From consultant to CEO - Attila Csányi was the guest of the Leadership Club of the Leadership Academy

At the beginning of his career, Attila Csányi spent four years as a consultant at the world-renowned McKinsey & Company, and currently heads the Bonafarm Group, one of the most important players in the food industry in Hungary. The group behind the PICK, Mizo, Herz, Valdor and Teleki brands, among others, is renowned not only in Hungary but also internationally for its integrated production structure.

During the interview, mr. Csányi  also shared a number of personal stories that gave the students an insight into how his management approach has evolved. Attila Csányi stressed that a good leader must not only be professionally prepared, but also listen to people, listen to them and create an atmosphere in which everyone can bring out the best in each other. Authenticity and respect are key to leading a team, and that these values are a compass not only at a corporate level but also in your personal life.

During the evening the students covered a very colorful range of topics that provided insights into the current state of the Hungarian food industry, the challenges and opportunities in regional markets, and the essence of learning and practicing leadership. They looked at the situation of the Hungarian food industry and the difficulties that the sector is facing. As regards the Bonafarm Group's operations, the students learned that the group is one of Hungary's largest integrated agricultural and food organisations, covering the entire value chain from raw material production to processing. Thus, Bonafarm's products can be traced from field to table, ensuring quality and food safety.

The evening was not only about professional issues in the food industry, but also about the challenges of becoming a leader and learning to lead. Together the students reflected on what it really means to be a good leader and what skills are needed to successfully manage a team or an organisation. It became clear from what was said that leadership is first and foremost a learning process, where experiences and lessons learnt gradually shape the individual. A particularly important message for the audience was that authenticity, empathy and a commitment to continuous learning are the foundations of leadership, regardless of the sector in which one works.

The role and importance of mentors was also discussed and was a particularly relevant topic for many students. The importance of mentoring cannot be over-emphasised, as the support, advice and guidance of a more experienced manager can make a significant contribution to professional and personal development. It was said that a good mentor not only provides professional advice, but also helps one to identify your strengths and weaknesses and to make long-term decisions that are in line with your goals and values. The relationship between mentor and mentee is based on trust and can be one of the most effective tools for development at any stage of the career path.

Another important theme was the issue of work-life balance, which is a challenge for all managers. It was pointed out that constant overwork and unlimited working hours can lead to burnout in the long term, which can have a significant negative impact not only on performance but also on quality of life. The secret of successful leaders is often their ability to balance work and personal life, and to recognise that rest and recuperation are not a luxury but a basic necessity. It was also instructive for the students to hear that a well-planned schedule and the right priorities are essential to succeed not only at work but also in other areas of life.

During the two hours, the students not only received professional advice, but also inspiring ideas that can shape their own leadership path in the long term. Throughout the discussion, these human aspects were as much a focus as the professional topics, and they all felt that these messages were also extremely important for our own development. Attila's honesty and directness really brought them close to the real challenges and beauty of leadership. At the end of the event, the students all felt that we had been part of an extremely valuable evening and that they had been given a road map that can help them to face the challenges of the future with more confidence. This evening proved once again that the power of personal encounters and the lessons of inspiring role models are irreplaceable on the path to becoming a leader.