Mihaela Plesca: A Visionary Leader Merging Art, Innovation, and Technology

What happens when art meets technology? When creativity intersects with innovation, imagination is shaped into tangible achievements, and boundaries between disciplines blur to create something extraordinary?

The result is a transformative force that challenges conventions, inspires progress and redefines possibilities. In a world where the fusion of art and science is becoming the cornerstone of innovation, leaders who can harness this synergy are rewriting the rules of what’s possible and paving the way for the future.

One such trailblazer is Mihaela Plesca, a renowned actress, singer, multidisciplinary artist, engineer, and manager. With an illustrious career spanning diverse domains, Mihaela’s journey is a testament to her relentless pursuit of excellence and creativity. As the founder and CEO of Neurodesign, she has revolutionized UI, UX design with her unique approach, encapsulated in her book, ‘Neuro Design și Rezonanța în UI, UX Design’. The company is a groundbreaking concept, blending scientific research with artistic expression to transform how businesses approach branding, image management, and communication.

Her accolades include serving as a juror for prestigious global design contests, judging the UX aspect of the Golden Globe trophy, and earning numerous international awards, such as the Forbes 30 Under 30 trophy in Romania and the Business Elites Under 30 Prize in Canada.

We, The Enterprise World Magazine, are delighted to feature Mihaela as a visionary leader who embodies the perfect synergy of art and technology, inspiring the next generation of innovators.

A Journey Rooted in Passion and Innovation

Mihaela’s entrepreneurial journey began with a singular vision: to create something entirely new that could bridge the gap between art, science, and business. “Neurodesign is more than a company; it is a design style I founded after conducting scientific experiments from a young age,” Mihaela shares. Her passion for entrepreneurship was evident early on, and her desire to push boundaries led her to create a design style that would have a lasting impact on the world of branding.

In 2024, Mihaela achieved a personal milestone when she witnessed an extraordinary phenomenon—seeing the Sun and the Moon in the morning sky simultaneously. For Mihaela, this moment symbolized the harmony between her two brands, Neurodesign (the Sun) and Onou (the Moon), which were born in the same year. The idea of these celestial bodies representing the balance of time zones and collaboration is just one example of the innovative and symbolic thinking that drives Mihaela’s approach to business.

While Neurodesign was born from a passion for design and branding, Mihaela also ventured into other creative pursuits, including her entertainment project, M!SELA. Her ability to balance both the scientific and artistic sides of her personality speaks to the multifaceted nature of her entrepreneurial spirit. “With my own company, I can explore everything I’m passionate about, from design to entertainment,” Mihaela adds.

Neurodesign’s Role in Redefining Branding

Neurodesign is a company that is unlike any other in the branding space. Combining cognitive science and creative design, it introduces a revolutionary approach to branding that Mihaela has spent years developing. “The company is revolutionizing today’s branding solutions,” Mihaela explains. “It’s a scientific and artistic style that uncovers brain cognition and processes information through original techniques I developed after nearly a decade of research.”

The company’s unique approach to branding involves a process known as “resonance,” which Mihaela describes as highly complex and highly effective. This methodology taps into a deeper understanding of how the human brain processes visual and emotional stimuli, allowing Neurodesign to craft strategies that resonate with audiences on a subconscious level. This, in turn, results in more powerful and effective branding solutions.

For Mihaela, the proof of concept comes from her clients’ success stories. One notable example was her work with a Romanian hospital. With a minimal budget, Mihaela executed a neurodesign-based digital marketing campaign that substantially increased sales. “I used a budget of only 100 euros and generated 10,000 euros in sales for robotic surgery,” Mihaela recalls proudly. “The strategies I employed had such a strong impact that even after four years, the hospital’s ranking in search engines remains high.”

Overcoming Challenges as a Female Founder

Like many women entrepreneurs, Mihaela faced numerous challenges while establishing Neurodesign. One of the biggest hurdles was developing and protecting her unique design style. “Founding the Neurodesign style was the first challenge because I had to learn about many multidisciplinary domains, and I didn’t have many financial resources to start,” she says. Despite these challenges, Mihaela’s perseverance and determination led her to successfully protect her intellectual property through creative means, including cybersecurity to safeguard her ideas.

The struggle for recognition and legitimacy in her field was another obstacle Mihaela faced. Despite her groundbreaking work, Romanian legislation at the time did not recognize design styles as patentable, which forced Mihaela to think creatively to protect her research. Her solution was to establish Neurodesign as a company, thus creating a legal structure around her intellectual property and preserving her research for future generations.

Redefining Success: Personal and Professional Growth

For Mihaela, success is not defined by traditional measures such as wealth or recognition, but by the ability to do what she loves and leave a lasting impact. “Success means doing something that you love, something that will make people remember you even after you’re gone,” she explains. “I want to be an innovator, creating products that make a difference and bring peace to my soul.”

This philosophy of success is deeply rooted in Mihaela’s Christian values, and she hopes that her work will transcend borders, resonating with people of all faiths and backgrounds. Her commitment to personal integrity and ethical business practices has shaped the way she leads Neurodesign and influences the company’s culture.

A Leadership Nurturing Innovation and Creativity

Mihaela’s leadership style is characterized by openness, kindness, and diplomacy. She values honesty and transparency, believing that these qualities are essential to successful negotiations and team dynamics. “I hate discrimination and value honesty because it’s the key to motivating people and achieving success,” she says.

Her leadership philosophy is inspired by the image of a mountain, symbolizing the journey to success. “If you come from humble beginnings and know how much hard work it takes to reach the top, then you’re the kind of person I want to work with,” Mihaela explains. She promotes a culture of perseverance and dedication at Neurodesign, encouraging her team to climb their own metaphorical mountains and achieve greatness through hard work and collaboration.

