What is your current role in your company?
I’m an HR business partner at KPC Health, where I get to combine my passions for people and health care to make a meaningful impact. I like to think of myself as a global citizen who’s constantly learning, adapting and doing the human work of building teams and creating spaces where people can thrive, even in the most high-stress environments like hospitals. Purpose, humans and care have always been my ‘why,’ and in this role, I get to live that every day.
Popescu visited Moonlit Sanctuary wildlife park outside Melbourne
Why did you decide to pursue an executive MBA at Anderson?
Pursuing an EMBA at Anderson has been a dream come true, and a deeply intentional step in my journey. After more than 20 years of a fulfilling, ever-evolving career that’s taken me across countries, industries and life transitions, I reached a point where I craved not just a boost, but a transformation.
I’ve always been fueled by curiosity and the joy of learning, and I believe that staying still in a fast-changing world is not an option. I wanted to stretch myself, to sharpen my strategic thinking, and to gain the tools and perspective to lead with greater impact — especially in sectors like healthcare, where complexity and human need intersect. Anderson’s global outlook, values-driven leadership focus and diverse cohort of brilliant professionals made it the perfect place for me to grow, not just as a leader, but as a citizen of the world committed to making a difference.
How will your experiences — on campus and abroad — of participating in Anderson’s international business exchange elective affect or influence your work and career?
This exchange was more than a course, it was a transformational experience that reshaped how I think about impact, equity and strategy. It has strengthened my resolve to build purpose-driven teams, design human-centered systems and champion equity in health care delivery. It also reinforced my desire to serve as a bridge between UCLA Anderson and its global partners, connecting students who care deeply about building inclusive, sustainable enterprises, and giving them the tools to lead across borders.
I chose the international business exchange elective at Melbourne Business School specifically for Professor Vivek Chaudhri’s Leading in Transformational Times course because it promised more than technical skills. It offered a strategic, philosophical and deeply human approach to leadership in an age of volatility. We explored concepts like leading under uncertainty and risk, ambidextrous and nimble leadership, strategy as a portfolio of bets, and the role of values in decision-making. But what truly elevated the experience was the way the professor held space for challenge, perspective and growth. He didn’t just teach frameworks; he helped us see ourselves as leaders of change. And the class rose to his challenge and engaged in interesting and fiery debates.
Can you describe new connections or relationships you forged that now have particular importance in your professional goals and scope?
In Australia, I built friendships that I know will last well beyond the program. Working in a culturally diverse study group on very tight deadlines was both challenging and rewarding. We had to quickly put aside cultural differences, align on strategy and build trust in order to deliver results. The circle came full when I reconnected with my Australian peers at UCLA, picking up our friendship right where we left off.
Back in Los Angeles, the intensive August block felt like an academic bootcamp with a global flavor. I had the joy of bonding with students from Spain, Peru, Brazil, London, Dubai and China. We studied, debated, laughed and ate meals together, experiencing the kind of immersion that turns classmates into trusted colleagues. I took a small group of Spanish students on a California coastal tour from Santa Monica to Laguna Beach. That day, we didn’t just share meals and stories, we exchanged perspectives on work, culture and leadership. These relationships are more than friendships, they are a living network of global professionals who inspire me to think differently and challenge me to lead with empathy, inclusivity and vision.
I am deeply grateful to the entire Center for Global Management team for the vision, care and dedication they put into every detail of Anderson’s global immersions and exchange programs. These experiences are not just about academics, they are about connection, perspective and transformation, and that magic happens because of their hard work behind the scenes. They are the best embodiment of the UCLA spirit: open, curious, collaborative and committed to making the world our classroom.
link
