Adriana Preda, CEO of The Social Incubator, Romania

Byline Note: Adriana is the first Romanian selected for the prestigious Obama Scholars program.

Adriana is a builder at heart, a leader who believes in designing systems where dignity, opportunity, and fairness are not just ideals but realities. In this interview, she shares her journey, the lessons she’s learned about female leadership, and the quiet, steady work that drives the Social Incubator forward.

1. To begin, could you introduce us to Adriana, the woman behind the vision of the Social Incubator? Who is she at her core, and what drives the work she does behind the scenes?

I want to start by saying that I am not the person behind the Social Incubator. It has always been, and continues to be, a collective effort. From the board and executive team to our colleagues in the field, the work exists because of many people who carry it every day, and I am just one part of this wonderful system.

At my core, I am a builder, deeply driven by the belief that potential should not be wasted simply because of the circumstances someone is born into. Much of my work happens quietly, behind the scenes. It’s about structure, judgment, and staying present when things become complex or uncomfortable. What moves me is the conviction that dignity, opportunity, and fairness are not abstract ideals—they can be designed, protected, and sustained through the way systems are built and led.

2. Was there a defining moment or a personal turning point that made you recognize this mission as your own? What shifted in you that confirmed this was the path you were meant to pursue?

It wasn’t a single dramatic moment, but a pattern I could no longer ignore. Again and again, I saw young people with talent, intelligence, and resilience reaching a dead end simply because the system stopped seeing them. What shifted in me was the realization that empathy alone wasn’t enough. Caring wasn’t enough. I felt a responsibility to move from witnessing the gap to actively closing it. That was the moment the mission stopped being something I supported and became something I carried.

3. Through your journey, what have you discovered about female leadership and community? From your perspective, what does it truly take for a woman to create change from the ground up?

I have learned that female leadership, especially when rooted in community, is about consistency and the ability to hold complexity without rushing to simplify it. Creating change from the ground up requires patience, emotional intelligence, and the courage to build slowly. It also means resisting the pressure to lead in the ways existing systems expect. Real change happens when women lead in ways aligned with their values, not in imitation of power models that were never designed for them.

4. If there were one essential lesson you believe women need to learn, or one truth they should always keep in mind, what would it be, and why?

You do not need permission to take responsibility. Many women wait to be invited, to feel fully ready, or to be validated by external authority. But meaningful change rarely waits for perfect conditions. The moment you see a gap clearly and feel accountable for it, you already have what you need to begin. Confidence grows through action, not before it. Remembering this can be transformative.

5. And finally, what sustains your motivation? In moments of uncertainty or fatigue, what anchors you and keeps you moving forward with purpose?

What sustains me is perspective. In difficult moments, I remind myself that this work is about endurance. I think about systems slowly shifting, young people who now have options they didn’t have before, and the ripple effects that aren’t always immediately visible. I am anchored not only by purpose but by people, by the team, the community, and the small moments when someone realizes their life can unfold differently.

That is what keeps me moving forward.