Blog

Attila Őzse photographer is a true example that creativity and discipline are not mutually exclusive qualities. In fact, it is the routines built in his life that make his talent to unfold possible. It is Attila, who comes to KAPTÁR every morning at the same time, works through the day, yet the result is full of creativity. Oh, and on that note, he’s the photographer of KAPTÁR too!
 

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How does data visualization make it to the spotlight?
Graphic designer and beloved KAPTARian Klaudia Gál is the only person not being a performing artist who received this year’s prestigious Múzsa Reménység Prize. An award, that acknowledges all those young professionals who contribute through their work, creations or artistic performances to the reputation and cultural heritage of the city of Miskolc.

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A hard-set outsider, who eventually found his place in the world
 
Have you seen the guy running around KAPTÁR with Caramel[1] posters under his arm? He’s János Balassa, owner and founder of InConcert, whom we thank the brand Caramel. The road of the son of a diplomat landing in the world of entertainment lead through years in the banking and finance industries, coincidental encounters and several continents.

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Chopin and Nintendo

Zsombor had just freshly finished university when he was already hunted down by one of the top picks on the list of dream workplaces, IBM Budapest Lab (previously known as Ustream). Today, he is pretty much a one-man show representing the complete EngineeringEffectiveness team himself alone. Besides this job, he is also a recognized game developer. Although everything pointed towards becoming a software developer since birth, at one point he got very close to eventually playing on a completely different keyboard. 

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Meet Dalma, this week’s KAPTAR face, who works as a freelancer in graphic design and social media management.

“Currently, I work as a graphic and UX/UI designer and do social media marketing. Besides that, I started a project called Get Your Brand Together, where I lead workshops and give consulting, to help new companies building their marketing strategy and corporate design.

I had all kinds of jobs in the last years, and I tried many things, but somehow I couldn’t find myself anywhere. For me, it’s important to be in a great team and to do what makes me happy. And I’ve always been searching for that elsewhere, but then I realized, that it’s easier to create it myself. So I became a freelancer and got into the KAPTÁR community.”

Your most important life experience, since you became a freelancer?

To only accept jobs, where I can 100% identify myself with. If I have just the slightest doubts or a weird feeling, then I shouldn’t take it, since small issues, in the beginning, can become huge problems later. So if it’s not a „HELL YES!“ then it’s a “FCK NO!“. 😀

What’s most exciting about new challenges?

I could say that I’m searching for challenges because they make me develop and learn new things. And that’s how I keep my days exciting. For me, it’s very important to constantly have something that maintains my interest. Otherwise, I easily get bored by monotony.

What did you hate most about working at home?

I’m a very social person, so after a while, it’s pretty demotivating for me to be at home, all alone, plus the lack of movement makes me tired. KAPTÁR was a perfect solution for me. I can work relaxed, but when I’m in the mood for talking I can do that as well.

Meet Péter, this week’s KAPTAR face, who – as project manager of the European Consortium – adds more colour to our community.

“Since February I’m the project manager of the European Consortium, located in Nagykanizsa. I write grant applications and implement projects. I became a KAPTÁR habitant as the company’s only employee in Budapest. I opted for KAPTÁR since an article on Budapest’s best coworking offices wrote great things about it. I also had nice memories of KAPTÁR from December 2012, when one of my old friends, a buddy of Áron, had his farewell party here before he went to France for a year.

Currently, I’m writing a grant application for a university and work on an international project. The latter is about circular economy and consists of 10 Transdanubian countries from Germany to Bulgaria. It tries to put the „take-use-reuse“ principle into practice instead of  „take-make-throw away“. “

What is the best part of your job?

Rather the best part of working here: I’m surrounded by a wide variety of people who work on completely different things. This diversity is very refreshing.

And of course, the dogs who also come into work. 🙂

What was the worst about working at home?

It was an advantage that I did many household chores (Anna, my wife really appreciated it :),  but I spun myself constantly. It didn’t do my psyche good that I had little relations with people.

What was your biggest milestone in life?

The most important is 5th August 2004. I met God in person after 7 long years of search. I experienced in my whole body physically that I am loved perfectly. So I drew my conclusions: If God exists, then everything that is in the Bible is true – there is eternal life, Jesus is alive, and He is the Messiah. So I began a new life. 🙂

Why did you choose KAPTÁR?

I like KAPTÁR because the people who work here do so diverse things. Plus I love to dive into the vivid city life.

Born in BC and raised in Singapore, Nicole spent her formative years in Halifax, Tokyo, and Montreal. There, she completed a Mathematics and Statistics degree and worked with tech/startups before leaving to be a digital nomad. Nicole spends her leisure time exploring nature and loves the arts.
 
What is your most important life lesson, since you became an entrepreneur/freelancer?

Here’s two. Don’t try to do everything by yourself. Identify bottlenecks e.g. are you struggling with accounting, is it taking too much of your time and mental energy? Get help, outsource. Networking does not work. Planning, researching does not work. Take action.

What is the best part of your job?

As a consultant, I like the variety of my clients and the problems they’re tackling. That, and being a “full-stack” marketer means I get to do something different every day.
I also enjoy being able to choose where and when I work. I plan my schedule around gym classes and calls with clients in different time zones. If it’s sunny out, I may choose not to work at all and spend time outside instead. I also work remotely, which usually sees me changing the city I’m in every month.

What excites you most about new challenges?

