Farlei Kothe, CEO Stefanini EMEA: Everything starts and thrives with solid education

Stefanini, the global provider of IT services, from IT infrastructure outsourcing to software solutions with a local branch in Romania since 2004, implemented efficiency driven solutions in the company worth about one million Euro during 2019. “By doing this, we manage better the time of our valuable people, we streamline our processes, we respond better and faster to our clients’ needs and requests,” Farlei Kothe, CEO Stefanini EMEA told Outsourcing Today in a recent interview.

Last year, the local branch of Brazilian software producer continued its development and increased their number of employees, broadened the market outreach and diversified the portfolio of products and services with a focus on marketing and finance. For 2020, the company plans to increase the headcount to 1700, compared to 1600 employees in 2019, for the company’s locations operated in Romania in Bucharest, Targu Mures and Sibiu. Also, according to a recent statement of the company, Stefanini is planning to extend their ‘work from home’ program in all the operated locations in Romania.

During 2019, Stefanini managed to convey to their employees the necessary learning and development environment by delivering a variety of different trainings (in class, on-line, accommodating webinars) on different areas (leadership, soft-skills, technical-skills etc). These actions were done under the umbrella of Stefanini Institute and were geared towards specific causes (backpacks for children with a poor financial situation, blood donations for Romanian hospitals, working together with local NGOs on their various projects).

The Stefanini Institute is a dedicated entity built within the company as in-house NGO which was established following the model developed in Brazil. The Institute is actively involved in identifying and addressing social issues particularly in the area of education. The projects managed by Stefanini Institute range from donations to volunteer programs, all addressing some specific issue related to education.

“We are a forward-looking company and a people company. As such, we firmly believe there is no more important area than education. Once you KNOW what to do, everything else falls into place – from health and infrastructure to arts and sports. In these days and age, knowledge is indeed power and solid education and training is now required to enable us to make sense of the world we live in. One can never do too much for education,” Farlei Kothe adds.

In 2020, Stefanini Institute will deliver free IT and Soft Skills trainings to underprivileged youth in Bucharest, Sibiu and Targu Mures and will continue the educational free workshops which are meant to instil confidence, offer support and create solutions. “As core objectives, we will pay particular attention to projects that promote continuous learning and the intention to fix larger systemic problems and empower the young people in need,” Stefanini EMEA’s CEO concludes. 

For the full interview with Société Générale EBS, stay tuned with our online updates and the printed edition to be launched at ROMANIAN BUSINESS SERVICES FORUM & AWARDS 2020, 6th edition, to take place on 11th of May 2020,at Bucharest, Hotel Intercontinental.