PINK launches in March – the University of Pannonia's new talk show will focus on inspiring stories of female success

On March 12, the University of Pannonia will launch its new talk show, Pannon Inspiring Women's Club, or PINK. Dr. Beáta Fehérvégi, dean of the Faculty of Economics, will talk honestly and directly with inspiring female enterpreneurs and leaders, i.e., successful women, honestly and directly about topics that shape not only our everyday lives, but also our future.

Success, career, courage, starting over, enterpreneurship – real stories, life paths, and decisions that give us strength. How can we build a career, what challenges and turning points might we face, and how can we get back on our feet after a setback? These are some of the questions that Pannon Inspirational Women's Club, which explores the most pressing issues from a distinctly female perspective in an authentic way all this in one of Veszprém's most popular cultural bistros, the Papírkutya. We spoke with Dr. Béla Fehérvégi, the originator of the idea, about the details.

"In 2024, a multi-area cooperation beganbetween the University of Pannonia and the Veszprém County Chamber of Commerce and Industry, one element of which was the Women's Enterpreneurship Club. Since then, we have been meeting once a month for interesting lectures and training sessions, and we also took part in a bonbon-making workshop organized by one of the members. In addition, I also hold a management seminar for MBA and management and organization master's students, where invited guests talk about how they became leaders and what the secret of their success is."

"Yes, after the presentation by Attila Simon, CEO of Herend Porcelain Manufactory, I received one of the most surprising pieces of feedback from a listener, in which a woman said she was dissatisfied with her current job and wanted to find work that she truly loved. She later quit her job and when she came to take her final exam, she happily announced that she had found her "dream job." It was then that I first thought it would be good to extend these conversations beyond the classroom."

'Due to time constraints, unfortunately, it remained just an idea for a long time, but at the beginning of this year, I had a little forced break, during which I had time to think about the idea. I connected female enterpreneurs and leaders with the idea, and I also discussed it with my colleagues, agreeing that International Women's Day would be the ideal time to start. Since they also liked the idea, the name, design, location, and first guests were quickly chosen."

"We want to create a community that puts women at the center, where we can meet our "fellow travelers" who also have to fulfill many different roles. Thanks to this, they can learn from each other, and in the club, it's okay to admit that not everything is going well at once, and that in addition to our roles as mothers and wives, we can also aspire to professional success."

"As university students, we live our lives in the cycle of term papers and exams, which is why we can only organize three-four occasions in a semester, and perhaps this is the maximum number of times that participants can comfortably "escape" from their busy everyday lives."

"For me, female inspiration primarily means real stories. Authentic life stories that show that behind every success there are good and bad decisions, many struggles, and perseverance. Anyone who becomes a leader will inevitably be in the spotlight, and as a woman, you will often be scrutinized for how you do your job. Everything can be criticized: if she is too lenient, if she is too harsh, if she makes quick decisions, if she doesn't make decisions, and overall, she can very quickly be labeled as "hysterical." If someone is in a visible position, they will inevitably set an example. This is definitely a responsibility for colleagues, customers, and students alike."

"One of the most important forms of support is opening up our own network of contacts. which may mean launching joint projects, inviting each other to professional events, or introducing each other to important people in our circle of acquaintances.nbsp; 

Many of us tend to underestimate our own abilities, so it is good if there is another woman who encourages us to take on new roles, who gives us feedback and helps us through difficult times. For example, I certainly would not have applied for the dean's position in 2018 if my female deputy dean had not encouraged and supported me in doing so.

It is essential to inspire and support young people, but I think we also need to create "legends of middle-aged women" because they have already acquired knowledge, skills, and routine from the "child-rearing-housekeeping-work" and have acquired knowledge, skills, and routines that are a tremendous resource in any workplace. I believe it is very important to always have one or more wise, older women in our environment whom we can look up to, but in the 21st century, women of our own age and younger women can also have qualities that can inspire us."

"Women and female leaders are generally not in an easy position in Hungary today, and we have to deal with many prejudices. The eternal question is whether to choose family or career—my answer is that you should choose what you want, but you have to work for it! It's difficult, but it is possible to build a career while raising kids; to do so, you need the right family background, a whole army of helpers, and who can accept that children can get sick, but also want to be there for carnival, and even survive the difficulties of school, bullying, and the complexities of adolescence."

"It is not easy to hold your own in this field as a woman, but I have always been lucky and had bosses who were tolerant of the fact that, as a woman with two kids, I did not fit into the classic university management model. and not only did they understand that family is important, but they also treated these situations accordingly."

"My message to all women is to find what you are truly passionate about doing, and if necessary, don't be afraid to change! Success doesn't just fall into anyone's lap; you really have to study and work hard for it: let's be curious, learn from each other, and seek out new challenges. Success and good work require a large dose of courage, even recklessness. Don't wait for the moment when you are perfectly prepared, because a career is built on the challenges you take on. The most important thing is to know ourselves and not try to be like others, because that is the only way we can be true to ourselves, authentic, and happy in the long run."

"I would like to believe that this support stems from the fact that women do not build their careers in isolation, but rather in community, strengthening each other rather than pulling each other down. Sharing experiences, mentoring, dialogue between generations, and a smile at the right time help, and questions are a tremendous resource. Sharing experiences and knowledge can be a compass for another woman when making important decisions. I know that women compete fiercely with each other, but support can also mean strengthening each other, and not just for immediate benefit or .

Our goal with PINK is to have a good conversation, get to know each other's stories, and if we meet somewhere else, helpeach other by introducing a mutual acquaintance, have a coffee, and often it's enough just to listen to each other. One of the best pieces of advice I received when I wanted to thank my mentor for all his help was:

Wine bottle source: Unsplash / Becca Tapert