Innovation and dedication are the forces driving Cristina Fazacas, the Environment Regional Manager for Tenaris in Romania, as she turns ideas into reality. With a career rooted in curiosity and proactive leadership, Cristina has become a key figure in pushing forward the company’s environmental initiatives, all while balancing her professional life with her family commitments.
Cristina’s journey at Tenaris began in 2007, but her passion for making a tangible environmental impact started earlier. After earning a degree in environmental engineering from the University of Oradea, she worked for the Environmental Protection Agency in Zalău for three years. However, Cristina soon realized her true passion lay in directly addressing environmental challenges. “My work was highly theoretical,” she explains. “I wanted to take a more hands-on approach, so I joined Silcotub, Tenaris’s pipe manufacturing mill in Romania, in 2007. I wanted to be part of the change and lead actions that made a real difference.”
Though her early days at Tenaris came with challenges, Cristina’s persistence and curiosity drove her success. Starting as an environmental analyst, she steadily advanced by staying open to learning and embracing new opportunities. “I just worked hard and stayed curious,” she reflects. “That curiosity allowed me to grow in my career and reach the position I hold today.”
A major factor in her growth at Tenaris has been her involvement with a global team, which Cristina sees as a significant advantage. “Being part of a global network allows us to discover new solutions to shared problems. Tenaris broadens our perspective. We may face many issues, but we are never alone,” she says, underscoring the importance of collaboration and shared knowledge within the company.
As her role expanded, so did her responsibilities, including managing a team. Reflecting on her leadership approach, Cristina acknowledges the challenges. “With tight deadlines and complex problems, I often wish I had more time to connect with my team and support their overall wellbeing.”
Cristina is also passionate about Tenaris’s decarbonization efforts, a mission she enthusiastically supports. “Romania is deeply involved in the decarbonization strategy,” she shares. “At Tenaris, we don’t just talk about ideas or wish for something better—we make it happen. You can see the investments and projects we’re implementing for a more sustainable future.”
Outside of work, Cristina enjoys spending time with her family and balancing her career with her role as a mother to a 15-year-old son. “We love traveling together, and I have a passion for photography, capturing the beauty of the places we visit,” she says.
Her advice to young professionals entering the field? “Be curious,” Cristina emphasizes. “Environmental management is a vast field, and being open to learning is essential because it requires understanding and managing information from multiple departments.
