an unfillable void. But it also planted a quiet resilience in her, a kind of strength that doesn’t shout, but stands tall when the world shakes. 

And the world shook again, when her mother, her safe haven, her source of wisdom and warmth, was diagnosed with cancer too. But this time, Ioana stood taller. She became the strong one, the one who held her mother through the storm. And they made it through together. Today, they speak every day, no matter what. They meet whenever they can. And in those phone calls, there’s laughter, love, and the kind of connection that only deep loss and deep healing can create. 

Ioana doesn’t talk about these things to impress or inspire. She carries them with quiet dignity, like the strongest people often do. But when you see her lead, when you hear her encourage a teammate, when you notice how fiercely she protects the people around her, you understand. She is not fearless because life has been easy. She is fearless because she has faced the unimaginable… and chosen, still, to smile. 

In high school, Ioana chose a mathematics-informatics track. Again, because it was considered "future proof." Then came college: she opted for Political Science, specifically International Relations and European Studies in Iași. Though introverted, she was drawn to people and community service. But reality hit hard. During internships in political parties and public institutions, she realized that politics in Romania wasn't her calling. 

Still, she pushed on, completing a master's degree in Public Policy and Institutional Management. Though uninspired by the content, she took away something valuable: she became a confident public speaker. 

While doing her master’s, she started working, out of both ambition and necessity. Her parents had moved to Italy for a better life, and she wanted to support herself. Jobs in her field were scarce, so she turned to her other skill: Italian. She joined a banking company as a Back-office operator, managing treasury transactions and banking operations. 

When the company launched an IT transition program, Ioana saw an opportunity. Not as a developer - that didn't speak to her - but as a Junior Business Analyst. She took a leap, interviewed, and got the job. She learned everything from scratch, just like she always had: "Learn. Learn. Learn.” Over the next 10 years, she kept evolving, switching roles, and growing. But eventually, she hit the ceiling. 

She wanted more: a bigger role, more responsibility, better compensation. A colleague mentioned that CGM was hiring. The healthcare domain instantly piqued her interest. It felt meaningful, as if she could fulfill at least part of her childhood dream. 

"It was my first interview in 10 years. I was extremely nervous, but I loved it. Emil Oprea created the perfect environment where I could just be myself. I felt an instant connection with everyone, and I signed the contract shortly after. On August 18, 2021, I officially became a CGMer." 

She started as a Product Owner for the BackEnd team on the CLICKDOC project, taking over from Octaviana Diaconu who had moved into a Product Architect role. Despite joining a well-established team, Ioana felt immediately welcomed. "It felt like we had known each other forever," she says. 

It wasn’t long before she transitioned to another PO role on the Patient Portal project - a mixed technology team where she now leads the Patient Request Management area as both PO and Team Lead. 

Joining CGM felt like more than just a career move. It felt like a calling. For the first time, Ioana saw a direct connection between her work and the possibility of doing real good in the world. It wasn’t just about software anymore; it was about improving people’s lives, supporting medical professionals, and creating tools that truly matter. That sense of meaning, combined with the warmth of the people she met during the interviews, sealed the deal. She didn’t just find a new role. She found her place. 

When Ioana talks about her work, her eyes light up. She knows her products inside-out, takes pride in their development, and beams when talking about her team. "Without them, I couldn’t build anything useful or cool for the healthcare market," she admits. 

She loves the AI-related features they are working on, especially Carl, the 35 multilingual phone assistant that helps reduce the workload of receptionists and medical staff, already well-received in countries around the world. Then there’s the Online Reception feature, a chat-based AI assistant they started building from scratch this year. 

In parallel, she coordinated the PO community (when CGM had a Functional Lead structure), and now she leads ClearSight, an internal project meant to bridge our professionals with medical personnel in Romania. 

Ioana’s leadership isn’t just professional. It’s personal. It’s authentic. She wasn’t initially sure about being part of the CGM leadership circle. But she discovered it brings her immense satisfaction. 