The heart-racing fear and anticipation, and the rush once completed or successful. Last year, I failed to learn the ukelele but succeeded in tackling the snowpark and railings on my snowboard. I also launched my passion project, Coffee Collectif, and am learning Python to build a web app around art and travel.

Why did you choose KAPTÁR?

A friend highly recommended KAPTAR, and I was sold. I think I also read good things about it online.
 

Jesper joined KAPTÁR only a few weeks ago but he uses the space with such confidence that one can think he’s been living here for ages. 

“I just recently moved to Budapest yet I still have polar bears smile on by credit card. Yes, I am an Inuit (though lived half of my life in Copenhagen).

So far I’ve been doing PR and marketing for different companies, but two years ago I decided to switch to become a freelancer. Nowadays I am busy writing articles and update websites and social media platforms of companies. Last year I had to write about how I see myself 5 years from then and the only thing I could mention was that I want to move to Budapest. And now I am here and working in KAPTÁR.

When I came to KAPTÁR the first time to check the place out, its atmosphere and the people immediately captured my heart so I decided to stay right away.”

Meet our new community member. Daniel Marlin came to us as a digital nomad from Cape Town, South Africa. His passion is writing and several of his articles got released in magazines like Forbes or Huffington Post.

“KAPTÁR was conveniently located near my district and had brilliant reviews on Google. After my first visit, I felt very welcomed by the staff. I knew it was an atmosphere that I’d enjoy working in – so I stayed!”

What are the biggest milestones in your life?

I developed a love for writing in 2015. I always resonated with the power writing has to educate and inspire people, and a few years ago I decided to document and share lessons of my own.

Over the last three years, my articles on business and digital marketing have been published on Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and The Huffington Post. I’m most proud of this achievement because I had to persist through 13 months of rejection letters before I eventually achieved my dream of having my work featured on a major publication.

What is your most important life lesson, since you became an entrepreneur/freelancer?

Working for yourself is the ultimate freedom. It gives you the ability to design a life around what is important to you, and ultimately achieve some level of balance.

What were your funniest/best KAPTÁR moments?

Watching a beautiful storm approaching over the rooftop bar in the old town. It was very dramatic.

Meet with a core member of the KAPTÁR community, Zoltán Ratkó, (zoltanratk.design) designer. He designs the surface of various products using concrete, wood, marble, metal and other materials with a natural texture.

“When I stepped into KAPTÁR, I knew immediately, that I found, what I was looking for in a coworking space.”

What is the most important thing, you’ve learned since you’re a freelancer?

You can reach your goals when you believe and persevere.

What is the best part of your job?

That I can do, what I like to do most, that I can manage my time freely and that I don’t have a boss.

What did you hate most about working at home?

I liked it for a while, that I don’t have to go anywhere, but then I started to lose creativity and productivity. On the long term, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

Why did you choose Kaptár?

-First of all, because of the design. I like the interior design just as it is.
-Several friends of mine work nearby, so every day there is someone to have lunch with.
-I love to be in the city centre, and this is right in the heart of it.
-My favourite building in Budapest is just across the street, the Saint Stevens Basilica
-The atmosphere in the office, which I already liked on my first visit. It’s nice to work here.
 

Meet Matt, our community member, who enjoys the KAPTARian life every day.

Why did you choose KAPTÁR?

When I was looking into co-working spaces in Budapest KAPTÁR was recommended time and time again in the online communities I’m part of. Any co-working space which inspires that kind of loyalty is usually a sure bet. I signed up on the first day, I’ve been very happy with that choice.

What is your most important life lesson, since you became an entrepreneur/freelancer?

While I’m not a freelancer I have helped release a number of websites and services as part of my current role. I’ve found the key is to release early and iterate often. Getting feedback into what works and what doesn’t is invaluable to building a successful product and the more time you spend delaying that release the longer it takes to get the feedback you need.

What are the fastest ways to ruin a business?

-Don’t listen to your customers.
-Don’t innovate.
-Don’t manage cash flow.
-Don’t eliminate waste in workflows and processes.
-Hire people that aren’t a culture fit.
 

What excites you most about new challenges?

The opportunity to learn, reach new heights and hopefully do some good.

Bálint started out at a multinational company and then switched to being a freelancer. Now he manages his daily work at KAPTÁR and enjoys the company of many exciting people. 🙂

“Similar to every typical generation Y youngster, I grew up with a computer in front of me and a smartphone in my hand – so it was pretty obvious, that I will build my career in the online world. At the moment I do Instagram Growth Hacking and Social Copywriting – I help my clients to monetize their Instagram profiles by storytelling and content marketing.

As an extroverted cat person, I genuinely enjoy the company of unique and exciting people here. Furthermore, my friends’ presence here, and the vicinity of the CatCafe had a major influence on me becoming a KAPTÁRian. :)”

What is the best part of your job?

I mostly enjoy my freedom – I decide with whom, for how much and under what circumstances I work. I’m neither time- nor location-bound.

What did you hate most about working at home?

At home, many things came together. I was alone, spending the whole day in the same space and was very separated from the outer world. I’m a very social person, so I couldn’t handle that for a long time…

What do you love most about challenges?

I started all of this with several years of experience in multinational companies. There they pretty accurately determined, what I have to do and when. So even though I really enjoy and love my current freedom that I experience thanks to my work, it’s also a huge challenge to figure out, how I can manage my time in the most optimal way.

Kati Marton, a new KAPTÁR resident is a style and colour advisor. She can tell you, if you can wear brown or black, or if these colours make you look old. She also finds out if pastel or vibrant colours will make you shine more.

