László Szabó, Managing Director, Moon42

  • 7 Jul 2017 12:00 PM
László Szabó, Managing Director, Moon42
László is currently the MD of one of the biggest Hungarian firms dedicated for individual enterprise software development. He’s mostly focused on business development and public relations.

Previously he worked for Arvato Systems Hungary, a subsidiary of the German media giant Bertelsmann AG. He was the Division Director of Thin-client enterprise ERP solutions, E-learning and Portal Solutions Division where he developed different projects not only in Hungary but also around Europe.

During this period he participated in the planning, design and the development of different systems like LeOn (e-learning system) and SOFIA (portal engine and ERP framework). Also he was in charge of Project Management in projects for leading companies such as Strabag, Drescher, Vodafone, Tesco.

During that phase of his career he was also the leader of expertise and consultant of electronic and distant learning projects for different well regarded education entities, including the Hungarian government, the Economical Institute of University of Szeged, and the Economical University of Budapest.

In recognition of his experience as a Project manager of Research and Development in the IT field, he became in 2003 an official expert in Leonardo European programme, as well as member of official experts on R&D projects for the Hungarian government.

At the beginning of his career Laszlo was fascinated with improving education within the IT Field, and he has been involved in education ever since, visiting educational entities such as high schools and vocational training schools to teach what he knows best: IT and business applications.

Earlier he was the Manager of the IT Department in GtB Vocational Training School, where he trained and shared his knowledge with computer programmers, trainers, teachers, IT specialists and system managers. Having this experience, he became an Software Development expert and consultant for different companies, and worked as a trainer for different enterprises focusing on IT and business applications. He designed all the curricula and learning materials for his courses.

In 1998 he became part of John von Neumann Computer Society, and collaborated as a Co-Writer of the ECDL workbook. Also, he was the exam director of this certification. Laszlo also had the chance to be part of Prompt 92 Ltd - now Moon42 as a Project Director where he handled the professional and commercial communication with the EU countries customers. Here, he could participate in different projects in different countries like Italy, UK, Austria and Germany. Also he worked with big companies such BMW, British Telecom, Swarovski, Sparkasse, Raiffeisen, La Feltrinelli, DeAgostini.

Laszlo speaks English, German, Italian and Russian, and prides himself on having good communication skills, cultural flexibility and empathy. He is solution oriented and is accustomed to working under pressure. He’s proven to be a natural business networker, and so had great success in fruitful business cooperation with high level companies around Europe.

Outside work he’s an active person, enjoying sports such as soccer, basketball, tennis, skiing, rafting, scuba diving and sailing. His personal interests include organising excursions all over the world, investigating the subjects of astronomy and volcanoes, and so discovering foreign cultures – especially Mediterranean ones - plus photography.

1. Where did you grow up?
In Budapest, first in the 4th district, Újpest, when I was little. When I turned 7 we moved to the 3rd district, and I have been living there ever since - in different parts of the same district.

2. If you could be an expat anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
I have several dream locations where I would love to live and work, so this is not an easy question to answer. On no particular order, they are New York, London, Paris, Rome. A tropical island is not a place where I would like to live and work, visiting such a place on a regular basis would definitely be nice, yet living there would be boring after a while.

3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?
Speaking my native language. Talking in Hungarian takes me back to my childhood, and gives me comfort.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Only for a weekend? J There are too many must see places for just a few days! I would recommend visiting the inner city, the fun party districts to see history combined with real life, and let them enjoy themselves. The inner city gives visitors an experience that a picture postcode type of location just cannot give. But of course the Castle is a must see, and Gellért Hill, plus Hero’s Square. Regarding refreshments, I’d recommend Arany Sárkány (Golden Dragon) and Kéhli in the 3rd district, oh and Sipos is also not too far from there and is worth a visit

5. What is your favourite food?
I like Italian, and Greek food, dishes grilled over charcoal – it can be fish, meat and vegetables. I don’t really like any side dishes like potatoes or rice, which is handy as I’m on a wellness diet.

6. What is your favourite sport / form of exercise?
I’ve learnt to like going to gym, also I play tennis, soccer and I ski. Actually I like to play any sport with a ball, like basketball.

7. What is your favourite place in Hungary?
I spent all my summers in Csönge when I was a kid, a famous poet Sándor Weöres was born there, I like it not because of that fun fact. I also like Sopron, and Tihany because another part of our family lived there and I spent a lot of time there too when I was a child. As they say, I know those places like the back of my hand.

8. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
A volcanologist, and don’t ask me why! J I am simply in love with volcanoes. My daughter is a geologist, it was her choice to become one, and it makes me very happy.

9. What’s a job you would definitely never want?
There are lots of them. I would never do any boring repetitive jobs.

10. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Recently I extended my last business trips to spend a few days in Bali. The previous real holiday was in Spain, in South Malaga.

11. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Jamaica, I have never been there and I love the Caribbean feeling.

12. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Band: Omega, Pink Floyd. Film: Godfather. I had lots of hobbies, collecting stamps, playing with lego, and I also liked building real things, I even built a working telescope.

13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
A nice smile from a beautiful girl.

14. Red wine or white?
Rosé.

15. Book or movie?
I still prefer reading a book.

16. Morning person or night person?
Definitely night, I’m not a morning person at all.

17. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Children growing up without their parents.

18. Buda or Pest side?
Buda, as I live there. What is the best thing on Pest side? The view of Buda. J

19. Which achievement in your life are you most pleased about?
Family.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
“Failure is not an option”. As said by actor Ed Harris while playing Kranz in the 1995 film Apollo 13.

 

 

 

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