"I love the leadership area. I love talking to people and knowing that I can help. It brings me huge satisfaction. I call them „my people” and I always have their back, because people matter most." 

She is the kind of leader who turns pain into purpose, silence into strength, and every ending into a better beginning. 

In a world where people change jobs like they change coffee orders, Ioana Andriese has been with CGM for four years - and she’s just getting started. Her reasons for staying are not just about perks or career ladders. They’re about purpose, people, and that unmistakable feeling of belonging. For Ioana, CGM is more than a workplace; it's the place where her values align with the company’s mission, and where her journey continues to be both meaningful and challenging. 

And yes, she has her reasons: 

• The people. "I was lucky to find an incredible PO community, built by Emil Oprea, who remains a role model for me." 
• The vibe. Relaxed, informal, and human. 
• The benefits. Appreciated and meaningful. 
• Events, teambuildings, friendships. 
• The projects. Impactful and real. 
• And above all: the mix. Because everything counts. 

What’s especially inspiring is how she doesn’t take any of it for granted. Ioana is fully aware that a great job isn’t just something you find, it’s something you help build. And she’s actively building that mix for herself and for others, day by day, with the same energy she once brought to running barefoot through fields or fixing things in her father’s workshop. She’s living proof that when heart and hard work meet, you don’t just stay. You thrive. 

After years of growth, learning, and hard-won wisdom, Ioana doesn’t hand out advice lightly, but when she does, it comes from a place of genuine experience. She knows what it’s like to navigate uncertainty, to pivot from one career to another, to learn skills from scratch, and to lead with both courage and care. That’s why her guidance hits differently. It’s not a textbook; it’s lived. 

Here’s what she tells young professionals stepping into the world of work: 

• Stay open to the unknown. 
• Ask a million questions. 
• Hone your communication skills, no matter what your field. 
• Understand that you are the face of your team and product. 
• Keep professionalism above friendship. 
• Constantly adapt. 
• And of course: keep learning. Always. 

What makes her advice special is that it’s not just for newcomers. It’s a checklist many seasoned professionals would do well to revisit. Ioana doesn’t just talk about lifelong learning - she lives it. And she reminds us all that staying humble, hungry, and human is the real key to building a meaningful, lasting career. 

Beyond work, Ioana is a woman of deep joy and even deeper strength. She’s always up for an outing or an adventure. Ziplining? Heights? Count her in. She says YES to experiences, yes to friends, yes to life. 

"I wish I had invested more in travel, in myself. I wish I had put myself first more often." 

She reads - a passion passed down from her mother - to unwind and escape burnout. Her love of anime comes from her father. The anime she consumes now isn’t just nostalgia - it’s connection. 

If you see Ioana from afar, you might notice a graceful woman in a dress, always smiling. What you might not see is the fire inside. The strength built from childhood trauma, the resilience shaped by every hardship, the fierce joy in creating, fixing, leading. 

Ioana Andriese is not just a product owner. Not just a leader. She is a builder of bridges, a cultivator of courage, a joyful storm with tools in her bag and love in her heart. 

Ioana is a strong, adventurous and unstoppable woman. She is fearless, fierce and brave. She is fire and focus, all in one. 

She reminds us that great leaders don’t need spotlights. They shine by showing up, taking care, saying YES, and never stopping learning. They shine by smiling. 

Between the scars and the smiles lives a woman who didn’t just survive the fire. She learned to dance in its glow. 

She didn’t become a surgeon. But she heals in her own way, every single day, through the people she lifts, the products she builds, and the fire within. 

Her story is not just one of survival. It’s one of fierce purpose, quiet strength, and the kind of leadership that changes lives from the inside out. 

In a world that demanded her to be strong, she chose something even greater - to be kind, to be brave, and to keep showing up with a smile that says: I’m still here. I’m still building. And I’m not done yet.