What is the best thing that I love about my work?

Partnership: this is what I most love about my work as a communicator and advocate for marrying people and brands into stellar alliances. Partnership in work, in life, in art, in the relationship with ourselves.I have always looked at work the way you look at a relationship or a marriage. Every entrepreneur’s or company’s story, every personal or collaborative project, and every individual story that I have worked on with other people or I have encountered translates to a relationship, with the good and the bad, with the raw and the unedited feelings, with the strength and the passion, the curiosity to expand and the learning from failure: an accountable connection that you lay down first with yourself.

What is my idea of perfect happiness?

Living in a city close to the water, writing every day, helping other passionate people believe in themselves and in their dreams and guide them to turn them into reality. Keeping my sense of humour, my resiliency and my dance moves in shape as I gracefully age. Growing surrounded by my fulfilling family of kindred spirits, books, animals, children, and love in my life.

What is my greatest fear?

To see the Planet coming to an Orwellian, dystopian end. War and earthquakes. Leaving this world too soon.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?

I’ve had a few, and learned to heal them with courage.

Which living persons in my profession do i most admire?

I have enormous respect for Daniel Jones of The New York Times’ column Modern Love, the authors Brene Brown and Esther Perel, and Alain de Botton of the School of Life. I admire Christopher Lavergne, the founder of Thought Catalog, whom I worked for in the past, and who remains a guiding force of ambition and inspiration to me in the ever changing publishing world.

What is my greatest extravagance?

Being able to simply feel this world’s complexity and write about people and things that, in this way, will exist forever.

On what occasion would I lie?

I would rather not. The truth will set us free, most of the times.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work?

Whenever I have walked the fine balance between working with people while working with myself to challenge the ways we communicate, explore, engage, learn and derive meaningful results from that work. I was happy when I was able to face my fears and befriend them. I was very happy to accelerate the growth of the projects I managed and assisted, as well as to connect with my teams, my customers and my employers on a human level, and to learn from their resiliency and courage. I am always happy to see valuable work get published and people receiving the recognition they truly deserve for their work.

If I could, what would I change about myself?

I would change nothing, because every step I took, even backwards – sometimes, was an important milestone and a tremendous lesson, and a gift.

What is my greatest achievement in work?

Curiosity and resourcefulness. Remaining humble while empowering people to trust their talents, their gifts, their roles on this planet and their journeys. Inspiring people to challenge their worst fears and share their compelling stories with the world. Helping writers get published, and activating a surge of motivation, self compassion and strength in those who have seeked my support and advice. Enabling people to feel their feelings and work with them.

Where would I most like to live?

The location is not extremely important, as is the energy of the place. I like being next to the water, and I prefer colder climes. I like Germany, but I would never shy away from Great Britain, Ireland, the northern lands or Canada.

What is my most treasured possession?

My heart. It’s the most powerful engine, and it’s unstoppable.

What is my most marked characteristic?

My intuition.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city?

It’s a cliché, but it’s really simple: the television tower in Alexanderplatz, this touristic spot that almost never sleeps. It acts like a light house for me. Whenever I see it, I remember why I came to Berlin first and foremost: to follow my path and not bend with the wind.

What is my favourite place to eat and drink, in my city?

The Russian old bistro, Gorki Park. I really think they have the most comforting, well done and well served breakfast (until 4 PM).

What books influenced my life and how?

The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van der Kork is the latest read that has tremendously influenced my life and has offered me valuable keys and resources in my life long work to understand and heal trauma. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an in depth analysis of the human brain and body, and who is on the path of emotional education to better themselves, their life, their relationships and to gain self awareness and harvest self love.

Who are my favorite writers?

Virginia Woolf, Michel Houellebecq, Simone de Beauvoir, Alain de Botton, and Elena Ferrante.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?

Piano. It’s the instrument able to translate the entire spectrum of emotions in a single note.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?

J. R. Moehringer, the author of The Tender Bar, who wrote about his life, his struggle with his own art and his complex relationship with writing, and who has enabled me to write again, with much more strength than ever before.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?

My friends – present and departed. Their journeys through their own lives, careers and families continue to inspire me to have faith, have courage, integrate all my parts and stay humble in the face of love.

Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime?

The movie Once! (pun intended). One can even see it once every decade, and watch the lessons unfold.

What role plays art in my life and work?

There are many types of art. The art of learning, the art of living, the art of asking, the art of embodying. Art has enabled me to embody a myriad of possibilities and transformations in my work and life. It has helped me carry a deep analysis into the human soul and dig for answers to questions I didn’t know I had. It has led me to remain curious even in times of adversity, to turn to myself and my inner voice in times of doubt, and to strengthen my relationship with both myself and the world. It has a healing power, and is the resource I rely on to execute both strategic work and immersive journalistic experiments.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?

My readers. My close friends who live close and far away around the planet. The strangers who have bought my books and followed my work through time, allowing me to continue to progress in my literary mission and in my work endeavours.

Whom would I like to work with in 2019?

I would like to work with established companies in the realm of publishing, communications or product design, whose mission rests on the values of innovation, education, Future Skills and powerful storytelling, and who understand the essentiality of investing in art and technology as significant pillars for economic and organizational growth.