“I take a close look at your wardrobe and select what stays. Those that remain are only what express who you are here and what fits your personality and lifestyle. It’s time to get rid of your prom dress. I give your style a complete makeover. We go on a shopping tour and pick new pieces in malls and rummage tables.”

What is the best part of your job?

When after a short second of shock, I see my client starting to smile brightly and hear her saying: „I would never have tried this, but now after putting it on, I like it.

What was the most important life lesson, after becoming self-employed?

That I can’t authentically write a blog article about style while sitting at home in sweatpants. 🙂

Your funniest moment at KAPTÁR?

The community lunch on Wednesday, where lots of – for me unknown – KAPTÁR faces joined and we played a game in which we had to find out what kind of characteristics the other one has. I, for example, couldn’t deny, that I write a diary.

 
I chose KAPTÁR because of the strong community and because it felt not only like a cosy and friendly environment to work, but also to meet some great new people. Through KAPTÁR, I met some great friends who made Budapest feel like a real home to me!

What are the biggest milestones in your life?

My most recent big milestone has been the journey I started earlier this year – to build 20 startup experiments in a year, and share the process in public. It’s been tough, and I still have a way to go, but along the way I’ve learnt how to build full-stack web apps, have written 6 essays and picked up 2,000 users of my products! You can follow the journey here.

What excites you most about new challenges?

What excites me most about new challenges is having to learn something totally new and grow in the process of doing so. I’m a big fan of testing my limits and a strong believer that anyone can learn something new, they just have to commit the energy, time and enthusiasm to it. Regardless of whether the challenge is won or not, you always walk away with new knowledge or experience, which makes it worth it.

What are you most proud of in your life?

One of the things I’m most proud of is running the Uganda International Marathon – a hill marathon under the heat of the African sun. The craziest part was that I hadn’t run in more than 5 years… but I signed up to force myself to start running! Over 6 months, I ran in the nights and in the cold of winter, going from total non-runner all the way through to actually arriving in Uganda and (somehow) surviving the course.
 

Anna is living in Hungary for half of a year already and hopes to stay here forever. Originally she’s from Moscow. Actually she never thought that she would ever make such a change in her life and we are happy to be a part of it! Get to know her story!

I’m Linguist by education but working in IT as a Project & Business development manager. My current aim is to launch my company’s geo products outside of Russian-speaking markets. For example, in October we launched a public transport app in Budapest. (Have a try and let me know your thoughts – http://bit.ly/2kPSaKV).

What did you hate most about working in home office?

For me the worst thing about working in the home office is that you are locked-in all day(s) in closed space, you do not feel the time and can work till nights. It can last days and weeks, time is running, task after task and so on. And even if you stop for a break or dinner with your family – this horrible feeling inside is pushing you: “Anna, you forgot this and that, you should send 100 more e-mails and make 200 calls”. So you cannot just enjoy. At the end of the day it may help you to earn all the money of the world (which is maybe not bad), the question is – is that a life?

Best KAPTÁR moments?

Let’s speak about happy moments at Kaptar – for me they are happening quite often somehow, for example, yesterday Tamás brought best cookies I ever tried, very tasty. I ate half of the pack…:D
Or the other day you can be sitting deeply in all these tasks and calls and realise that you urgently need hugs. And just imagine – you can easily get them and it will not be weird. 🙂

Ági is working from KAPTÁR almost every weekday by now. She has been working for Drops as a general assistant / universal problem solver since March, so this world is quite new for her so far. Before that, she lived in South-Korea for 3 years and went to University there and worked in a „proper“ office job, but she didn’t like it. At Drops, everyone works remotely and Ági has the feeling, that she found the perfect thing for her.

„I chose KAPTÁR because a part of my team works here regularly and they recommended it. Since then, I became the one who comes here most often, I love to come here every day.”

What’s the best part of your job?

The best about my job is, that I can be a part of a fantastic team and that my field of work is very various. I can learn new things every day and develop constantly.

What’s most exciting about new challenges?

That I’m not bound to any place. If I want, I can do my job from a different country tomorrow, without any problems.

What did you hate most about working at home?

That I constantly fell asleep on the couch, but at KAPTÁR everyone works so diligently, that I’m motivated too and therefore much more productive.

Meet our new team member Effe Thompson from Ghana. Since July, he is the host of KAPTÁR Happening and its events. He’s currently studying marketing and has serious plans for the future.

My name is Effe Thompson. I am a student at the Budapest Business School. I moved to Hungary last September. I live for Music and all other forms of arts really, being significantly better at the former than later…I like to meet new people I think it’s a rather cooler way of being exposed to cultures and gaining general knowledge since I don’t like to read much :)I am currently trying to pursue a dream of being a sexual harassment/Assault advocate: an NGO or foundation of some sort…I’m excited to work here and experience the diversity of humanity. 🙂

What was your first impression when you entered KAPTAR?

Beautiful and unique.Had never entered an “office” like that 🙂

How would you describe KAPTAR in 3 words?

Peaceful, bright, resourceful.

When you heard the word ‘KAPTÁR’ what did you think it meant?

Capital??? like it’s in the Capital ???

Which music is that makes you think about KAPTÁR (or what describes the best the ‘KAPTÁR feeling’)?

Sia-Flames…I think in my first week here I was getting a glass of water one time and it was playing subtly in the background and I literally said to myself “this place is lit” because Sia is one of my favourites. Anytime I hear it now I remember KAPTÁR.

