First and foremost, we're human beings..
...yes, at work too!
Leadership and personal development are not about fancy words or complex theories. It’s about real people, practical actions, and creating the right environment for success. Let us demystify it together in a pragmatic and solution-focused way!
Ever since I left university as a young mom with two kids, my journey from a trainee to the Country HR Manager of IKEA’s Austrian organization has been an incredible experience.
It’s been a 17-year adventure filled with diverse cultures, nations, and roles in many different countries. While I’ve had some shining successes, those closest to me have also witnessed the struggles, self-doubts, and moments of feeling defeated that I’ve gone through. I don’t easily give up, though, when I truly believe in something, and my core belief hasn’t changed one bit.
Leadership is all about putting people first, taking the long view, and being accountable for our decisions. This balanced people and business focus, in a nutshell, is what’s driven all my professional successes.
Mentoring, Coaching
No matter how much or little experience you have, you will always face challenges that are difficult to tackle alone. As a leader, the pressure is almost always on. You’re expected to have all the answers and guide your team through anything. But let’s face it, we all need help sometimes. By teaming up with an experienced mentor, you can boost your professional and personal growth; many successful leaders have relied on a mentor who has faced similar hurdles.
I bring you real-world leadership experience, having managed large teams locally and internationally. I understand the unique challenges you face and can offer valuable insights from a human perspective. Mentoring emerging leaders and celebrating their success stories is my passion.
So, what can you expect from our mentorship process? You’ll get practical advice tailored to your needs, with empathy always in mind. We’ll meet regularly to create a customized plan that leverages your strengths and addresses your weaknesses. I’ll provide supportive guidance and constructive feedback to help you reduce stress and achieve greater success. Together, we’ll navigate potential pitfalls and steer clear of dead ends. Don’t struggle alone; we unlock your potential and fast-track your success together.
Do the first step today and simply contact me here.
Psychological safety
“No one comes up with a good idea while being chased by a tiger.”
Anonymous board member of Tesla
An organization that minimizes fear can fully unleash its team’s potential. While psychological safety offers substantial benefits, it requires careful balancing with proper accountability. Without this balance, people might become overly comfortable, potentially diminishing their performance and motivation. So, what’s the key to achieving this delicate balance?
Awareness is the first step to creating psychological safety that supports business goals. The Fearless Organisation Scan tool, which is based on the research of Amy C. Edmondson, a Harvard professor, provides a clear picture of the current state of the organisation and offers suggestions for the future based on the following 4 factors:
- Willingness to help and teaming
- Inclusion & diversity
- Attitudes towards risk and failure
- Open conversations
I offer a tool called the Fearless Organization Scan as a first step to understanding the status quo. It is a browser-based online survey based not only on studies from Harvard University but also on real business data from large companies such as Google. The assessment includes both self and team psychological safety scores, as well as a comparison with a global benchmark.
The survey identifies the existence and strengths of these four core elements and their potential as well. It also highlights the key skills that the organisation needs to focus on.
To learn more about how I can help you create adaptable, flexible, high-performing teams, contact me here and let’s have an online complimentary call.
Executive Consulting
Consciousness, expertise, and self-awareness are necessary for an executive to handle tasks related to managing people and business development as part of a single system. During consultations, we focus on the efficient and focused processing of specific cases that arise in the daily operations of the leader. As a ‘sparring partner’, with my two decades of senior management expertise, international experience, and, of course, my personality, we seek pragmatic solutions and alternatives together.
In today’s incredibly fast-changing environment, the role of leader requires a very different approach than before, when our businesses were led along well-standardizable, objectively assessable tasks.
Today, the success of a company highly depends on whether the leader is able to create an environment of continuous learning that supports innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving in everyday operations. Through the unique, specific examples drawn from the daily life of a leader, I help to discuss the dilemmas and develop concrete alternatives, thereby empowering leaders to adapt, innovate, and lead effectively.
If you want to be a leader of such a company, contact me today, and let’s take the first step together.
Career Choices/ Should I Stay or Should I Go?
I can’t give you a concrete answer.
But I can help you structure your thoughts and explore the reasons behind your question. Together, we can consider the different alternatives tailored to your unique situation. I’ve been through this phase myself.
Years ago, I faced a similar dilemma when deciding whether to accept the position of IKEA’s Country HR Manager in Austria. It took me weeks, even months, to decide, as it raised so many dilemmas. I felt joy, excitement, and curiosity, but also fear and uncertainty, especially as a mother of two.
