Corvinus alumni: we find each other both personally and professionally.

How and why did you apply for the Corvinus-MSM-Maastricht University executive MBA, and what inspired you? 

Many of my friends had graduated from Corvinus, and I had seen their promising careers, so I was looking for a program that would align with my professional goals and the present stage of my career. That is how I discovered Corvinus and Maastricht University’s joint Executive MBA program; I must admit that it resulted from a simple Google search. 

Throughout my career, I have had a variety of positions, including consultant at PwC and Deloitte and financial manager at a start-up and a Hungarian IT business. 

How has the program supported your professional development? 

The program has been a significant step forward in my professional growth because it has improved my business thinking and leadership skills and provided a useful, practical toolset through multiple case study discussions. For the thesis project, I worked with Charles McFerren, an American academic and financial expert who now lives in Hungary and lectures at Corvinus. His professional competence and humanistic attitude during thesis supervision and personal discussions were pivotal moments for me.  

Ákos Kassai, who evaluated my thesis as an opponent, had a positive impression of my work. This was a tremendous professional validation for me, as he is a senior management and entrepreneur with extensive domestic and international experience. 

Apropos, thesis. I understand you chose to prepare a consultancy project for Balázs Szabó, one of your EMBA peer company, focused on sustainability and ESG criteria. How did this idea come about? 

One of the significant advantages of the course is that we get to know students with similar professional interests and approaches as Balázs. He is a member of Mocca Negra Zrt. The company was founded in 1991 by his father, Péter Szabó, who is still in charge of strategic issues, while his two sons, Péter Szabó Jr. is the CEO, and Balázs takes care of operations. The company manufactures and distributes Bravos and Mantaro coffee products, and the entire production process – from import to roasting, packaging, and sales – is carried out in Hungary. 

When it occurred to me that my thesis should be a so-called “business consultancy project,” it was an immediate opportunity to work with Balázs on a financial and organizational development concept focusing on sustainability aspects. In the context of the company’s planned expansion abroad, it is becoming increasingly important to mainstream ESG aspects: potential partners, financiers, and investors are looking at economic indicators and environmental and social responsibility. As this area is becoming increasingly important in this country, the project was timely and relevant. 

I am also proud that my thesis was highlighted as one of the “best practice theses” of the year, thus contributing to the thesis writing of the following intakes. 

However, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) requirements include other aspects too. What did you learn from the program as a manager, and, more importantly, what did you put into practice? 

ESG requirements include not only environmental but also social and governance aspects, and it was essential for me that we were able to cover the management side of these issues in depth during the program. From the beginning of my career, through various experiences, it became clear that empathy, assistance, and honest communication are essential. 

I try to incorporate this approach into my daily work at my current job, where I have a young, innovative, and professional team. Although I only joined in December 2024, I already have a small team of people I support and try to help develop professionally through training. As a manager, I also have a responsibility to support my colleagues’ development and create a working environment where they are happy to work and develop. 

Many alumni have said that one of the most important benefits of the EMBA is the formation of good personal and professional relationships. 

I fully agree with this, as over two years, through numerous group work and joint case studies, we get to know each other personally and professionally – which is further enhanced by the friendships formed through these activities. 

This is also important for alums, who remain in a supportive community after graduation, where members can ask and offer each other help. That is why I felt honored to be invited to join the EMBA Alumni Steering Committee, which aims to maintain, strengthen, and develop this network. 

Who would you recommend to apply for this course at Corvinus? 

First and foremost, for those who want a quality education and want to broaden their range of both business and people contacts. For example, I started the program at 38, which was just about the group’s average age. This is an advantage because we are at similar career stages, which makes it easier to understand each other, and our challenges are often similar. I would add that this program is also excellent for those from a non-traditional business background. For example, some of my group members joined with a medical or engineering background because they felt that the skills they would acquire during the program would significantly help their career development, which proved to be the case. 

Katalin Török