Balancing Engineering and Creative Design

One of the unique aspects of Mihaela’s approach to design is her ability to blend engineering precision with creative freedom. Her background in engineering allows her to focus on the technical details of each project, ensuring that the strategies she develops are both effective and efficient. At the same time, her creative side allows her to push the boundaries of design, thinking outside the box to create original and impactful branding solutions.

“There is a thin line separating these two domains in my work,” Mihaela says. “Engineering helps me focus on the details, while creative design allows me to open my imagination to new possibilities.” This balance is at the core of Neurodesign’s success, allowing the company to deliver results that are both scientifically grounded and artistically inspired.

Empowering Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs

Mihaela’s journey has been a source of inspiration for aspiring female entrepreneurs, and she has valuable advice for those looking to make their mark in the business world. “Be strong and don’t give up when things aren’t going your way,” she advises. “Be honest, stay true to your originality, and never steal someone else’s idea. The business world is tough, but if you remain ethical, your success will come.”

Her message is clear: success is not just about achieving financial gain or recognition, but about staying true to your values and building a business that has a positive impact on the world.

The Legacy of Neurodesign

As Neurodesign continues to grow, Mihaela’s vision for the future remains focused on innovation and impact. In the coming year, she plans to complete the development of her third design style, further expanding her contributions to the design and branding industries. Mihaela is also venturing into the entertainment industry, where she intends to merge her creative pursuits with her entrepreneurial work, proving that spontaneity and innovation can lead to even greater opportunities.

Looking ahead, Mihaela hopes to leave a legacy of design styles that not only enhance business success but also make a positive impact on people’s lives. “I want to create branding strategies that help businesses reach the heights of success and leave a lasting impression on their audiences,” she says. “Through Neurodesign, I hope to make the world a better place, one design at a time.”

Mihaela’s story is one of perseverance, creativity, and innovation. As a female founder, she is breaking down barriers and redefining what success looks like in the world of business. Through Neurodesign, she is not only transforming the branding landscape but also inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs to chase their dreams with passion, integrity, and resilience.

Remarkable Accolades from Mihaela Plesca’s Career

Here are some notable achievements from Mihaela’s journey.

• Ten Outstanding Young Persons trophy by JCI Romania in 2024 for medical innovation in entrepreneurship category, Sibiu, Romania,
• Best presentation winner for “Protecting sweet water resources from mountain area through ecological investments in tourism industry” work – International Multidisciplinary Scientific Conference on Social Sciences Arts SGEM 2017, Sofia, Bulgaria, in collaboration with Diana Foris,
• 2018 Official designer in World Design Index,
• 2014, 2nd Prize, Business Simulation ‘Arena Leilor’ (‘Lions Arena’), where I lead the team to create from a business idea to the final company strategy to present to the jurors in at Top Talents Bucharest, Romania,
• 2013, Volunteer Medal – European Youth Olympic Winter Festival, Braşov, Romania,
• February – May 2012, Finalist with my artwork “The misunderstood scream”created using mixt techniques making my first Neurodesign experiment in order to see the results of my style applied in society for an international fine art contest where I received an exhibition as finalist, named “Rat d’Art Volant” by French Federation of Speleology, Millau, France
• 2012, 2nd Prize, Innovation Cluster in business ‘Alt Start’, Braşov, Romania,
• 2006, 2nd prize at French Music Festival “Chantecler”, traditional songs section, inside of Francophone Days at Braşov, at “George Bariţiu” County library, French library, Braşov, Romania.
• 2019, First Mention at Scientific Communication Session of Students – Transilvania University of Brasov with the work “Architectural resonance and amortization applied in neuromarketing” in collaboration with prof. Bratucu Gabriel, Brasov, Romania

Moreover, during her work as an employee, Mihaela was a high performer, winning recognition from companies she worked for:

• 2021, 2nd prize – internal team competition at TUI Group for best event in entertainment in TUI Kids Club, Menorca, Spain,
• 2018, Zihack Spirit recognition at Zihack, an IT contest where I was designer and we created a digital product in less than 24 hours at Zitec, Bucharest, Romania,
• 2016, Best team medal for achieving all targets in photography sales at Photohotel, Crete, Greece.

Also as a juror of A’Design Award and Competition, she is an author of 7 World Design Yearbooks as she was responsible with the selection of them.

Key Takeaways from Mihaela Plesca’s Journey and Achievements

1. Breaking Boundaries Across Disciplines:

Mihaela’s career exemplifies the power of blending art, technology, and innovation. As a multidisciplinary artist and engineer, she has successfully bridged creative expression with technical expertise, redefining possibilities in UI, UX design, entertainment, and beyond.

2. Global Recognition and Influence:

Mihaela’s accomplishments have earned her international accolades, including the Forbes 30 Under 30 trophy in Romania, the Business Elite’s Under 30 Prize in Canada, and six juror gold trophies at the A’ Design Awards. Her impact resonates on a global scale, inspiring others to aim for excellence.

3. Pioneering Innovations in Design:

Through her firm, Neurodesign, and her book ‘Neuro Design și Rezonanța în UI, UX Design’, Mihaela has introduced groundbreaking concepts that revolutionize user experience design. Her work demonstrates the potential of integrating neuroscience principles into creative design processes.

4. Leadership in the Creative and Tech Space:

Mihaela’s influence extends beyond her projects as she has judged prestigious competitions like the Golden Globe trophy design and the International Emmy Awards. Her ability to lead and mentor in such high-stakes environments highlights her exceptional leadership skills.

5. Inspiring Multifaceted Excellence:

From winning a bronze medal at the Spinnin’ Records contest to performing with the Astra Choir and creating her award-nominated short film, Mihaela exemplifies what it means to pursue diverse passions with dedication, making her a role model for aspiring creatives and innovators alike.