What is your funniest memory in Budapest so far?

More like most exciting well I haven’t done so much but going up the Citadella at night with friends and hearing people play music in the dark at various places and then finally reaching the top to behold the view.

Mo Swailem from the USA describes himself as Partner at Good Life. He is a project manager at breakthruamazon, marketing consultant and an inspiring actor & entertainer.

„I do a decent amount but my goal in life is to make a positive impact to everyone I interact with!”

We are really happy that he enriched our community with his presence, even if only for a month during his travels across Europe! Here’s two short but instructive life lesson from him:

What is your most important life lesson, since you became an entrepreneur/freelancer?

The most important life lesson is that failure isn’t real, it is a facade. The only way someone does not succeed in life is when they choose not to pursue the subject of one’s goals.

What excites you most about new challenges?

New challenges create new opportunities to grow.

Ariele is from Austin, Texas and is committed to squelching Texan stereotypes wherever she goes. She has spent most of her travel life in Southeast Asia, specifically Vietnam, where she once ran a super cool and entirely illegal motorbike tour company. Today, she’s a branding-conscious web designer and front-end developer, but she will always jump at the chance to explore a city on two wheels.

What are your favourite KAPTÁR moments?

Sitting at the tall table near the door and buzzing people in when Balint takes weirdly long bathroom breaks. I still get mistaken as a new member of the KAPTÁR staff, even though I make a terrified face when someone attempts to speak to me in Hungarian. I have no authority here, guys, but please continue stroking my ego.

What is your most important life lesson since you became a freelancer?

The more I work on my craft and the more experience as I gain, the more I grasp how much I don’t know. Expertise is relative, which is why I try to work with clients who think I know what I’m doing and surround myself with other entrepreneurs who are experts in my eyes.

What was the most frustrating thing about working at home?

Suddenly snapping out of a procrastination stupor and realizing that I’ve wasted the last few minutes (hours?) clicking through some inane internet nonsense. Probably cat videos.

Why did you choose KAPTÁR?

Of all the coworking space in the city, KAPTÁR obviously had the warmest, supportive, and active community. The connection goes a long way when you’re constantly travelling, so joining Kaptar was really a no-brainer.

I’m a 23-year-old entrepreneur and have my own business in the IT sector. Our speciality is app and software development. I love to do things that wouldn’t occur to any reasonable person, especially not this young. So this business started out as a hobby besides my actual job. My latest idea is about sailing. Unfortunately, I don’t have much time to do sports, but I have serious plans regarding sailing.

What has been your best KAPTÁR experience so far?

The spaces where I can work are simply fantastic. There is room for everything. Meeting rooms, workstations and the couch to chill, whiteboards I can fill while brainstorming. For me, it’s important not to just have one desk, but different spaces, where I can work.

What was the most important thing you learned since you became a coworker? 

In general that on busy days some interaction and communication can pull me out of my tasks so I can get back to work with a fresh mind. It’s important for me to see other people and to have the opportunity to work with others who are in the office.

What do you love most about new challenges?

You never know, how some solutions will work out. Of course, you have some experience, but every project has a different result for the same solution. If it doesn’t work out well, I immediately start with damage limitation, which can be just as exciting as well. But if it does work out, it can give me such a boost, as nothing else can.

I’m a software developer from Los Angeles, California, though I’ve been a digital nomad for 18 months now. After spectacularly failing to learn Spanish during my 8 months in South America, I’m now failing to learn all of the European languages I’m encountering at a world-class pace.

What is your most important life lesson, since you became a nomad?

Say yes to (almost) everything!

What is the best part of your job?

I’m a software developer and the thing that most people don’t realize about software development is that it can be quite artistic. Not in the traditional sense of the word, but in that there is a lot of creativity and elegance involved in writing good code. Despite not having a traditional “artistic” stretch of DNA in my cells, this brings me satisfaction almost every day.

What were your funniest/best KAPTÁR moments?

When Matild thought my name was Diarrhio 🙂

I’m a business owner from Riga, Latvia. My company iPhone Photography School helps people take better photos with the iPhone. I’ve been thinking about moving to a new city for a while now. I’ve always liked Budapest and I finally decided to come for longer. I’m happy that we’ve set up our team to be able to work from anywhere in the world. Now I get to try it myself.

What is your most important life lesson, since you became an entrepreneur?

Life is what you make it. For better or for worse, what you put in is what you get out. Once you understand that, you never need to look for motivation.

What is the best part of your job?

It must be all the amazing people I get to meet. Business partners, mentors, co-workers become friends, inspire me to do more and continuously show something new and exciting about the world. I was glad to meet some very cool at KAPTAR too. Everyone here seems nice, cheerful, yet ambitious.

What was most annoying about working at home?

Definitely the poor internet connection. I need to make a number of calls every day. I’d always seem to lose my connection at the worst possible time. My internet connection even became a running joke in one of our team meetings. That was my first and only day working from home here in Budapest. I joined KAPTAR the next day.

Why did you choose KAPTÁR?

I decided to check out KAPTAR because it’s very close to my apartment. I chose to stay because it has everything I need: an internet connection, great work conditions, and tasty food right next door.