Which people in my profession would i love to meet in 2019?

I would love to meet Clemens Poloczek, the founder of IGNANT, the award winning online magazine with a focus on the finest curated work in modern day emergent photography, design, art, architecture, fashion, and travel, who has inspired me to pursue a career at the intersection of art, education and technology. I think I will learn a lot from him.

What project, in 2019, am I looking forward to work on?

On a personal level – the completion of my next novel, Music For People Who Cannot Cry, a fictional memoir focusing on modern love, mental health and the identity fracture that emerges in most immigrants.

On a professional level – I look forward to the next chapter in my career, which is to integrate my multi-layered expertise into a role that challenges my curiosity and allows me to continue to empower others trough compelling storytelling.

Where can you see me or my work in 2019?

You can see my upcoming book, Heart Beats, in September 2019 on Amazon, available digitally and as hard cover. Heart Beats is a memoir of the Millennial generation on Social Media, and is the English translation of my debut novel, which has sold two editions in my country of birth, Romania.

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?

They mean truth, hope and a commitment I made to myself. In 2014, following a long draught in my creative work and a soul search to overcome writers’ block, I had a tattoo made. It writes “Live To Tell”, and it speaks about the importance of living mindfully, living long and living to share your unique gift with the world. In my case, it is writing.

Which creative heroines should Peter invite to tell their story?

Peter should invite publisher Alina Cvetkova of TAST zine (Zurich), art curator and reviewer Maria Nitulescu (Berlin), painter and sculptor Ileana Pascalau (Berlin) and Laura Belltran Villamizar the creative behind NPR and Native Agency (Washington, DC), four women who don’t know each other but share the capacity to develop change in the world through their meaningful work and art.

How can you contact me?

You can reach me via my personal website (http://ioanacasapu.com) or Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioana-cristina-casapu/), and you can follow my Instagram account here (https://instagram.com/iknowagirlcalledjohnny). Let’s have a chat about your goals and dreams and see how we can make sense to each other.

Here follows a message of Peter de Kuster, founder of the Heroine’s Journey 

The Heroine’s Journey is a private tour in story rich venues of world cities with Peter de Kuster, to rewrite the story you tell yourself about yourself and your creative work and in the process transform your life and business.

What is your Story?

“Your story is your life,” says Peter. As human beings, we continually tell ourselves stories — of success or failure; of power or victimhood; stories that endure for an hour, or a day, or an entire lifetime. We have stories about ourselves, our creative business, our customers ; about what we want and what we’re capable of achieving. Yet, while our stories profoundly affect how others see us and we see ourselves, too few of us even recognize that we’re telling stories, or what they are, or that we can change them — and, in turn, transform our very destinies.

Telling ourselves stories provides structure and direction as we navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and helps us interpret our goals and skills. Stories make sense of chaos; they organize our many divergent experiences into a coherent thread; they shape our entire reality. And far too many of our stories, says Peter, are dysfunctional, in need of serious editing. First, he asks you to answer the question, “In which areas of my life is it clear that I cannot achieve my goals with the story I’ve got?” He then shows you how to create new, reality-based stories that inspire you to action, and take you where you want to go both in your work and personal life.

Our capacity to tell stories is one of our profoundest gifts. Peter’s approach to creating deeply engaging stories will give you the tools to wield the power of storytelling and forever change your business and personal life.

You can choose from three options:

1. The Heroine’s Journey Short and Powerful.   This is a 8 hours – private story coaching,  one day, one – on – one with Peter de Kuster. The price is Euro 2500 excluding VAT including lunch and drinks. You can bring a maximum of three (business) partners to the private tour if you choose to.
2. The Heroine’s Journey Intensive.  This is a 16 hours – private story coaching,  two days one – on – one with Peter de Kuster. The price is 5000 excluding VAT including lunch and drinks. You can bring a maximum of three (business) partners to the private tour if you choose to.
3. The Heroine’s Journey Impact.  This is a 24 hours – private story coaching,  three days one – on – one with Peter de Kuster.  The price is 7500 excluding VAT including lunch and drinks. You can bring a maximum of three (business) partners to the private tour if you choose to.

Please note the private tours Short and Powerful can take place in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Berlin, Barcelona, Bruxelles, Florence, London, Malaga, Madrid, Milan, München, Paris, Rome, Rotterdam, Sevilla and Venice at the moment.

The private tours Intensive and the private tours Impact are offered in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Berlin, Barcelona, Bruxelles, Copenhagen, Florence, London, Los Angeles, Malaga, Madrid, Melbourne, Milan, München, New York, Oslo, Paris, Rome, Rotterdam, Sevilla, Sydney, Venice and Vienna.

You can book Peter by mailing him at peterdekuster@hotmail.nl 

Booking Information

• Once you have purchased a private tour you will be given information to get in touch and arrange a date and time for your private tour.
• Private tours will take place at any given day of the week.  The private tour will take place in a story rich city.
• Please note that once your appointment time and date have been confirmed, we have a forty-eight hour cancellation policy. Any cancellations less than 48 hours prior to an appointment, or any no-shows will be charged. Any requests to reschedule less than 48 hours prior to an appointment, cannot be guaranteed and the original appointment will be charged for other than in exceptional circumstances.