We meet today at a celebratory time, to honour one of Romania’s longest standing media outlets and the country’s most-read source for news in English. I am happy and honoured to share some thoughts on leadership, even more so since my connection to Nine O’Clock dates way back in my days as a young diplomat in the Romanian MFA, when one of my tasks was to prepare congratulatory speeches for different national days of partner countries, that were then published in this outlet.
We also meet in a world that feels more VUCA than ever before — volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. And in such a landscape, the question is no longer whether Europe needs strong leadership, but what kind of leadership is capable of navigating this moment with clarity, coherence, and courage.
For me, European leadership today is, above all, collaborative. It moves away from the old reflex of hierarchy and gravitates towards partnership, shared responsibility, and coalition-building. In times of fragmentation and polarisation, leadership cannot be exercised from a pedestal. It must be practiced in relationship — between governments, institutions, businesses, civil society, communities, and citizens. It requires the humility to listen, the discipline to remain transparent, and the moral consistency to walk the talk, even when pressures pull us in opposite directions.
And delivering these reflections here, at the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic, carries a special meaning. Europe’s entire political imagination is grounded in the Greek legacy of democracy, dialogue, and civic responsibility. The Greek tradition taught us that leadership is inseparable from accountability, that debate is a public good, and that the strength of a society lies not in unanimity, but in the capacity to disagree constructively. The ancient agora remains one of history’s most powerful metaphors for what we practice today: a space where ideas are tested, where citizens participate, and where leadership is continuously renewed through openness, reason, and courage. This heritage still inspires Europe’s governing ethos — and it guides the work we honour today.
Diplomacy, in this context, expands far beyond negotiation tables. It becomes a daily practice of building trust, making complexity intelligible, and defending the space where dialogue is still possible. And platforms like Nine O’Clock are essential in sustaining this space. At a time when public debate is vulnerable to noise, distortion, and emotional manipulation, responsible journalism becomes democratic infrastructure. Nine O’Clock contributes not only to transparency, but also to economic literacy, cultural awareness, and the deeper understanding that allows societies to remain resilient.
Leadership and business are equally being reshaped by this new reality. The leaders who matter today are those who combine vision with integrity, innovation with responsibility, performance with empathy. And Romania’s business community offers many such examples, consistently highlighted by Nine O’Clock: stories that remind us that sustainable leadership is not about slogans or strategies, but about daily behaviour, fairness, and accountability. In Europe’s current context, credibility is not a communication exercise — it is a practice.
Innovation and social impact also belong at the heart of this discussion. Europe’s competitiveness and cohesion depend increasingly on ecosystems that bridge public policy, private sector creativity, scientific thinking, and civic engagement. The future will not be shaped by isolated actors, but by the quality of partnerships we build and the courage with which we pursue them. And media platforms that identify, present, and support initiatives that strengthen communities perform a genuine public service.
And finally: no conversation about leadership can ignore the quiet, steady rise of women who lead with authenticity, and relational intelligence. Gender-balanced leadership is not symbolic; it is strategic, this is what we think and how we act in Europe. It increases resilience, innovation capacity, and institutional trust. And by giving visibility to women’s stories, achievements, and perspectives, Nine O’Clock helps correct long-standing blind spots and expands the horizon of what leadership can look like.
In my own experience, both in diplomacy and public service, I have learned that leading in times of uncertainty requires a paradoxical combination: firmness and openness, clarity and empathy, structure and imagination. It means remaining anchored in values, even when the environment shifts; choosing integrity over convenience; and remembering that influence is not measured by volume, but by coherence.
Europe is being tested, but Europe is not fragile. What makes it strong is exactly what brings us together today: dialogue, curiosity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to act responsibly in the face of complexity.
Thank you for the invitation and thank you for the work each of you does to build a Europe that listens, learns, and leads with both courage and humanity. Congratulations Nine O’Clock and Mihai Manea! Thank you, 
Ambassador Lili Grammatika for hosting!”
Speech at Nine O’Clock Magazine 34 year Celebration
