Founder

Founder and CEO of Roma Boots

Samuel Bistrian – Founder, Philanthropist, and Visionary Entrepreneur

Born in the remote village of Benesti, Romania, Samuel Bistrian experienced the harsh realities of poverty under communist rule. At just eight years old, he immigrated to the United States with his family, but his parents instilled in him and his eleven siblings a deep sense of gratitude, resilience, and responsibility to give back. This commitment to service became the driving force of his life.

Throughout college, Samuel dedicated his time to humanitarian work, traveling to poverty-stricken countries to build schools and orphanages, and working with abandoned children in Colombia. In 2001, he returned to Romania for the first time since leaving and was deeply impacted by the sight of children navigating harsh winters with inadequate footwear—or none at all. That moment solidified his mission: to create a sustainable solution for children in need.

After graduating, Samuel spent nearly a decade at Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Texas, where he gained firsthand experience in the luxury retail industry. Yet, his humanitarian efforts never ceased—he regularly sent clothes and supplies to those in need and made annual trips to Romania. Still, he knew more could be done.

In 2009, a pivotal encounter with Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS Shoes, ignited an idea. Inspired to merge his fashion expertise with philanthropy, Samuel left his corporate career and launched ROMA BOOTS in 2010—a brand built on the mission of “Giving Poverty the Boot.”

Since its founding, ROMA BOOTS has donated over $10 million worth of boots to children in 35 countries, providing warmth, dignity, and hope to those in need. The brand has earned global recognition in Forbes, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and Harvard’s Social Innovation Forum, solidifying Samuel’s role as a pioneer in socially conscious fashion.

Today, Samuel continues to operate Roma Boots out of Dallas, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Alejandra, and their three daughters, Ilona, Emma, and Mila. His work continues to inspire a new generation of changemakers, proving that business and philanthropy can coexist to create lasting impact.