Gabriela Nistor, Deputy CEO, Retail Banking, BT, gave an interview to Business Magazin on the occasion of being named among the 100 most powerful women in business for the second year running.

The most important lesson I learned during the pandemic:

That any crisis also creates contexts in which certain stages are fast-tracked, and you need to turn them into opportunities. This time, that meant the adoption of online banking solutions, because distancing brought many people closer to online alternatives. For example, 500,000 BT retail customers made their first online card transaction during the state of emergency. Since the start of the pandemic, we have launched about 20 solutions for #bankingfromhome.

The most important decision I made in the past year:

It was the initiative to support our customers during the pandemic, announced in March 2020, namely extending the grace period on credit cards. It was the most important decision because it was a first in banking, it set a trend in the market and, above all, because of its impact: almost half a million cards were exempted for 3 months from the monthly payment due thanks to the extended grace period.

How I kept my colleagues motivated over the past year:

We kept the team motivated by developing projects and celebrating every success, especially as this was a period when we accelerated and reprioritized many ideas on the remote banking side and offers for clients.

Work from home or from the office?

It depends very much on the type of work, and in times that call for flexibility, it’s best to be flexible and do what works best. At Banca Transilvania as well, during this period we have had to go with a flexible model — we have colleagues who work very well from home, and we periodically “rotate” roles. As for me, I prefer the work-from-the-office model, which I think is natural for top management and also to set an example for my colleagues on the front line. If you have teams where people’s skills are complementary, you need to make the most of that. Teams need to complement each other, support each other and talk — from the office and from home. But we quite literally need to be together, because there are so many good things in our team that can’t be replicated through remote interactions. At BT, our collaborative organizational culture, with an emphasis on teamwork and solidarity, has helped us get through what the pandemic has meant so far more easily. Agility and adaptability when it comes to working from home are strengths of many businesses, including among our clients. It has been the solution for staying available and open, wherever they may be.

Where I get the energy to get through a crisis:

I’m motivated by projects brought to completion, by seeing that those who work with us like what we do. Any crisis, no matter how hard, passes in the end. I’ve also kept an eye on other crises; it’s interesting to see how people react in periods that catch us by surprise.

The person who inspired me most during this period:

Many people have inspired me. If I am to refer to Banca Transilvania, I would start with my colleagues in BT branches and agencies, those on the front line, who were there, courageous, in difficult times. I was inspired by my direct team, who worked day and night to develop, together, projects that were so necessary for clients. I was also inspired by clients who adapted to what the pandemic brought in terms of adopting banking solutions and who thus generated new trends.

Power vs. femininity:

I don’t see power as the preserve of femininity, nor do I think the two are mutually exclusive. Simply put, a person is more or less strong, and power has many ways of expressing itself. I don’t believe that power, seen as strength, as the ability to get things done, detracts in any way from a woman’s femininity.