Many people I meet and turn to me are not satisfied with their current life or job situation and feel the need for a change. Those who know my career path often ask if they should take the chance of working abroad. They wonder what to look out for, what to expect, and what the pitfalls might be. How do they get even started?
Years after my career change, with a wealth of experience, I now help others facing this dilemma. I’ve seen many people’s stories across several countries and learned much from my clients.
I won’t be able to give you the answer directly, but I can help you see more clearly. And if you decide on a new start, I will guide you along the way. Together, we’ll build stronger self-awareness and, if needed, create a well-crafted LinkedIn profile and updated CV for a new beginning.
I am happy to get to know you if you are facing the same kind of dilemma. Trust me, you are not alone. You can contact me here today!
Wellbeing / Burnout Prevention
You know that feeling when you’re trying to climb a steep hill, but it’s getting harder to breathe? Well, a near-burnout condition is something like this you may be familiar with. I certainly am, having experienced it myself. It’s a difficult, challenging situation, and often, in the depths of exhaustion, it’s hard to see a way out. But here’s the good news: there are many ways to get your strength back, and you don’t even have to get to that point if you are proactive and take action in time.
My goal is to help committed leaders to understand and see their potential through different tools, thinking together, and managing their energy more effectively to prevent burnout or even getting close to it. My approach is always personalised, but we often address the following topics, among many others:
Assertiveness: I’ll help you to learn and practice how to assert yourself better – how to express your thoughts and feelings authentically and confidently – by respecting others and building positive relationships around yourself.
Building resilience: Just like building muscle, we’ll work together to strengthen the skills you need to cope with difficult times, improving your ability to manage stress.
Work-Life Synergy: We’ll aim to understand and raise awareness of the need to shift the work-life balance so that they become allies rather than enemies. We are looking for concrete actions to reduce stress and learn techniques that can be consciously maintained in the long term.
Purpose Alignment: Burnout sometimes starts when work is not aligned with inner values. Many people don’t think about this consciously and drift, even though knowing this makes everyone see much more clearly. We systematically think it through, which can help you to see the situation or the road ahead from a new perspective.
Contact me, and let’s get back in the game!
Forbes
Chocolate, tissues and “always open door”. Good leaders must think of their colleagues in every situation, so they always have to have these three things at hand, says Eszter Árvai, who considered the satisfaction of her colleagues to be the most important thing as a leader rather than figures…
Diego Rango d'Aragona
CEO at Decathlon Hungary
I have the pleasure of working and regularly exchanging with Eszter; she has been a member of the board of Decathlon Hungary since 2019. I appreciate her practical and competent approach to our projects and her “all-around curiosity” in our business and people agenda. Eszter is always proactive and available for us, and she shows strong emotional intelligence at the service of Decathlon Hungary. Her empathy and quick understanding of the various situations/challenges/insights add substantial value to my team and me.
Sari Brody
Global head of Diversity and Inclusion at IKEA Group
I had the pleasure of working closely with Eszter, both during her position as a store manager, as well as later when she undertook the role of Country Human Resource Manager. Eszter was a critical contributor when creating IKEA’s global People Strategy, proactively focusing on all elements of equal opportunities, Diversity and Inclusion and employee engagement.
As a leader, Eszter demonstrated her value for people from different backgrounds; and stood for human rights, ensuring fair treatment for all co-workers. She secured equal pay for work of equal value and employment opportunities for all, regardless of their background.
I highly recommend providing Eszter with the opportunity to demonstrate her values and skills. She will be an asset to any company which focuses on the Human Aspect of the work.
Marek Feltl
CEO 2012-2018 at IKEA CZ/HU/SK
Eszter’s personality, competence, passion, energy, as well as communication will definitely contribute to any company and business development. She demonstrates her positive attitude daily, and the spirit of “everything is possible”.
Working closely together, Eszter with her team were meeting and over performing all outlined goals and assignments in store processes, organisational development, market penetration, and, of course, sales targets.
Reflecting on her leadership skills, Eszter demonstrated her positive attitude and the spirit of “everything is possible” daily. She focused extremely highly on developing individual’s competencies and leadership capabilities to achieve engaged, motivated and committed co-workers on all levels. She always delivered great results with a clear view of customer satisfaction and company profitability.
It was a pleasure to work with Eszter her personality, competence, passion, energy, as well as communication will definitely contribute to any company and business development.