I’ve been working for my ex-company for more than 5 years now (a company dealing with film licenses etc. and seated only 50 meters away from here) and time has come for a chance to find something different, more interesting. We’d known each other with Áron for a long time now and therefore I’ve been following Kaptár’s story also since it’s opening and I was very much sympathizing how passionately it’s been founded and run since. We had a few chats earlier and ended up with the positive conclusion of giving us a try working together. Plus stayed close to Basil Ica just to make sure. 🙂

What were your funniest/best KAPTÁR moments?

First things first, my new colleagues are great. Then it is always fun to accidentally meet old friends in KAPTÁR which already happened a few times over the week, and also, the openness of people around here is super.

What is the best part of your job?

That it is new, full of challenges and learning plus that I can get to know new people.

What was most annoying about working at home?

That I have never had the chance to do such a thing. 🙂 I started at Kaptár just this week and none of my previous jobs offered such an option before. Maybe here I’ll have the chance to try…

Antal Víg is the managing director of VIG.studios and an online marketing specialist. If you want people to notice your product or your service which you offer, Antal and his team could help you to get better access.

What was your weirdest networking experience?

Well, there is obviously that weird feeling that you should talk with everyone but no one knows how to start. For some reason, I always start with the weirdest unrelated to the theme of the night stuff and bring the whole conversation into a weird way :). Happened too many times that I can keep count on …

What is your most important life lesson, since you became an entrepreneur/freelancer?

That discipline is much more important than I initially thought. Especially if you’re working for yourself. Discipline = Freedom

What is the best part of your job?

That I can work how and when I want. And that I can offer the requested external ideas on topics.

What excites you most about new challenges?

The opportunity to learn something new or get to that level I always wanted to play in. But then after that excitement is gone I mostly hate the challenge but do it anyway 🙂

What was most annoying about working at home?

The quietness and all the unfinished things that you can or should do. Perfect excuses to do those first and not work 🙂

Ciaran is from Cork, Ireland, but has spent most of his life in New York and Florida. His wife is from Budapest so he has been to Budapest almost every year for the past 20 years. 2 years ago he moved to Budapest full time with his wife and 2 children so that the children could learn Hungarian and talk to their Hungarian grandparents. There isn’t much chance to learn Hungarian outside of Hungary. Their children, now 6 and 2,5, both speak English and Hungarian fluently.

 
What are your favourite KAPTÁR moments?

The community lunches and the little parties that happen every now and then.

 
What is your most important life lesson since you became a freelancer?

Learn how not to give stress will kill you. Learn how to live a stress-free life and you will be happy & productive. Most of us are lucky in that we can choose employers. If a job is stressing you out you need to change jobs. Work on your terms.

 
What was the most frustrating thing about working at home?

Forcing a separation between work time and home time. In the beginning, I was working from home in Florida for a company in New York and I ended up renting an office because I just could not work from my house. I kept getting distracted. In the 10 years I’ve been remote I’ve never worked from home.

Zita is a psychologist and recruits manpower for other countries as an HR-professional. If you’re looking for work, don’t hesitate to contact her. And if your soul is in pain, don’t hold that back either.

What is the best part of your job?

Usually, the best part of people’s work is when they go home. But working from KAPTÁR it’s a completely different story. I can hardly get myself to leave. I work the way I want, I always have a different „work partners“ sitting next to me, I can meet lots of people and KAPTÁR’s location is amazing as well.

What did you hate most about working from home?

I felt like Robinson without a Friday, most of all on Fridays! 🙂

What have been your best/funniest KAPTÁR moments so far?

Playing Bingo, pancakes, the drinking nights, the massages, great conversations in the kitchen and of course the leftover muffins after some events.

I am Péter Szentkúti and I work in the field of data analysis and biostatistics. I’ve just switched from the bank modelling sector to the medical university a few weeks ago, where I’m gonna work as a biostatistician. I’ve started this work at KAPTÁR, where I popped by after I saw the friendly website. Since my experiences there were aligned with the „web impressions“, I kinda got stuck here.

What did you hate most about working from home?

I didn’t have any problems with that, first of all, because I haven’t even done it for a minute. 🙂

I started to work at KAPTÁR right after I left my job because I needed to have an office environment, an inspiring and cheerful community and a place where I can focus on work (without thinking about laundry or dishwashing)

What was your most embarrassing experience?

The statistical research for my first project about the eventual link between constipation and blood circulation disorders. Is that embarrassing enough? 🙂

What are you most proud of in life?

4 marathons, 3 sudoku-world championships, 2 kids, 1 wife – not necessarily in this order.
 

Peter is responsible for the architecture of the financial software for an American startup called Salesforce ( https://blackthorn.io ). Besides he likes running, hiking, and having dinner at a good Chinese place.

What have been your funniest/best KAPTÁR moments so far?

The Friday night after-work-drinking/snacking.

Your biggest milestones in life?

One is about to happen now: I’ll relocate my company seat to Sweden for a year and do my master’s diploma in economics.

What is the best part of your job?

Designing and coding new architectures, just as keeping up with the continuous growth of Salesforce.

What is your most important life experience, since you’ve become a coworker?

That I get the most productive half an hour before closing 😀

I’m the managing director of Távügyvitel Kft., which offers online accounting for companies. Within the company, I’m responsible for marketing and the development of our online marketing system. Thanks to my online work, I’ve traveled a lot in the past years. Now I prefer hiking in the mountains around Budapest and I rediscovered reading!

The most important life lesson, since you’ve become a coworker?

Despite the huge freedom at work, one needs some frames.

What did you hate most about working from home?

In general, I like working at home, because I can do some housework in between and cook good meals. The problem is if that’s the program every day…

How can one destroy a business the fastest way?

