Academia de Guvernanță. Governance That Inspires Trust: Why Transparency, Sustainability, and Education Are Essential in Today’s Economy
In an economic environment marked by instability and constantly evolving regulations, sound governance has become a major differentiator and an essential pillar of economic stability. During the Academia de Guvernanță show, Oana Ijdelea, Managing Partner at Ijdelea & Asociații, and Adriana Lobdă, co-founder of ENVISIA, discussed the interdependence between governance, sustainability, and educated leadership—an essential triad in the architecture of modern economic development, with clear benefits in attracting investment and ensuring the stability of emerging markets.
Responsible Governance: Between Values and Regulation
For Oana Ijdelea, sound governance means more than compliance—it involves a balance between moral principles, environmental and social responsibility, and the smart use of resources. In a dynamic and complex context, governance brings visibility, transparency, and trust—qualities vital for competitiveness. “Sound governance also means optimizing how resources and competitive advantages are leveraged”.
Adriana Lobdă adds that regulations related to governance—such as those derived from OECD standards or EU directives—play a critical role in building a framework of transparency and alignment between stakeholders and management. This framework becomes a trustworthy instrument for all economic actors. “The common thread is increasing trust among those who follow these regulations—knowing that actions are goal-oriented, measurable, and beneficial, and that everyone in the market plays by the same rules.”
Sustainability – Beyond Legal Obligation
Undoubtedly, good governance has a positive impact on a company’s reputation and operations. Responsible organizations no longer treat sustainability as a mere legal requirement, but integrate it into their strategic DNA. “Good governance offers any organization increased visibility and a high level of transparency in how it chooses to develop and manage its activities, make investments, engage with internal and external stakeholders, comply with regulations, and act as a responsible player in the social and political ecosystem,” explains Oana Ijdelea.
The voluntary application of the CSRD Directive and the integration of ESG criteria into managerial reporting processes—even with the bureaucratic efforts involved—suggests a deep mindset shift among companies. The European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), transposed into Romanian law via Ministry of Finance Order no. 85/2024, marks an important step toward standardizing non-financial reporting. Although some deadlines have been postponed through the still-unimplemented “Stop the Clock” initiative, many organizations have chosen to continue reporting voluntarily.
According to Oana Ijdelea, this commitment is evident in the inclusion of ESG principles in internal policies, annual reports, and partner evaluation criteria. This approach shows that sustainability is increasingly seen as a strategic advantage, not just a formal obligation.
Adriana Lobdă also emphasizes that regulatory implementation should be adapted to each company’s specific context, requiring a strategic and sustained approach. “When a new regulation emerges, the first question should be: what is the actual impact on the company? Then comes the development of a governance policy that reflects the regulation and produces positive outcomes internally. At the operational level, this requires coherent adaptation and implementation.”
She points to Romania’s OECD accession efforts as a relevant example, which have generated a beneficial regulatory framework applicable to both state-owned and private companies. “These standards have already been validated by the business environment, confirming both their relevance and applicability.”
Regarding the timeline for governance policy implementation, Adriana Lobdă notes it depends on the regulation’s complexity and the company’s maturity level: “Usually, a transition period is needed to adopt new standards. For example, in the case of reporting standards aimed at increasing transparency and consistency in how investors interpret a company’s performance, the timeframe is about 2–3 years—sometimes even less. For alignment with OECD accession requirements, the process is typically more complex and may require a longer implementation period.”
Investors Seek Responsible Leadership and Long-Term Vision
The quality of governance plays an increasingly important role in attracting foreign investment—especially in a more regulated global environment. According to Oana Ijdelea, Romania needs high-quality investors who prioritize transparency, predictability, and sustainability. In short, they no longer assess only financial data—they look at leadership, governance quality, and the organization’s societal impact. Companies in regulated sectors like security or energy pay particular attention to the coherence between strategy, leadership, and organizational culture.
Without responsible governance, imbalances and loss of trust can arise: “We’ve often seen good governance being overlooked. Mainly because good governance means discipline, structure—and not just responsibility, but accountability.”
Adriana Lobdă adds: leaders who inspire trust are those who understand sustainability challenges, promote ethical decisions, and foster a culture of consultation and continuous learning. “Leaders are the red thread linking governance to sustainability—both in companies and regulatory bodies. They understand the need for transformation, initiate change, and help shape the normative framework. Behind every regulation, there are leaders with a major responsibility—leaders who look beyond organizational borders and consider global impact. Investors seek vision, scale, and economic performance with positive social outcomes.”
Education – The Foundation of Effective Governance
Without a strong educational framework, governance and sustainability risk remaining empty concepts. In this context, Adriana Lobdă underscores the importance of continuous training for top leaders and board members. They must understand regulations, assume complex responsibilities, and look beyond short-term profit. “Regulations are no longer a marginal topic. They must be understood and embraced by every board member, regardless of their background. And sustainability has completely changed the paradigm—we’re no longer looking solely at profitability, but at the impact the company has on its community. This connection between governance and sustainability cannot exist without a solid educational foundation to support the understanding and implementation of modern leadership principles.”
5 Key Takeaways
- Efficient governance is a competitive advantage and a sign of organizational maturity.
- Sustainability must be strategically integrated—not treated as a mere reporting obligation.
- Investors seek transparency, predictability, and ethical leadership.
- International regulations—like those from the OECD—support the development of healthy, stable markets.
- Continuous education for leaders and board members is essential to applying these principles effectively.
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