What first attracted me to BDO was the people and the strong sense of belonging I felt from the very beginning. I quickly realized that I was not just joining a team, but becoming part of one.
Larisa Ciocodeica 
Experienced Assistant, Audit & Assurance
BDO Romania
For Larisa, joining BDO wasn’t just a career move — it was finding a place where she truly belonged. From day one, she felt not simply hired, but welcomed into a team where trust and openness define how people work together.
Thinking beyond the task at hand
For Larisa, doing good work means understanding the bigger picture behind every task. It’s not enough to complete what’s on the list — she looks for ways to improve, anticipate problems, and make the work itself better.
Thinking beyond’ in my day-to-day work means looking past just completing tasks and trying to understand the bigger picture behind them. It involves paying attention to details, anticipating potential issues, and finding small ways to improve how work is done.
This mindset also translated into concrete action. When her team was working on a continuous performance evaluation initiative, Larisa identified a practical improvement: making the feedback tool more intuitive and consistent for everyone on the team.
I helped improve the way we use an existing feedback tool by making the evaluation form easier and more intuitive to complete. The evaluation criteria were already defined, but I suggested small adjustments to the structure and format so that everyone in the team could provide feedback more easily and consistently.
A team where every voice matters
What Larisa values most at BDO is the environment itself - one where openness and mutual respect aren’t just words, but the way things actually work, regardless of role or seniority.
In my team, everyone’s voice matters, and this inclusive environment makes collaboration natural and motivating. Knowing that I can be honest, ask questions, and trust my colleagues creates a place where I truly want to grow and contribute.
She describes a culture where mistakes are treated as learning opportunities, and where people are valued not just for results, but for the effort and commitment they bring.
There is a culture of respect and trust, where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities rather than failures. I also feel appreciated not only for the results I deliver, but for the effort I put in, which creates motivation and confidence to keep improving.
The mentor who made a difference
Larisa points to a specific moment that shaped her professional confidence — a senior colleague who chose to invest time in her, not just guide her.
A moment that truly made a difference for me was when a senior colleague took the time to mentor me during a complex engagement. They listened to my perspective and encouraged me to share my ideas, even as a junior member of the team. Their honest and kind feedback helped me improve without feeling discouraged.
That experience showed her how much the right kind of leadership can mean — and what she, too, hopes to offer others as she grows.
That experience showed me how trust, inclusion, and respectful communication can shape both professional development and personal confidence.
What motivates her now
Larisa’s motivation comes from a sense of contribution that goes beyond her individual role. For her, every task — however small — is part of something bigger.
To me, ‘We shape what matters’ means focusing on work that makes a real impact – for our clients, our team, and our own professional growth. Every task, no matter how small, contributes to something bigger.
And BDO, she says, gives her the conditions to keep showing up that way - through trust, open communication, and the confidence that comes from being genuinely supported.
BDO empowers me to grow by encouraging open communication, trust, and continuous learning. Being included in discussions and appreciated for both my effort and results motivates me to keep developing my skills and confidence every day.