With „hope-marketing“. Like: „My services are good, so I hope they will find me, etc.”

Why did you choose KAPTÁR?

The KAPTÁR team is very nice. It’s very true that „KAPTÁR likes you!“ It has a good effect on me that everyone around me works hard. I also like to have so many options here: I can sit, lie, stand, or even take a walk.

I deal with business consulting in the area of strategy, business models, and innovation, but mostly I help companies to find their problems, to structure their way of thinking, and to enhance their work productivity. I have experience in finances, I worked in sales and recently in the innovation team of an international bank. My current client is a foreign fintech company, ModulTrade Ltd, which develops smart contract, blockchain-based e-commerce solutions.

What is the best about your job?

I love when I manage to find the real source of a problem in the middle of a complex and chaotic situation and to recognize the relation of the main influences in its structure. Besides that, I mostly enjoy being in the flow.

What do you find the most exciting about new challenges?

The beginnings. When we start to discover a process without any kind of preconception. I love to start new things because I think it helps to keep being open and creative.

What is the fastest way to mess up a business?

I could give many answers to that, but I think the fastest way, is to over-plan without taking any actual actions. There is a quote from Dwight D. Eisenhowertől, which is very true in the business world: Plans Are Worthless, But Planning Is Everything.

Kasandra is from Ohio in the USA. She works for a travel company where she finds airline deals and is the Customer Success and Community Manager. She came to Hungary with her boyfriend for his work a few years ago. For the past few years, she has been splitting her time between living in Budapest and in the US. She loves living in Budapest. 🙂 She really enjoys traveling and hope to do as much as she can while here! 

 
What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is the flexibility. I really enjoy that I can work from anywhere in the world and I can arrange my daily schedule to work best for me. This means that I rarely have to miss work but still get to travel and take advantage of opportunities that I wouldn’t be able to if I had a less flexible job.

 
What excites you the most about new challenges?

What excites me the most about new challenges is the opportunity to learn. The job that I currently have often presented challenges because it is completely different from my previous work experience and education. However, I really enjoy what I do! Learning new skills and trying new things is very exciting for me.

 
What was most annoying about working from home?

The most annoying thing about working from home is my time management, I often spend too much time working. There is always work to be done and I sometimes find it hard to turn off the computer at the end of the workday. I’ve been striving to find a better balance between work and home time and KAPTÁR has really helped with that!

Marco calls himself a geeky eclectic guy who always wants to try to understand how the world works. His major field is an economic theory and currently, he’s a research fellow at Fondazione Luigi Einaudi and an independent consultant at Consumer CentriX. He loves sports and playing his guitar 🙂

What is your most important life lesson, since you became an entrepreneur/freelancer?

I do believe, no matter what or when that there is always something to learn and there will always be somebody better than you in doing things. But this is a good thing, it means having the opportunity to cooperate and to grow. Hence the life lesson is: be confident but stay humble!

What are you most proud of in your life?

Rather than proud, I’m grateful to have a couple of true friends and a nice loving family.

What is the fastest way to ruin a business?  

Fastest ways to ruin a business is definitively taking decisions on the wave of emotions!

Gábor had been a multinational soldier for 14 in the area of product development, including a 5-year visit in Vienna. They returned a few months ago with their kids and they all started something completely new. He wanted to leave marketing and wanted to dive into a topic that shows him a real future. So he started his business. He’s a payment systems consultant with a focus on smartphone payments.

What was your most important life lesson, since you’ve become a coworker? 

You can make much better progress without meetings 🙂

What did you hate most about working from home? 

Ok, ok, there is Spotify. But still, the silence was big. It got only interrupted by the neighbor’s dog barking or the washing machine. Mostly during my conference calls 🙂

What is the fastest way to ruin a business? 

I’ve started my first own business two months ago, so I haven’t really thought about this yet. But I think no one should start without a real business plan. Money doesn’t come easily, especially at the beginning.

Why did you choose KAPTÁR?

It is busy enough and yet quiet enough. It has stable, fast internet and I can even pop in on the weekends. And it’s a big plus that you make sure people don’t just sit next to each other hitting their keyboards.

Hi, I am András Attilio Tóth, and I recently became a Kaptarian. I work as a software developer, which means much more for me as a simple job: I am glad to learn new technologies or work on hobby-projects in my free time as well. Besides this, I like traveling, discovering new places and meeting new people, I’m fond of foreign languages, and I like to go hiking, canoeing, and biking. From the first time I set foot into KAPTÁR, I was amazed by the atmosphere and the kindness of the hosts, besides the great place in the city, that’s the reason I chose it as my second home.

What was your funniest/best KAPTÁR moments?

Of course, I enjoy every minute spent at KAPTÁR. 🙂 The best moment so far has been the team lunch on Wednesday. It was the perfect occasion for getting to know many other Kaptarians and learn about the countries they came from and the variety of things they are doing.

What’s the best part of your job?

What comes to my mind first, is that I can write code the whole day 🙂 However, in spite of loving the technical part of my job, there is one thing which I think is even more important: I can be part of two wonderful groups at the same time. On the one hand, I enjoy being among Kaptarians, on the other hand, I also found an awesome team at the company I’m currently working for.

What is most exciting for you in new challenges?

I really enjoy working with technologies or systems I don’t know yet because I think I can learn and develop the most in this way. Besides this, I’m motivated by satisfaction felt after successfully overcoming the obstacles.

