People in Lighting: Alexandra Turnagiu
Alexandra Turnagiu
Sales Support Manager - Schréder Romania
Companies are defined by the people who work for them. For more than a century, Schréder has been at the forefront of lighting because of the innovative thinking of our employees worldwide. Life@Schréder is where we tell the stories of the people who make Schréder what it is, across the 70 countries where we do business.
Schréder has been present in Romania since 1998 and has gone on to light everything from the country’s first smart street, bringing together green spaces, cycle paths and innovative technologies, to picturesque market squares and stadiums, including the Cluj Arena football stadium.
Alexandra Turnagiu is a Sales Support Manager, working with a team of more than 20 colleagues from our office in Cluj-Napoca, where she also studied for her Master's degree in Building Services. She joined Schréder in 2012 as a Sales Engineer, and has gone on to become a vital part of the team behind SWORD, our Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, as well as an all-rounder who does everything from planning lighting installations to supporting customers with the solutions they need to bring their projects to life.
I discovered lighting at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca...
One of my favourite modules was the one on indoor lighting. I found it fascinating because it combined technical building aspects with art and design. When I started at Schréder in 2012, the company had developed some luminaires in collaboration with designers, including the FRANCESCA, which was designed by Pininfarina. It really captured my imagination with its refined and minimalist design, subtly enhancing the pathways around the Cluj Arena football stadium.
Right from the start I could see Schréder was committed to Romania...
There were a lot of companies which were active here, but not actually based in Romania. However, Schréder was different. It was a great opportunity to learn, to speak different languages, and to work with people from other entities and countries. It was an interesting time, too, the start of the LED era. During my degree, I had worked on comparing LEDs with high-pressure sodium and discharge lamps, just as the wider industry began transitioning to LED technology.
There’s no such thing as a typical day...
As a Sales Support Manager, I oversee projects from start to finish. This includes project development, providing quotations, supporting customers throughout their projects, obtaining the information they need, completing technical documentation and finding the best solutions to meet their needs. Then we process the sales orders, after which our colleagues take over. So, every day is different! Sometimes we work on tenders, sometimes we visit sites to check on project progress and sometimes we talk to customers to support them with anything from quotes to technical issues. There’s certainly a lot of multitasking!
I grew up with the company...
I was still a young graduate when I joined Schréder, straight out of university. I truly feel it is like a family - I love the company values, the work we do for people, and the improvements we make to everyone’s lives. The focus on energy efficiency and sustainability is bringing about a real change in our world.
When it comes to projects, I can’t just name one favourite...
I love them all! The wonderful thing is that whenever I walk through an area we have lit, I can see it’s the result of real teamwork and a combined effort from all of the colleagues. That said, I do have a soft spot for the park near my house. When I was on maternity leave, I would go to the park with my newborn daughter at all times of day, and it was nice to have the opportunity to show off our work to the next generation.
And there’s a huge diversity in what we do...
Some of the challenges are physical. In Constanța on the coast, for example, we have to come up with lighting solutions that can withstand corrosion caused by saltwater. Some villages in the mountains may be getting street lighting for the first time, so we need to be mindful of the approach we take. Solar can make sense in remote areas. I love that I am constantly learning - every project that I work on, from the first sketches to final completion, teaches me something that I can apply to future projects.
Lighting comes alive at sunset...
I love working on urban projects. I love areas where you can walk and enjoy the atmosphere of people mingling, especially at sunset when the streetlights come on. It’s a magical time of day that can transform areas that people may not have appreciated before. We have many projects in market squares, and they really make a difference by showing the area's value and bringing a whole new aesthetic. Lanterns like FLEXIA are great for this purpose.
We’re always at the forefront of innovation...
I loved the luminaire designs we did back when I joined the company, and there’s always something new to get excited about. I’m particularly proud of our work on Molnar Piuariu Street, here in Cluj-Napoca - it was the first smart street in Romania, and is lit by SHUFFLE poles I have always been a huge fan of the SHUFFLE concept, which integrates smart features such as WiFi or EV charging stations into the lighting pole. We are constantly developing new solutions to meet our customers’ needs and created a customised charging port for this project.
Another new development that I really like is the Schréder SENSE ONE. It’s a great example of how existing lighting infrastructure can be used more intelligently. By adding sensors to lighting installations, valuable real-time information can be provided and new possibilities opened up for smarter, more efficient cities.
Outside of work...
I like hiking - it's my favourite sport because, when I’m out in nature, my mind is free from thoughts of work, family and day-to-day life. I also love spending time with my family in the local park - it's just nice to be surrounded by nature. I enjoy sewing, too. I find it a relaxing way to spend my time.
Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn.