Elek Nagy, entrepreneur, and the president of the Hungarian and Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MKIK and BKIK), gave a lecture at Corvinus University of Budapest. The event was organised by the Youth Enterprise Support Society with the partnership and support of the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BKIK) as part of the Spin-off Club’s autumn program series. The event was moderated by Corvinus student, Kazuma Tazaki, who is the co-founder of Bazu Interviews. The main focus of the event was negotiation techniques, business development experiences and the strategic vision of the MKIK and BKIK. The central message of the event: “How can enterprises survive crises and make a business successful?”  

At the beginning of the lecture, it became clear how much Nagy had been influenced by the cultured and lively atmosphere of his family background. As he revealed, the greatest gifts from this environment were his literary education and optimistic outlook on life – both of which proved advantageous in business. He emphasised the former several times in connection with negotiation techniques, viewing literature as a guide to understanding negotiation partners. He also identified two other key factors: experience and prestige, which naturally become available only over time or through the wisdom of older generations. He holds such wisdom in particularly high regard, considering it one of the most valuable learning tools and advantages for young entrepreneurs. He also shared another piece of advice on negotiation techniques: the strategic use of hidden abilities, which can have a powerful element of surprise. 

In the second half of the lecture, students were given a glimpse into Nagy’s entrepreneurial past, with a particular focus on his experiences with Főtaxi and Uber. The main takeaways included the importance of mapping power dynamics, unsettling negotiation partners, thinking three steps ahead, and assessing risks. He also discussed his current business challenges, including those related to his real estate empire and his pawnshop chain, BÁV. 

Toward the end of the event, he spoke about his duties as the head of the Chambers, which centre around a coherent vision: achieving a knowledge-based economy. 

With this event, the BKIK University Partnership Program reached another milestone. One of BKIK’s key objectives is to strengthen collaboration between businesses and knowledge centres. A central pillar of this effort is the University Partnership Program, which connects higher education institutions with the entrepreneurial sector. Through this initiative, students gain real market experience, while businesses gain direct access to the latest scientific and technological developments.