Excellence Óbuda – Self-Reflection
This week I appeared on M5's Novum program for a short interview, conducted by Szilvia Z. Molnár and her colleague. The recording was made at the joint Excellence event of Toyota Sakura and Óbuda University, focused on the present and future of hydrogen technology.
Looking back, it was strange to see myself on screen. Not because of the camera, but because I remembered how much work it took to get here. I sat down, put together the application materials, prepared for the in-person hearing, and in front of the committee, I just tried to be myself. Out of 74 applicants, about 28–30 became scholarship recipients. It wasn't a given that I'd be among them.
What the Excellence Program Offers
The Excellence program has given me a lot since then, but not necessarily in the way I expected. Beyond the professional content, the greatest value is the environment I became part of. I increasingly see the university as an intellectual workshop – a fixed point where, beyond obligations, I can sit down and talk with intellectually stimulating people. This isn't just for twenty-year-olds. Anyone who joins higher education later in life benefits just as much, if they let it.
The MVP Competition and LUCIS
A few weeks ago, I participated in an academic MVP competition with Boglárka Száday, where we presented the LUCIS concept: Claude Code-powered portfolio websites for SMEs. We didn't place, but the jury's feedback was worth more than a prize. They said we don't need investor capital because we're already on track. And from Krisztián Lukács, we heard that we're pricing too low. These aren't criticisms – they're validations.
At the event, I also had the chance to talk with Marcel Nyírő, one of Óbuda University's most invested founders: he received 73 million HUF in support from the university's venture capital investor for his Outfino project. It was an insightful conversation – mainly about what foundations to build before bringing in investor capital.
Side Effects
As a side effect, I've been getting feedback lately that I'm "annoyingly mature" for my age. Not surprising – when you spend a year and a half talking daily with Gen X "excellence" scholars, it inevitably leaves a mark. Which sounds great until you realize you're finding less and less common ground with your own generation.
I'm planning to finish my Business Development MSc this summer, and a marketing master's is on the horizon for fall. Changes are coming in other areas of my life too, but the university stays: as an incubator, as a workshop, as a community.
Thank you to the Talent Development Office at Óbuda University for the opportunity, and to the mentors who shaped my thinking during this period.