Gabi has been a KAPTÁR member for almost a year. Her full-time job is in the field of business intelligence in a bank, but at KAPTÁR, she works on her own part-time business, on a side-gig webshop. She started out as a Fixie member and she has been mostly working here in evenings and on weekends when most of the people are gone, so she often feels like the phantom of KAPTÁR (even the opera house is pretty close :). She has a diploma in economics and an addictology consultancy. This topic is an important part of her life.

Why did you choose KAPTÁR?

It is close to my main job and it looked really inspiring. When I walked by here I got a peek inside, I must have looked very interested since a host immediately opened the door and asked me if I wanted a tour. You don’t often see this kind of openness and kindness in this country.

What have been your best KAPTÁR moments so far?

Since I have a fulltime job and can’t be here very often, I have missed the community events, unfortunately. I simply don’t have the capacity. But I really like, that the place is animal-friendly. I love to see when people come with their pets. It doesn’t exactly make me more efficient when I’m busy petting them, but they really make me happy.

What is the fastest way to ruin a business?

So far, I could write about how long it takes to start one. I bought the domain 5 years ago, that I use for my webshop now. And it’s still not the first priority in my life. Maybe one day, but not soon. But I learn so much about how one can get along as an entrepreneur when there is no huge company around you and you have to deal with legal stuff, accounting, techniques, and everything by yourself. One thing that definitely harms a business is a lack of courage (I won’t even try, they won’t speak to me anyway.) or if you aren’t able to ask for help. Another problem is a lack of focus, which happens often to me, because I want to learn everything at once and have tons of ideas. This is not the recipe for long term success. But KAPTÁR helps me to spend my work time there with more focus.

Jenine is a Graphic Designer and Creative Partner at Two Desk Studio, a boutique creative agency primarily based in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a small island situated in the Arabian Gulf. Personal interests recently pulled her to relocate to Budapest and through the magic of the internet, she is currently co-managing her business while fully immersing herself as a newfound digital nomad and according to Jenine, there is no better place to start than at KAPTÁR!

(P.S. If you are feeling nosey, our website is currently under construction but don’t hesitate to shoot us an email and we will gladly share!)

What is your most important life lesson, since you became an entrepreneur?

Being the master of your time means you truly value every moment even more. This applies to the projects you take on as well. You can get things done much faster and efficiently when you know it’s on your clock!

What is the best part of your job?

The freedom it gives me to work for and learn from people in industries I would have never otherwise exposed myself to. I get to not only learn about their businesses but then reflect this learning by reinventing the persona they choose to present to the world.

What are you most proud of in your life?

At the moment my business. My business partner and I have organically built it from the ground up and established a strong and consistent reputation for the work that we deliver.

What is the fastest way to ruin a business?

Dishonesty, you are working with other people that are relying on you just as much as you rely on them. Being honest about what you can deliver and when is so important.

Hello, my name is Eric Rasmussen. I am the owner of a one-person business based in Cambridge, Massachusetts USA. I am a web designer and developer.

What is your most important life lesson, since you became an entrepreneur/freelancer?

Resist the temptation to work all of the time. Make sure you carve out some time on weekends and evenings for family/friends/fun. And don’t think “Oh if I don’t take this job, maybe there will never be another and my family will starve”. Believe in yourself and your skills and abilities!

What is the best part of your job?

Being able to work from anywhere., whether it be at home in my pajamas :), on the train or plane, or at KAPTÁR!

What are you most proud of in your life?

That I was able to build my own business and was able to support my family with it, that my wife and I raised our children to be good people, and that I was able to learn Hungarian!

Why did you choose KAPTÁR?

I investigated various workspaces online and KAPTÁR appealed to me for its central location, flexible work hours, and reasonable price. I think I made a good decision, I really like the work atmosphere at KAPTÁR and everyone has been super friendly.

Csaba has worked as a frontend developer for the past ten years. Then in February, after leaving his last workplace, he started developing mobile games. Now, this is an exciting, scary, creative time in his life.

What have been your funniest/best KAPTÁR moments so far?

Sometimes, the most usual moments are the best: to arrive in the office, the „what’s up, how’s it going?“ with the others, playing with the current dog. But there are also memorable events, like the KAPTÁR bingo night, the Christmas and NYE party, and recently the Mexico night. These are all great memories, which brought me closer to the others.

What are the biggest milestones in your life?

I’ve had a couple, but the last was 2013 when I moved to Malta for 3,5 years. It brought many happy moments, travelling, friends, and opportunities and it widened my horizon on many levels. When I came back home, I kept the contact and worked remotely for more than 2 years for the same company there.

Your most important life experience, since you’ve become a coworker?

That I should have tried much earlier to work from such a place. Here, I could meet tons of inspiring, positive people with a similar mindset. By their example, I can see that people with enough stamina and focus are able to build a successful business.

We are the Budapest team of around thirty employees of a software engineering company called Precognox. Our main task within the company is to help clients retrieve quality user data from written text that can be transformed into useful information to the users by way of search and visualization. 

Most important life experience since you became a coworker?

Gábor: Liverpool is nicer and less rainy as it is said to be by many.

Karesz: to experience – as an introvert – again and again, that whenever I speak to somebody I never met before turns out to be something actual and exciting, becomes something interesting and good.

What’s the best part of your job?

Gábor: Getting to try out new software and making them better and more flawless.

Karesz: when I get to see our colleagues develop through participating in projects. The most uplifting result for me is when someone in our team takes higher responsibilities and executes with more independence with each and every new challenge he/she faces compared to his/her previous self.

