In today’s business landscape, it is no longer enough to have a strong product or the right strategy. The decisive factor is the personality of the owner — their mindset, depth of decision-making, and ability to lead people.
This was exactly the focus of the Board Budapest business club meeting, which I attended at the invitation of COO Olena Kurhanova.
It was not an evening of formal networking, but a space for meaningful conversations where entrepreneurs shared their experiences, challenges, and visions for the future.
Among the community’s partners are next-generation entrepreneurs: Artem Prychyskyi, who develops гастрономічні projects in Budapest and Kyiv, and Maksym Kurhanov, founder of “S.E.A. Wings,” a company operating in the field of aviation technologies. Their stories are about scale, systems thinking, and bold vision.
The key moment of the evening was a talk by Board mentor Oleh Boriichuk — an executive and business coach, entrepreneur, and lawyer.
His message was clear and uncompromising:
a business grows only as much as its owner grows.
In a live dialogue, we explored topics that often remain “behind the scenes” of business:
— the true role of leadership in long-term development;
— the owner’s responsibility not only for results but also for the team;
— whether a satisfied employee is a competitive advantage;
— what human-centered management looks like in practice;
— and which weak points in teams are most often overlooked.
Special attention was given to a people-centered approach. Today, a strong business is not only about efficiency, but also about trust, mutual understanding, and unlocking the potential of every team member.
During the event, I also presented Business Woman magazine and the World Book of Records as tools that create visibility, recognition, and new opportunities for women in business.
We operate with a clear mission:
to strengthen the role of women in business, governance, and international dialogue by building a platform where:
— women’s achievements become visible;
— businesses receive reputational support;
— international partnerships are built on trust;
— social and humanitarian initiatives gain a voice.
What was particularly valuable to me was the strong presence of women entrepreneurs at the event. IT, healthcare, wellness, consulting — different fields, yet united by professionalism, ambition, and readiness to act.
This is a clear signal: Ukrainian women are not only integrating into the Hungarian economic space — they are becoming an active part of it, influencing the development of the international business environment.
Board Budapest is more than a business club. It is an ecosystem where a new type of leadership is being shaped — conscious, responsible, and human-centered.
And this is exactly the kind of leadership that defines the future.
Photo: Kristina Hires