The people behind AKG: Andrei Balsianu, supervisor within YIS

Andrei Balsianu is a supervisor in Vocational Introduction for people with visual impairments (YIS) at AKG Sweden. Stationed at the office in Växjö, he meets people every day who want to take the next step in life. For Andrei, the work is about communication, respect, and creating long-term conditions for development, both for the participants and the team around them. This article is part of the series The People Behind AKG, where we highlight employees with different backgrounds, roles, and motivations.

In his everyday work, Andrei works closely with participants through individual conversations, planning, and guidance. The tasks vary depending on needs and goals, but there is always a common denominator: to create security and forward movement.
For Andrei, clarity in communication is as important as flexibility regarding each person’s unique journey. This means that he often plans and adapts teaching and guidance with both brain and heart.

When the organization where Andrei previously worked, Maximus Sweden, became a part of AKG Sweden, he chose to continue his journey with us. The decision to stay did not come overnight; it was born out of a feeling that AKG’s values actually align with his own perspective.
“AKG’s focus on creating opportunities for people made it feel right immediately,” says Andrei.
Seeing others develop and achieve their goals is not just a job; it is the drive that gets him to go to the office every day.

For Andrei, it is not a specific task that drives him, but the whole: to see people feel that they can more than they thought and actually take the next step.
“Being there when someone discovers their own potential… it is impossible not to be passionate about it,” he says with a smile. “I work solution-focused and see each person’s strengths and abilities as a starting point. By listening and creating self-reflection, people get the opportunity to find their own paths forward.”
This desire to see people grow is something Andrei also brings into his private life, whether it is in conversations with participants, colleagues, or when cheering on his two twin daughters in their development.

Communication is the hub of Andrei’s philosophy. Being listened to, and listening oneself, is for him the foundation of all meaningful work.
‘When communication works, trust is created. It is then that people dare to take the next step,’ he explains.
At the office in Växjö, he is often the one who supports others, ensures that no one ‘falls between the cracks,’ and serves as a stable point in the team.

Andrei describes the workplace as inclusive, encouraging, and highly collaborative. It’s not just about helping participants but also about helping each other on the team.

At the Växjö office, he works closely with colleague Yasin Haj-Abdo, and together they combine their perspectives to create long-term development for those they meet. Read more about Yasin’s work here. (internal link to Yasin’s employee profile)

“We learn from each other and complement each other’s strengths, which allows us to meet the participants’ needs even better,” says Andrei.

For Andrei, it is more than a job, it is a place where he feels that he contributes to real change in people’s lives. But life outside of work is also important. In his free time, working out at the gym is a big part of his daily life. The gym is the place where he recharges mentally and physically.

Aside from his career, Andrei has two beloved twin daughters who take up much of his time, joy, and energy.

“Being a dad is my biggest role outside of work. Watching them grow gives me both perspective and drive,” he says.

If Andrei were to describe how he wants to be perceived in his work, the answer is clear:

“I hope that both colleagues and participants would say that I am committed, present, and someone who always does his best to help others.”

It is a reflection that permeates his work and his entire attitude towards people.

Andrei Balsianu is one of the employees who daily contributes to AKG’s work through his presence, his commitment, and his belief in people’s ability to develop—both at work and in life.

AKG Sweden’s work is based on a clear value foundation: to be principled, keep promises, succeed together, and respect and value all people. These values permeate both the work with participants and internal collaboration, and are something Andrei often returns to when describing his role.
It is in the meeting between these values and people’s unique life situations that Andrei sees the real meaning of his work: to be part of an organization that not only supports career steps but also human development.
AKG Sweden is part of AKG Global, read more about AKG Global here.