Irina Cazacu
"I see NL-ix like Merlin in the story of King Arthur – serving as the wise advisor and enabler behind every business's success."
Who is NL-ix?
Behind the world of the Internet, behind the world of fibers, protocols, peers, and terabytes, there are actual people making it all work. But who are these people? In other words: Who is NL-ix?
Today: 🤝 Irina Cazacu, Commercial Product Manager
I'm Irina, Commercial Product Manager at NL-ix since November 2024. I bring with me over 15 years of experience in product management, having worked with three of the biggest European telco operators and several US-based software and data analytics companies.
I have degrees in both mathematics and business administration. To me, mathematics is almost addictive. The dopamine rush I get when solving a problem has never gone away. I've also always had a curiosity about understanding the deeper layers that drive people, technology, and human behavior. Just as psychology reveals the intricate workings of the human mind, I believe the Internet serves as the vital but often invisible foundation of modern business—but also many parts of our daily life we often don't even think about.
That was the complete opposite in the dial-up era. I remember gathering with my friends and waiting sometimes up to an hour just to establish a connection, telling everyone in the house, "Don't make any phone calls, don't pick up the phone, don't do anything because it's going to break!" The Internet wasn't just an opportunity to connect to the world, but also a way to connect with each other – one computer, one account, one connection bringing us together.
"I see NL-ix like Merlin in the story of King Arthur – serving as the wise advisor and enabler behind every business's success."
Irina Cazacu
After nine years in telco and seven in software, I was looking for a new challenge. When I learned about NL-ix, I was intrigued by the opportunity to go one level deeper into Internet infrastructure. After meeting the team and having a few discussions with people who were so clearly passionate about what they do, I felt that this was a place where I would fit well, both in terms of the domain and the overall culture.
In my role as Commercial Product Manager I'm the voice of the customer within the company. I serve as the link between our clients, sales, development, market, and management teams. I have to speak the language of each of them and translate it to one another.
When talking about our services to customers, I illustrate to them the overall business benefits and impact of having a great connection with low latency and security and control and transparency of the internet– in practical terms: "This is the support that helps you have business continuity, helps you prevent financial loss caused by interruptions. For hospitals, if your connection isn't there, you may not be able to provide immediate care to patients in potentially life threatening situations."
I'd say we're like Merlin in the story of King Arthur. NL-ix serves as the wise advisor and enabler behind every business's success. We have the magic that's not always obvious or visible, but gives all the support needed to keep things secure and moving forward. We provide ways of communicating and connecting businesses across all industries, while not being in your face but remaining essential for their existence.
With approximately 70% of the global population now online, the importance of what we do at NL-ix cannot be overstated. Whether you're in healthcare, finance, aeronautical engineering, construction, or education – everywhere you go, you need a secure and reliable Internet connection. We're the wizards that make it all possible.
