Cristina Radu, Controller at Almvoy
Cristina was born and raised in Romania, where she earned her education as an engineer. Although engineering was her profession by training, life’s journey led her in a different direction towards a career in accounting.
This change happened when in 2000, Cristina made one of the biggest decisions of her life: she emigrated to Canada with her family, carrying little more than determination, hope, and big dreams for a better future. Her journey taught her that success is not always about following the path you originally planned, but about adapting, growing, and making the most of every opportunity. Starting over in a new country was both challenging and rewarding.
For nearly 22 years, she has worked in manufacturing accounting, starting with an entry-level position and growing through dedication, continuous learning, and perseverance to become the Accounting Manager at Almvoy. Along the way, Cristina has experienced both the highs and the lows that come with business and leadership, and each challenge has strengthened her resilience, problem-solving skills, and commitment to excellence.
Beyond her professional career, Cristina has a deep passion for traveling, connecting with people, and discovering different cultures. She believes every person and every place has something valuable to teach us. Exploring the world has broadened her perspective and reinforced her belief that our differences are a source of strength. She enjoys bringing together diverse ideas, experiences, and perspectives to build understanding, foster collaboration, and create harmony wherever she can.
Cristina’s passion lies in creating bridges between cultures and finding the common threads that unite us, no matter where we come from.
What motivates you?
The more I learn, the more I realize how much there still is to discover. That sense of curiosity is what keeps me going.
What is your proudest moment at your company?
Being trusted to represent the company at industry events. Knowing that I’m trusted to speak on behalf of our organization means a great deal to me, and it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career in Canada.
What things do you like most about your job?
I’ve always liked manufacturing accounting. It’s dynamic and analytical, going beyond simply recording transactions to understanding production processes, managing costs, and valuing inventory accurately.
With accurate payroll, I feel I support employees in a meaningful way. Every paycheck represents someone’s livelihood, and it’s rewarding to help people by ensuring the process is accurate, compliant, and reliable.
What does true leadership mean to you?
If you strip it down, true leadership is taking responsibility for people and outcomes and behaving in a way that makes others more capable than they were before you entered the picture.
What advice would you give to women coming into the industry?
Remember that there’s no single “right” career path. Stay adaptable. Manufacturing is changing as Telecommunications continue to evolve with technologies like 5G, private networks, edge computing, AI-driven network operations, so a commitment to continuous learning will keep your skills relevant. And know that diverse teams, made up of people from varied backgrounds and genders, often make better decisions, solve problems more creatively, and design products and services that work well for a broader range of users.
What are your hopes for our industry?
The hopes are with the young generation that slowly but surely is moving into different positions within the industry. Let’s make our mission to support them, teaching them best strategies. Overall, the industry’s future is likely to be driven less by the number of smartphones sold and more by the infrastructure needed to support AI, cloud computing, high-speed broadband, and next-generation wireless networks.
Why is the Women of STAC important to you?
Women of STAC has given me the confidence and a platform to find my voice and use it with purpose.
Favorite quote?
“The greatest freedom is being yourself.”