Simona Rusu and the Moving Challenge Community Story

Simona Rusu and the Moving Challenge Community Story

We believe in initiatives that create a positive impact for our colleagues, for society and the planet. That belief is how the Moving Challenge was born: as a small, local idea that, step by step, grew into a Europe-wide employee wellbeing movement. For Simona Rusu, Associate Manager, People Development, and also the program’s coordinator, this journey is about far more than just a sports competition. It is a testament to the power of community, sustainability, and collective effort. Her story highlights how a shared goal can transform daily habits and drive meaningful social impact across the organization.

What is the Moving Challenge about and how it started?

In 2016, a group of Fortech colleagues set out to solve the ongoing issue  of insufficient parking spaces by launching a 2-month pilot project that encouraged cycling over driving. 20 people participated, tracking their activities in an Excel file. The following year, they developed an internal app to replace Excel and we launched the Biking Challenge program. In 2018, walking and running were added, giving rise to what is now known as the Moving Challenge.

Today, The Moving Challenge is a 6-month internal employee wellbeing program designed to foster healthy habits while creating  a positive impact on society and the planet. An internal application is used to track progress, syncing with activities recorded on Strava or Sports Tracker and converting kilometers into points based on an internal scoring system. There is also a leaderboard feature where participants can check their progress compared to colleagues. The program consists of six levels, with each level unlocking prizes (branded materials) as a certain number of participants achieve a minimum point target.

In early 2024, as Fortech completed its integration with GlobalLogic, the program was expanded to six countries in Europe: Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, Sweden, and Germany. In 2025, the program was extended to Ukraine and UK&I. What began as an initiative with 20 participants in Cluj now includes over 1,000 colleagues from across Europe.

Fortech’s integration really helped reach this larger-scale initiative because it showed us that Moving Challenge was not just a local project, but more like a program that suits the need of people to enhance their physical and mental health wherever they are. And now, I’d dare to say that the Moving Challenge is more than a program, it’s a true community.

The Impact: What motivates the participants?

I believe Moving Challenge is designed to provide both individual and collective benefits, creating an impact across several key areas:

• Employee Wellbeing: The primary objective is to enhance physical and mental health. Our internal wellbeing survey confirms a strong positive shift (+30%) in wellbeing across all dimensions, especially in feeling cheerful. In our last edition, we saw a 40% YoY increase in participation (1000+ colleagues across Europe), and over 70% remained active until the end. This success was recognized with the Bronze for Best Employee Wellbeing Initiative at the 2025 Employer Brand Management Awards Gala in London.
• Employee Engagement: By bringing employees together for a shared goal, the program creates synergy between colleagues, especially those in different countries. It often becomes a topic of discussion during coffee breaks and even client meetings.
• Sustainability: We encourage zero-emission transportation. In six months, we collectively covered over 856,000 km – roughly equivalent to traveling from the Earth to the Moon and back twice. This effort saved over 174 tons of CO₂, comparable to the emissions from about 65-70 round-trip flights between New York and Tokyo.
• Community and Social Responsibility: Since 2022, the program has included a CSR module in Romania, which was extended to Slovakia in 2025. This multi-faceted approach is key to our success because it addresses multiple needs: personal health, community contribution, and environmental good.

“Moving Challenge is one of those passion projects you treasure in your professional journey. Not only does it inspire you to step out of your comfortable house, rain or shine, and stay active to reach your daily goals, but it also helps you develop healthy habits. Not only does it positively impact the planet, knowing that 1,000 people from GlobalLogic choose to stay active instead of using personal cars, but it also fosters a sense of community. 

In my opinion, the most beautiful aspect of the Moving Challenge is how it creates deep connections – between colleagues within the same team or country and among all the European countries involved. We all move for good, in the end!” – Ana Cojuhari, Romania Marketing Manager and one of the founders of the program.

A proud moment on stage at the Employer Brand Management Awards Gala 2025, recognizing the impact of the Moving Challenge

CSR & Collective Effort: Does the social cause foster motivation?

Indeed, this provides colleagues with an additional, meaningful motivation to participate. Particularly in Romania, this spirit of giving is deeply ingrained in our culture, as demonstrated by our active Donations Community. We are pleased that Slovakia also joined the CSR layer of the program this year, and we hope even more countries will follow. Allowing participants to propose and select the social causes that receive the donations fosters a strong sense of belonging and contribution, which ultimately drives the collective effort.

We are proud that the program has been awarded Silver (2024) and Bronze (2025) at the Sustainability & CSR Awards Romania, and recently received the Gold Award in the “Active Living” category of Community Index 2025.

Simona and the Moving Challenge participants in Cluj-Napoca, celebrating the energy and connection that drive this program forward

Personal Transformation: How has the challenge changed you?

The program captivated me immediately upon joining in 2019, and I haven’t missed an edition since. I was very impressed with the program when I joined the company, and I am now deeply grateful to be able to coordinate it. Over the years, it significantly shaped my daily routine, especially my running habits, an activity I previously struggled with. This year, I made it a personal mission to complete all six levels of the program, having previously failed to reach the final level. I am proud to say that I not only met this goal but exceeded it, achieving 2nd place on the Romanian podium in three categories (Combined Activities, Biking, and, much to my surprise, Running) out of 100+ female participants.

Simona receiving recognition for her outstanding 2nd place on the Romanian podium

Community Spotlight: Who makes it all happen?

The program’s large scale across the entire Europe makes it a collaborative effort involving multiple teams. I first want to acknowledge the stakeholders who provide the essential support and budget that sustain this initiative. Additionally, the smooth execution is thanks to: all participants, Employee Ambassadors, Program Management, Development, User Support, Marketing, Employee Services and HR teams. 

“I’m proud to see how a simple internal idea has evolved into a program that inspires colleagues across the EMEA region to stay active and connected. This year, our platform has supported their journey by tracking progress, celebrating achievements, and bringing people together through sport. Watching how the application helps turn motivation into lasting habits remains one of the most rewarding aspects of this project. Moving Challenge is more than a program, it’s a community, and I’m grateful to contribute to its continued impact.” Luiza Andreica, Lead Engineer, IT Infrastructure and the Product Owner of the Moving Challenge app.

The Future & Growth: What’s next for the Moving Challenge?

We have a strong desire to expand this program, offering colleagues in other regions the chance to participate. Our ultimate goal, though ambitious, is to make it a global initiative, including Hitachi as well. This is a significant challenge, and we are proceeding cautiously with baby steps, but we are confident in its potential.

Celebrating the closing ceremony, achievements and collective effort of the 2025 Moving Challenge edition.

Advice for New Movers: What should you know?

If you’re thinking about joining GlobalLogic and  Moving Challenge, my advice is simple: embrace the experience! Connect with your colleagues and commit to being persistent with the activities. Six months is a significant commitment, and while it might seem challenging at first, consistency is key. By setting small, achievable goals, you build habits and accumulate more meaningful progress over time. Just enjoy the journey!