Local Hub Cluj-Napoca: L&D Shakers: Back in the Mix 🧪Reconnect. Share. Shape what’s next.
Summer break is over, and the Shakers are getting back in the mix. 🧪
On September 23rd , we’re bringing the L&D Shakers community in Cluj-Napoca back together, familiar faces, new faces, and anyone ready for an evening of connection, ideas and a little hands-on community building.
No long presentations. No awkward networking. This is a ‘presentation-meets-workshop’ evening designed to help us reconnect with each other and with what makes this community worth showing up for.
💫 What’s happening?
We’ll revisit the values that shape L&D Shakers through a short activity where we explore what they actually look like when a community lives its values.
We’ll take a quick look at the different ways you can be part of L&D Shakers, both locally and globally. Whether you like to simply join the conversation, contribute occasionally, share what you know or actively help shape the community - there’s space for different levels of involvement.
Then, we’ll put one of our favorite principles into practice: Give a little, get a little. ⚖️
Together, we’ll map the resources already hiding in our collective L&D toolbox:
🔎 Stuff I know exists: tools, communities, frameworks, people, platforms, resources...
🛠️ Stuff I’ve actually used, and would recommend, question, or happily tell others about.
💭 Stuff I need, a resource, recommendation, connection, idea or bit of experience that someone else in the room might just have.
Our community takes shape and creates meaning when we open ourselves up for intentional contribution - not because everyone knows everything, but because someone usually knows something that can help someone else.
Our hosts/speakers:
Ilona Benkő is a dedicated HR professional with a psychology background and 15 years of experience across a range of organizations—from midsize local companies to large multinational corporations. She is a certified trainer and coach, and a passionate advocate for lifelong learning. Throughout her career, Ilona has shown a deep commitment to organizational and talent development, creative thinking, and active listening, fostering growth and inspiring meaningful change.
Claudia Toderean-Dascălu is an organizational psychologist, ICF-certified coach, and L&D professional with 10+ years of experience in all things L&D, from training, workshop facilitation, event moderation, and project management to instructional design. While leading the L&D function globally for a Dutch company, she runs her own consultancy, offering executive coaching programs, coaching training, and language courses.
Laura Picioruș is an experienced Instructional Designer, L&D Expert, and HR Consultant, with expertise in organizational communication, change management, project management, training delivery, and facilitation. She’s channeling her passion for instructional design by creating impactful e-learning experiences. She is in charge of event organization, moderation, and facilitation for a community of freelancers and entrepreneurs in Cluj-Napoca, where she learns and explores the multiple facets of entrepreneurship, guiding people toward genuine connection and providing mutual support.
Lexi Nechita is currently designing learning experiences for educators and other professionals, creating online courses, curating educational programs, and building communities of practice. With more than 17 years of experience in learning and development across corporate, startup, and NGO environments, she has explored a wide range of formats and audiences — but education has always been the common thread. With a background in psychology and a deep curiosity for how people grow, she blends instructional design, facilitation, and strategy, bringing a values-driven, learner-centered approach to every space she holds — often with a sprinkle of humor and a deep respect for the human experience.