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May 07, 2025
Thriving in Work and Life: Irina Friptu's Dedication to Innovation and Sustainability
Irina Friptu's 12-year journey at Trane Technologies showcases how mentorship and a culture of innovation have driven her career growth and personal development. Discover how Irina's dedication and the company's supportive environment have aligned to foster her success.
Irina Friptu’s journey with Trane Technologies spans almost 12 years, a testament to her dedication and passion for the company. Originally from Romania, Irina made a significant move to Belgium to join the company, marking a pivotal shift in both her personal and professional life.
A culture of support and mentorship
Over the years, Irina has held various roles within the internal audit and SOX compliance department. In her current role as Operational Excellence and Strategic Projects Leader in the Finance function, Irina helps to support the strategic growth of the company by leading due diligence and finance integration for new company acquisitions.
“I’ve definitely felt supported, and this has been since I’ve first joined the company,” shared Irina. “A mentor once told me, at Trane Technologies you own your career, our job is to help you get to where you need to go, but you need to own it.”
Irina’s current role is one that was created last year. She was encouraged by leadership to apply for the new role and ended up being offered the position. This wasn’t the only time Irina was promoted.
“We own our decisions. You know, we own our path. But we do need to have mentors or supporters along the way.”
I’m originally from Romania. So when I joined Train Technologies, I was moving from Romania to Belgium which was already a big shift. So, I've been with the company for 10 years now. It's actually coming close on 11. I've had various roles within the internal audit and SOX Compliance Department. And I wouldn't be here if I wouldn't love it. And most of that it's because of the people I work with and the culture of the company. What I like a lot is that we're free to speak our minds. We are free to say, "Hey, something isn't working. We need to change it." Just because we've been doing things the same way for years and that we haven't noticed or haven't thought about it before, it doesn't mean that it's the right way of doing things. I'm excited to see how the company is going to go in the future because I'm big on sustainability. I'm big on that circular economy, reusing things, recycling, not buying new things but repairing them. And that aligns with what we are doing as a company. So, I'm very passionate about sustainability in my private life. And the company is very passionate and very vocal about sustainability, which is you know awesome when that happens, when that aligns
I wouldn't be here if I didn't love it, and most of that is because of the people I work with and the culture of the company.
Embracing open communication and innovation
Irina's commitment to her work is deeply intertwined with her appreciation for the company's culture, which encourages open communication and innovative thinking. She values the freedom to voice her ideas and provide feedback, a practice that has been consistently supported by her leaders.
"What I like a lot is that we're free to speak our minds. We are free to say, ‘hey, this could be better’ and suggest improvements, so we can continually be innovating and evolving," she shares. This culture of openness and collaboration has been a cornerstone of her positive experience at Trane Technologies.
Balancing work and personal life
Irina also values Trane Technologies’ commitment to enabling employees to thrive both at work and at home. “I think thriving at work and at home resonates the most with me.” This is especially true for Irina who met her husband through work in 2017. “At the time, I was based in Belgium, and he was based on France. I spoke to my manager and asked if they were okay with me doing the SOX role from our French office. They were very supportive of that and allowed me to do the same role from France and in the meantime, we got married.”
Irina also feels that her personal values align with Trane Technologies' purpose: to boldly challenge what's possible for a sustainable world.
"I'm very passionate about sustainability in my private life, and the company is very committed to sustainability, which is awesome when that aligns," she explains.
Living a life of sustainability is not just a professional obligation for Irina; it is a personal mission. She is deeply invested in promoting sustainable solutions, both at work and in her community. "Don't be afraid to challenge the status quo," she advises.
Irina's journey at Trane Technologies is a testament to how personal values and professional goals can align to create meaningful impact. Summarizing her experience, Irina says, "I wouldn't be here if I didn't love it, and most of that is because of the people I work with and the culture of the company."
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