Dániel Kólya, CEO Budapest Park

  • 22 Jun 2017 12:00 PM
Dániel Kólya, CEO Budapest Park
Dániel Kólya - Chief Executive Officer of Budapest Park, the largest open-air club and concert venue in Budapest and in Hungary. I was born in Hungary an was involved in a couple of professions and engagements before joining Budapest Park: I lead and managed various types of organizations and was also a consultant, trainer and coach.

1. Where did you grow up?
I was born and grew up in Budapest, in district 10, Kőbánya, where I could meet every aspects of life. I can tell it was better than a school.

2. If you could be an expat anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
I am OK with Budapest and Hungary. If I ever had to choose to move it would be de Andalucia, in Spain - not Sevilla or any big city but a small one. I spent almost a year there in 90’s and fell in love with Spain.

3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?
The people around me, my family, friends, colleagues and the special feeling of the Hungarians wishy-washy attitude. Nothing is according to rules / order. Spain is kind of the same.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Go to Budapest Park. Nightlife if they are from the younger generation to see that Budapest is a vivid, multicultural city.

I would also show them the culture places not too well known and not too famous in Buda or in Pest. (The ruin pubs are tourist attractions.) I would let them get lost in the city.

5. What is your favourite food and drink?
Food-wise, everything Italian, any kind of Italian pasta. I do not like greasy Hungarian things. Drinks – wine.

6. What is your favourite sport / form of exercise?
I do not have much time to do sports, but I do a bit of cycling and running.

7. What is your favourite place in Hungary?
It depends what I would like to do. If I just want to meet people I stay in Budapest. If I want to rest, I go somewhere in Bakony mountains.

8. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Kitchen chef.

9. What’s a job you would definitely never want?
What is very far from me is being a doctor, a surgeon. I am aware that we need them, I respect them, but I could not be one.

10. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Two years ago I went to New York City for a week to visit the Big Apple and to see an NBA match.

11. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
I have not been there so I would like to go to Northern Europe to see Sweden, Norway, etc.

12. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Bands – everything was so called ‘alternative’ in Hungary including Kontroll Csoport, Európa Kiadó and Bizottság.
Film: Egy tiszta nő / Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Hobby: listening to the music and being a bedroom guitarist.

13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
I cannot resist listening to everybody and sometimes it takes a lot of time – it comes from the period of life when worked as a management and leadership consultant. I cannot resist good music, either.

14. Red wine or white?
Whites from Somló and Pannonhalma.

15. Book or movie?
I would still read a book. I am reading business related books. The last one was from Patrick Lencioni - The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

16. Morning person or night person?
Night, was always one.

17. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
There are many I am sorry to say. The poverty in Hungary. The whole disagreement that’s happening these days. I miss conversation among people. These is not happeneing these days.

18. Buda or Pest side?
Pest. I always felt as a guest in Buda.

19. Which achievement in your life are you most pleased about?
My son, definitely :)

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
As in the Morcheeba song: “Stop chasing shadows, just enjoy the ride.”

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