Eszter Varga-Nagy
Communication Manager Hungary at The Coca-Cola Company
Eszter has been one of the few people I would not hesitate to turn to in case of a decision point. Her angle on things is crisp and bright, down to earth with an extra human touch.
We worked together with Eszter for many years and shared projects along the way. Her angle on things is crisp and bright, down to earth with an extra human touch. She has always -and ever since- been one of the few people I would not hesitate to turn to in case of a decision point.
Highly recommend involving her in any field; her insights could be game-changers.
Eliz Ivancsics
People & Culture Manager at IKEA Hungary
Eszter olyan légkört teremtett vezetőként, ahol magas elvárásokat támasztva, a célokat világosan kommunikálva messze a célokat meghaladó eredményket értünk el. Mindezt úgy, hogy mindenki befogadó és támogató környezetben érezte magát. Mindig elhangzik egy olyan kérdés tőle, ami elgondolkodtat.
Eszter a közvetlen vezetőm volt közel hat éven keresztül.
Olyan légkört teremtett vezetőként, ahol magas elvárásokat támasztva, a célokat világosan kommunikálva messze a célokat meghaladó eredményeket értünk el.
Mindezt úgy, hogy mindenki befogadó és támogató környezetben érezte magát.
Bár Eszter mély üzleti ismeretekkel és profitorientált gondolkodással rendelkezik, nagyon jó érzéke van a tehetségek felfedezéséhez. Barátságos, aktív hallgató és mindig elhangzik egy olyan kérdés tőle ami elgondolkodtat, majd közös megoldásra hív. Bátran ajánlom Esztert bárkinek aki akár vezetői, akár üzleti kihívásokkal néz szembe, mentora vagy coach ra van szüksége hogy a lehető legtöbbet hozza ki magából.
Réfi Balázs
CEO at Bluebird International Ltd
Eszter közel egy éve segít minket szaktudásával és nem utolsó sorban mindig pozitív és energikus személyiségével. A HR stratégia kialakítására és újonnan kinevezett személyzeti vezetőnk mentorálására kértük fel anno, de hamar kiderült, hogy múltbéli tapasztalataira támaszkodva én is maximálisan tudok az üzleti terület dilemmáinak megbeszélése kapcsán számítani rá. Nagyon jó szívvel ajánlom Esztert azoknak, akik egy komoly szaktudású, energikus, célorientált és igazán emberközpontú tanácsadót és mentort keresnek.
Martin Clarke
Market Manager at IKEA Japan
I highly recommend Eszter if clarity, some aha moments and the path forward is needed. She is a professional, inspirational, caring coach and mentor with the aim that you become the best version of yourself.
Ina Fuczek
Global People & Culture Manager Customer Fulfilment at IKEA Services A.B.
I got to know Eszter when she was assigned to lead a major transformation at IKEA Austria. She led the transformation of all functions, including HR, in a very professional, targeted and caring way with a special focus on change management and communication.
I got to know Eszter when she stepped into her role as Country People & Culture Manager for IKEA Austria. Very shortly into her role, she was assigned to lead a major transformation to create a better IKEA fit for the future.
The transformation included a new organisational setup, new ways of working and a new governance structure. Despite being new in the area of human resources at the time, Eszter led the transformation of all functions, including HR,
in a very professional, targeted and caring way with a special focus on change management and communication.
She could lean back on her profound experience from her previous assignments. Eszter is a fast learner, curious to expand her knowledge and develop in new areas.
When we team up, I will ask a lot of questions first to understand where you stand and figure out what you want to achieve in the future. And if you’re unsure about your goals, that’s okay; we’ll explore them anyhow together. I many times find that the real starting point isn’t where we initially imagined.
We’ll keep things straightforward and practical, focusing on what you want to achieve.
If you want to, I’ll share with you my extensive international experience and show you proven solutions and best practices. We’ll practice together in a safe, trustful environment, so you’ll feel ready to use your new skills in real real-life environment immediately. I believe in creating solutions that are tailored for you because, in my view, situations are never the same.
I am happy to meet you, whether you’re an experienced leader or just starting your leadership journey. Remember, I’m not here to make decisions for you but to give you the tools and confidence you need to make your own.
If you’re curious to know more about my story and the way I think you can find it here:
If you are interested, simply send me an email. I offer a 30-minute free online discovery call to see how I can help you most.
Let’s work together to bring out your best!
