Champions of Courage 2025
Recognising & Celebrating Courage
Alina Ilaș
Alina Ilaș was recognised as the Champion of Courage 2025 — Ethical Courage for her leadership in introducing human-centred, ethical leadership conversations and practices in her hometown of Galați, Romania.
Leading with Courage in a Quiet Town: Bringing Agile Leadership, Mentoring and Psychological Safety to Galați
Alina Ilaș was recognised as the 2025 Champion of Courage – Ethical Courage for her determination to bring human-centred leadership, mentoring, and ethical dialogue to a professional community where such conversations had rarely taken place.
An Agile HR-certified professional, coach, mentor, and member of EMCC with more than fifteen years of experience across technology, banking, and finance, Alina is deeply committed to advancing leadership practices grounded in ethics, inclusion, and human connection. Her work focuses on building cultures where people feel safe to contribute, learn, and lead with integrity.
After sixteen years developing her career in Bucharest, Alina returned to her hometown of Galați in southeastern Romania — a professional environment shaped by traditional hierarchies and where modern leadership approaches such as psychological safety, agile thinking, and inclusive cultures were often viewed with scepticism. Rather than adapting to the status quo, she chose to challenge it.
With no guarantee of support or recognition, Alina launched a leadership gathering designed to introduce conversations about ethical leadership, mentoring, inclusion, and human-centred organisational cultures. It was a bold step in a region where such dialogue had rarely been initiated.
The event created space for reflection, connection, and new possibilities. Participants engaged in conversations about humility, curiosity, psychological safety, and ethical leadership in a rapidly changing world. What began as a single initiative quickly sparked wider interest and collaboration among professionals seeking more values-driven leadership practices.
Alina’s work reflects a belief that ethical leadership should not be limited to major cities or progressive organisations. Through coaching, mentoring, and community-building initiatives, she continues to nurture an emerging leadership ecosystem in her region — demonstrating that courage often begins with the willingness to go first.
Watch Alina’s Champions of Courage Conversation
Read the full story
This story was originally published in the Courage Chronicles issue of Ethical Edge Insights, published by Sable Praxis.
Read the Full Story — Download Courage Chronicles 2025
Nominate a Champion of Courage for 2026
Celebrating Courage
Thank you for joining us in recognising these courageous individuals and their stories.
Follow us on LinkedIn for stories, updates, and future nomination opportunities.