Moments Unfolded: Meet Maria and Her Journey with Us!

Favourite animal: Dogs, of course - try having a Rosie in your life and then tell me otherwise!

Favourite food: My Italian side takes over here - pasta with anything.

My hobbies: Struggling… Just kidding! My real hobby is enjoying my Sunday coffee at my favourite café - it’s a ritual by now and my favourite habit.

A destination still on my bucket list: French Polynesia combined with a trip to LA.

Dream once-in-a-lifetime experience: Going to space, even though I am terrified of heights.

Ciao! I am Maria-Laura - but everyone calls me Maria. I am half Romanian, half Italian and I’ve been at The Fixer already since 2021. 

Honestly, becoming a Fixer was not my childhood dream - or at least I didn't know it was! Being from Romania, culturally the occupations that are considered real jobs (the ones that ideally would ‘make parents proud’) were limited to the classics: lawyer, doctor, engineer. For a while I thought medicine was my path, but growing up I kept on reflecting on what truly made me happy. That’s when I discovered how much I loved the idea of travelling. I did not have the opportunity to do it as much as a kid, but I have always been so mesmerized by how vast and amazing our planet is, so travelling soon became my biggest dream. 

I started volunteering in high school, meeting people from all over the world and helping in events’ organisation, which turned out to be a great motivation for my career. That was also when I realised I didn’t just enjoy travelling and meeting different nationalities, but I also loved managing situations, being part of the behind-the-scenes to actually make things happen. Combining my two newly discovered passions led me to study International Management in the UK and there something else shifted in my life. 

With my dad acquiring a hotel in Italy, I suddenly found myself going back and forth to a tiny Italian town working in the hotel - and by working I really mean doing everything: receptionist, waitress, cleaner, breakfast, marketing responsible… because I spoke English, I became the go-to person for everyone there. Despite being very demanding, I truly loved it. Somewhere between serving breakfast and managing guest bookings I fell in love with hospitality. It was in those moments that I figured out how much I wanted to be part of this industry, where hospitality and travel come together to create experiences. 

However, I knew there was still a gap. Learning by doing was great, boosted my self-confidence, but I craved deeper technical knowledge & skills. When COVID-19 hit, I found myself back in Romania. It was a difficult time for everyone, but I figured I would make the most out of it and took it as a chance to take the leap - making it the perfect time to invest in myself. I enrolled in a postgraduate course. It was not easy, but I believed in myself (let’s just say: lots of coffee and very little sleep), but it was one of the most rewarding decisions I could’ve made. It gave me exactly what I needed: technical knowledge, a new perspective on tourism, an amazing network.

During my studies, I came across an article by a former colleague about her experience at The Fixer. I instantly thought: “This is it, this is where I belong.” Travel, organisation, working with people - it ticked every box! I began as an intern, with concierge requests such as restaurant, events bookings, admin help, with a sprinkle of travel here and there. Soon, I was entrusted with much bigger projects, like organising The Fixer’s Art Basel event on site, where I got to work and interact with VIP clients and celebrities. Looking back, the trust the team placed in me so early on shaped my career in ways I will never forget - and I remain deeply grateful for it.

By 2022, I officially became a full-time Fixer! But the truth is, I always felt like part of the family, even during my internship. That’s the magic of this place: the trust, the support and the way feedback is always constructive, never scary. There is always someone to turn to, always someone cheering you on… and I’m my own toughest critic! I overthink, I triple-check everything, I worry about making mistakes to this day. However, I’ve learned that this carefulness is also what makes me good at what I do: making sure every detail of a client’s trip feels seamless and that is what makes it so special at the end of the day.

Trade shows and familiarisation trips have been some of the most unforgettable experiences of my career. They pushed me beyond my comfort zone and reminded me why I fell in love with this industry. Each journey teaches me something new: about the world, about people, and most importantly, about myself. The greatest lesson I’ve learned here at The Fixer is to trust myself. To embrace those insecurities and second-thoughts that, paradoxically, are the ones that fuel my growth. I now see that mistakes are not failures, they are stepping stones and with such a healthy, supportive team around me, I am confident that my journey of growth, both personal and professional, is only just beginning.

Being my fourth year (and counting!) with The Fixer has made me feel like I’m growing alongside the company itself. While it sometimes feels like I’ve seen it all, there is always a sense of new beginnings, as if we are just at the start of something even greater. In just the past year alone, I have seen so many positive changes; we have been improving and evolving faster than I ever imagined. I am excited to be here to witness - and be part of - where we will go next, creating experiences that are not only discreetly seamless, but that truly make a difference in our clients’ lives.