Ioana Bucur is the COO and tasting room manager for Princess and Bear Wines. “We are dedicated to sharing these root-to-sip, affordable, hand selections through our tasting room in South Park Seattle, wine clubs and online to everyone who seeks and appreciates quality, originality, hard work, sustainability and passion in a glass.” Learn about Ioana Bucur…
Hometown: Dej, Romania
First job: Sales rep for a small advertising magazine in my first year in university in Romania. It was a short experience; I did not enjoy the sales part very much. I was driven toward the job by the photography part of the job description, my passion at that time. I was also taking photos of students in my school.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in WA: Admiring the perpetuum picture in front of your eyes everywhere outside the city. I love being in nature, fishing, hiking, camping and anything related to water, swimming, paddling, and boating.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: Motherhood, first. I was intimidated by everything about it until I became a mother and realized motherhood comes naturally; it makes sense when it happens. There is no recipe for success in it, but to be present, trust and let things happen organically.
Secondly, the wine business, the wine school and the French Wine Scholar achievement. I had the chance to be around fabulous people, Carol and Steve Medwell, who “invited” me on the adventurous journey of importing French wine. Five years ago, I said yes to the wine business; I have been embracing it still, the adventure continues, and I am grateful.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: I moved to the US when I was 21, and for a long time, I did not understand nor accept the transition, the need to look forward with an open mind and heart to everything new and to something that can be good for my life despite being away from “home.” Things started to look different when I stopped resisting to change and started living with a more open mind.
Someone who inspires you and why: Many people inspire me. I get inspiration from different people and different situations. I am inspired by people who overcome hard conditions through mental strength and tedious hard work, believers in their own powers. Here are two I will mention: Tibi Useriu and Manuela Papadopol. Tibi Useriu is Romania’s “Ice Man,” who conquered 483 km in the Yukon Artic Ultra race three times. Useriu wrote a book about his exciting life, from the robber breaking out from two prisons up to the endurance athlete. He is involved in many projects helping children and integrating nature into their lives in Romania. I will meet him one day. Manuela Papadopol, former CEO at Designated Driver, a visionary in the automotive industry, is my friend. She is an inspiration, an admirable and powerful force to defeat obstacles. When she is not conquering Mt. Baker, Rainier or Denali, she is spectacularly solving big problems.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Every little step matters in everything you do; all little and big things must be treated with the same importance, starting with school and ending with the garbage schedule.
Favorite quote: I don’t have a favorite quote. There are many good ones I like to apply and remember in certain situations. There is one I used this morning running and had to push myself, “When you can’t anymore, you always can a little more.”
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I had a photo exposition while in high school; I have a river rafting guide certification.
What makes someone fabulous: Someone honest, genuine, and trustworthy.