My name is Ștefan Mandachi and I am the author of these educational tools. Let me tell you a few words about me. I am a lawyer by profession and a member of the Suceava Bar Association. I graduated from the Faculty of Law at the most prestigious university in Romania, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” in Iași. I completed a Master’s degree in Criminal Sciences with a dissertation grade 10, and then I graduated from the “National Institute for Training and Improvement of Lawyers.”

Since my dream had been to become very wealthy, I stopped practising law after two years.

In 2012, at the age of 26, I opened the first Spartan location in Suceava. I transformed a small 60-square-meter restaurant into the largest fast-food franchise ever created in Romania.

I attended all personal development seminars at that time (there were far fewer than today), spent time with prosperous people, started reading obsessively, self-educated and learned more about myself.

If there’s someone who doesn’t sleep at night for a purpose, that person will achieve success. Great dreams require sacrifices!

In 2018, I inaugurated a hotel that I designed and built from the ground up. Hotel Mandachi became, the highest-rated four-star hotel in Romania just four years after its inauguration, being the first hotel in Suceava county to receive this prestigious award.

In 2016, I graduated from the “New York Film Academy” in California, USA and directed two short films and two feature documentaries.

In 2018, I founded the Humanitarian Association “Jeni Mandachi,” through which I embarked on an extensive philanthropic journey and which became an integral part of my life.

In 2019, I initiated the #șîeu (#me too) protest, the largest protest against all the governments and presidents that have led Romania since 1989 and who are responsible for the lack of highways in our country. “Romania wants highways” unleashed a colossal social effect among millions of Romanians. The impact exceeded all my predictions.

In 2020, I achieved the largest fundraising by an individual in Romania- I raised 1.5 million euros for Covid victims/hospitals in Romania. I donated tens of thousands of Spartan menus in my restaurants and also donated money and services worth over 350,000 euros.

Mandachi Hotel offered free services, without any “compensation” or reciprocity, to medical and military personnel involved in the fight against Covid19. Through the “1CM highway” campaign, I purchased a mobile intensive care unit worth 700,000 euros, which saved hundreds of lives during the pandemic.

In 2020, I was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Suceava city, the most important distinction I have ever received. At that time, I was the youngest person to receive this title in our city.

In 2021, I achieved a historic court decision against the State: the first “pro-stray dogs” decision in which a Romanian citizen was compensated.

In the same year I built a well in Africa (it all started from a high school dream), a project that convinced several other funders to get involved. By September 2023, we have built 210 wells, a Romanian record in Africa.

Perhaps the thing I am most proud of, which is very close to my heart and made me experience the most intense emotions, was the period when I hosted 5000 Ukrainians and 1000 dogs and cats at Mandachi Hotel & Spa. As I was fully and unconditionally involved in this, I felt profound emotions and a unique sense of existence.

Helping has become a lifestyle for me. In the months of February-April 2022, I turned Mandachi Hotel & Spa into one of the largest private refugee camps during the war. Together with 200 volunteers and my hotel team, we provided free transportation to over 20,000 refugees, hosted over 5000 refugees and 1000 dogs and cats  for at least one night (meals, accommodation, shower, transportation).

Another action that nourishes my soul is the sterilization of over 4000 dogs for free and finding homes for over 300 abandoned dogs.

I define myself through my philanthropic actions (I have generated millions of euros in donations). They give me meaning and fill my heart and soul with light, peace and life. That is why I do them.

I live in my hometown, Sfântu Ilie, and have 7 dogs, 2 cats and 2 pigs.

I love the mountains; I have climbed Kilimanjaro and Moldoveanu. I love Bucovina. I love my friends (the few that I have). I admire intelligent people, whom I try to surround myself with. I am loyal to all employees and strive to be as honest as I can with everyone around me.

In 2023, I launched a new expanded edition of the Notebooks. I reedited the Dreamer’s Notebook, the Strategy Notebook, the Book of Quotes, and I hope that through these educational tools, I will make a tangible impact on the transformation of the Romanian society.