“Movement drives me.”

In dialog with Eszter Udvarhelyi

Eszter Udvarhelyi is a strategy and business development expert in the field of corporate banking.

She knows from her own experience that life is constantly changing and requires reorientation. After growing up in Hungary and the Czech Republic, Eszter came to Vienna to complete her studies. She later worked for Erste Group in Serbia and Hungary before spending several years in Shanghai, China. 

Eszter has now been based in Vienna for several years and works together with her team on topics such as ESG, digitalisation, the use of artificial intelligence for business support and strategy development and implementation with a focus on corporate clients. In her spare time, Eszter enjoys spending time with her family, including her two bright children, and running regularly.
 

Dear Eszter, where do you come from?

I grew up very internationally and have lived in many different countries. I have Hungarian roots, grew up in the Czech Republic, studied in Vienna and spent some time working in Serbia and Hungary. 

I also had a very exciting time with my husband and two children when we lived in Shanghai. It was a great experience and I learnt a lot. I entered a completely new world when I was pregnant - at a time when a lot had already changed for me anyway. That had a huge impact on me.

© Eszter Udvarhelyi

What is important to you?

Movement. And on very different levels. Culturally, in everyday life, in my thinking. I like to move: I run, hike, take part in marathons. Movement is essential for me. 
At Erste, I work on very different topics that are currently undergoing a lot of development and change (ESG, data analytics, digitalisation including the use of AI in business processes). This diversity also means movement for me.
What fascinated me in Shanghai back then was the combination of local Chinese culture with internationality and cosmopolitanism. That inspired me. What I learnt there was that you can find your way in any new context if you get yourself involved. 
 

What does movement mean to you?

I have found it in travelling between different countries and cultures. But also in sport and especially in running. I like to run a lot and now also run marathons (on the road or even better in the mountains). 

Movement is also a theme in my work. It means flexibility in thinking and a drive towards new tasks. The strategic orientation of a company or a customer area requires good planning, but also foresight and innovation; it is influenced by many factors outside and inside the company. It is therefore important to embrace new topics, approaches and ideas. In addition, a good strategy goes hand in hand with strong implementation. As Morris Chang, founder of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, said: "Without strategy, execution is aimless. Without execution, strategy is useless."

Movement also helps me to organise thoughts and ideas, to look at things from a different perspective and to get out of my comfort zone.

How do you become visible?

By daring to be different. I think it's an advantage to be different. You bring a story with you and you can tell it. This attitude has influenced me since childhood. 
My surname is long and difficult and somehow that has often helped me. Many people can't remember it straight away, have to ask and in the end we often just stick with Eszter. That is a distinguishing feature. Being different is a USP! 

I was often in contexts where I stood out anyway (the only Hungarian in a Czech school class or, compared to the Western European expats, one of the few Eastern European women in Asia who also comes from Vienna) and I decided to capitalise on that. Diversity in particular strengthens what we have in common and enables a good exchange and finding solutions. 

What does belonging mean to you?

I believe in similarity in otherness. We have a lot in common, even if it may not seem like it at first glance. When you talk to each other - and this is becoming increasingly important - you actually always discover similarities. 
 

What is your connection to the Erste Women's Hub?

I applied for the mentoring program at Erste Women's Hub in 2016. It was a great program and it was the first time I had in-depth discussions with managers. 

At the time, I was in a strategic team in Corporate and my mentor was Head of Retail-Strategy. I learnt an incredible amount from her, some of it very practical: How do you present (yourself) in a meeting? How do you present your opinion? 

What I learnt during this time still helps me in my everyday work.
 

What can you pass on to others?

"Take a seat at a table!" It's important to join in and sometimes you have to dare to say: "I would like to be there." or "I'm interested in that!"

Unfortunately, it still happens that you are overlooked, but it is really important to be there. You then have to take action yourself and just do it! You often have to find new ways and force yourself a little to jump in at the deep end and swim. My experience is that it's always worth it! 

Where are you heading to?

About a year ago, I took over a staff position with Ingo Bleier, Corporates and Markets Board Member, where I deal with many different topics that are currently having a major impact on the corporate banking world and will change it in the future. We have big plans! 
It is still important to me to develop my team as well as myself personally and professionally. I therefore take advantage of many of Erste's internal and external training programmes and encourage my team to do the same. 
I therefore take advantage of many of the internal and external training programmes and encourage my team to do the same.
Here too, the topic of movement and further development is important to me. Standing still is not my thing! :-)

Thank you, dear Eszter, for the interview!