Why did you apply for the Corvinus EMBA programme? 

I’ve been interested in computer systems since childhood, so I graduated in computer networking from the Kandó Kálmán Faculty of Electrical Engineering. Between 2008 and 2021, I worked mainly as a systems engineer for Hungarian systems integrators but I also spent a long time working for the American VMware as a pre-sales engineer. When VMware was sold, after a “detour” that lasted many years, I returned to the company where I had once worked, 99999 Informatika Kft. 

As a pre-sales engineer, my main task was to “translate” IT and technical language into business language for our prospective customers, explaining why it would be worthwhile for them to buy high-quality technology solutions whenever a problem arises. That’s when I felt the need for further training. I had experienced first-hand that decision-makers in a company are not necessarily convinced by the technological aspect of IT; on the other hand, I had little experience of how big companies work. There have also been cases where I tried to convince the CIO of a company of the need for an IT investment by using such jargon and giving him such unnecessary technical details that I lost his attention,. He simply looked through me – he didn’t understand what I was trying to say. 

Why? Doesn’t a CIO understand IT? 

He does, but not in that way. He may not, for example, have a deep technological background and understand all the details, but that’s not typically his job. I have also often met business leaders who think IT is just a “money pit”. After all, they don’t necessarily see it having colossal business potential. So, I thought I must better understand the relevant regulations and points and how big companies think and operate. That way, I can do my job better; I can speak to them in the language they understand. I decided to invest in myself and applied for the Corvinus EMBA programme from 2019 to 2021. You’d think that most of people would rather buy a car than pay the cost of the training, but I was pleased to see that many of my peers also invested in themselves and their skills. 

Was it worth it? 

Absolutely. An immense value of this programme is that they can invite highly experienced, reputable leaders and professors from almost anywhere, from Hungary, from the region, from highly prestigious universities – not just from Maastricht, the partner university of the programme. One of the best memories I have is a lecture by Konstantin Korotov (I wentto him afterwards, I had never done this before, and told him that I had chosen this programme for this kind of learning experience and that his lecture surpassed all my previous experiences. I asked myself later why I had to wait so many years to learn so much relevant stuff and have such an experience. Later, I had similar experiences with many other professors during the programme. 

I’ve heard from many alumni that one of the great benefits of the programme is that good relationships are formed, and graduates stay in touch. 

This is true. This program is an excellent community builder. My peers and I were unlucky enough to study at Corvinus between 2019 and 2021, when unfortunately Covid intervened. Someone aptly said that here you can get in touch with Hungary’s leading business peopleand economists in such a way that you can either call them yourself later, or you will undoubtedly know someone who can do it for you. However, personal and human connections are also meaningful. When VMware was sold and I was looking for a job, I was delighted that a former fellow student, who had heard about me and the company, called me and offered me a position (which I finally didn’t apply for). But on a human level, that call felt good.

What’s your opinion of the teaching methods? 

Very positive. Different lecturers, different ways of thinking can give you a lot. The programme was very varied, with most speakers combining the dry course material with group exercises, videos and audio material. I also liked the fact that everyone could give feedback on a lecture anonymously. There were times when a lecturer received several criticisms from students, and at a subsequent alumni meeting I heard that he had not been invited back the following year. So students have a say in education, and I appreciate that. 

Can you think of anything specific that you have changed in your work as a result of what you have learned in this programme? 

Yes, several things. First of all, marketing was taught excellently. It has changed the way I present when dealing with prospective clients. I also gained a lot of self-knowledge during the two years, which is very important. By the way, I’m also very interested in the working atmosphere, so it’s no coincidence that I wrote my thesis on employee commitment.   

Working in IT, you obviously have a strong opinion on cybersecurity issues.  

It is obvious that this is a very marketable and constantly developing area, and there is a great need for it. Progress here is incredibly fast. So far, for example, our language – Hungarian, spoken by few – has often protected us, but it is no longer an obstacle for AI. There are already AI models whose speaking capabilities have advanced so rapidly that they can now copy the way any individual speaks with deceptively good accuracy, without an accent of course. Unfortunately, this makes it easy for a cybercriminal to make anyone believe that they are talking to, say, their grandchild. 

Where do you see technology going in a few decades? 

The only honest and credible answer I can give is: we don’t know. Some say that last year alone, the development of AI increased 650-fold, breaking barriers and taboos, which is unbelievable. This explosive development is also a problem because there is so much noise and disinformation on the subject, so it’s hard to know who to believe. Once AI has the general knowledge of humans, it will be able to take over a lot of jobs and professions from humans. I’d like to believe that many people will then no longer have to work for a living and will be able to spend more time with their families, pursue their hobbies or do more for the well-being of society. 

At Corvinus, a lot of emphasis is placed on alumni and events organised for them. What do you think of these?

I go to these events and round-table discussions whenever I can. The focus is always on something topical and interesting – there is a lot of talk about AI, issues of interest to leaders and change management. And I also like the fact that I get to meet in person the people I graduated with and other alumni at these events. 

Katalin Török