What do you find the most exciting in new challenges?

Gábor: Discovering the unknown.

Karesz: if under new challenge we understand problems that our clients facing than it is very exciting how we unfold the best solution for the problem and how our clients also start to see and understand that our solution will shortly provide ultimate relief to their “pain”.

Could also share with us in one sentence why you chose KAPTÁR?

Our decision was based on the option that we can find an available, quiet meeting room for our online daily staff meetings. We also like it that we can shift between working seated or standing in the office. Having moved from a dedicated office of ours to KAPTÁR we find it to be a more cost-effective solution, especially now when we are growing by an additional, third software engineer. Plus we enjoy the lively downtown buzz of the city.
 
 

Please introduce yourself in a few lines. What are you doing now?

Being an architect my work is focused around the digital transition of all processes and procedures of the construction industry that is usually referred to under the nickname BIM (Building Information Modeling). This topic is receiving huge attention in Hungary and worldwide as well. The core goal of my everyday work is the simplification of complex processes, execution of their successful adaptation, and reaching optimal return of all efforts put into such digitalization.

What is the best part of your job?

Clearly the best part of my job is receiving the responses of satisfied clients after the closing of successful projects: when you manage to save USD 2 million in the construction process of a hospital in the US or the construction of a school in Sweden ends a month earlier than scheduled with the amount of building waste reduced significantly – due to the application of the necessary digital services and tools.

Can you please tell us why did you choose KAPTÁR?

Home office is a great opportunity I have, however being a fresh father it’s not always the simplest. And these are the days when you can find me by the KAPTÁR coffee machine or in a hidden corner where laptop monitors cover me so much that it took half a year to a coworker fellow of mine to realize on a KAPTÁR thematic party, that: “Hey!! You are Hungarian too??!”

Rotem Farkas is an entrepreneur in the cyber software business. He moved to Hungary to open their first development centre in Europe. As the company grew he decided (for multiple reasons) to relocate the Hungarian employees elsewhere, and since he likes it here Rotem decided to stay (since it doesn’t really matter from where he works as the teams are scattered across 8 countries).

Szabina coordinating local back office and administration at the company. With her boss, Rotem, they’ve joined the community just one month after the brand new FIXIE space’s launching.

Rotem:

What is the best part of your job?

As CTO, I’m in charge of designing/architecting our products and face the biggest technology challenges we get.. dealing with technology challenges has always been a hobby of mine and making a carrier out of it can’t get better 🙂

What is the fastest way to ruin a business?

There’s a saying “Trust is good but control is better” trusting the wrong people while also not supervising their work is the fastest way down.

Szabina:

What was disturbing you the most about working from home?

For me, the worst thing in working from home is being lonely. Days grow longer and you just miss the energy others can give you. There are also some pros but in the long run, I am sure it’s not the best solution.

What excites you the most in your new challenges?

The thought if I am capable of executing everything right. I am very curious by nature in general so all-new challenges bring me lots of excitement. I love to fight to succeed and reach my goals and if anything goes wrong, I learn from these, stand up and go for it again.

Biggest milestones in your life?

I definitely need to mention moving abroad, or more likely the many things I’ve learnt from it. When you are far away from home with no help around, to overcome any hardships and make your stand instead of choosing to give up. I am sure everything would have been easier if I stayed home, but I wouldn’t be the same person as I am now for sure.

Why did you choose KAPTÁR?

We wanted to find a more lively place with my boss to make our workdays more colourful. A kind voice on the other end of the line brought us to KAPTÁR.

Everybody is very nice and helpful around here and we love being part of it, also, there are always events where we can meet new faces and make friends.

I’ve always felt very restless and never understood why or how people could accept the mundane life of, spending most of their time working a job they didn’t like and go home to a wife they didn’t care for. Recently I’ve discovered that my restlessness probably comes from ADHD, but I wouldn’t want to have it differently because it’s been fuel for many amazing experiences.

For example, when I was younger I started working with a dating coach and traveled to Europe and the US with him for 10 months.

So now my focus is really on how I can work towards a future where my excitement for life is not compromised by my job or the people I hang around!

What excites you most about new challenges?

Proving to myself that I can do them, or even just the confidence gained by trying

What was most annoying about working at home?

The loneliness and restlessness from staring into the world an entire day

What are you most proud of in your life?

The number of amazing people I’ve met from different places that I get to call friends

I chose Kaptar because I quite simply read that it was the best coworking space in Budapest. I then remembered messaging Aaron and getting a great impression from him. He seemed like a sincere guy, so I ended up choosing Kaptar without checking out any other coworking place, can’t say that I regret doing so!

We opened our new FIXIE space in June. From the new members, we’re happy to introduce the eclectic Andovar team. They built a global translation and localization company with 7 offices across the continents.

They provide turnkey services in localizing software, documentation, mobile games/apps, e-learning courses, websites, and broadcast media. Working in over 80 languages they serve clients such as Uber, Agoda, KPMG, Spotify, Hyatt, SONY, and 300+ others.

Their new Budapest office, here at KAPTÁR is staffed with Business Development, Project Management, and Account Management teams to better serve European clients in their time zone.

We’re very happy to be able to welcome them at KAPTÁR:

ladies first from the left: Anna Teixidor, Vera Tanwongprasert, Hilda Veress, Khushboo Mathur, and the gentlemen: Russell Winterbotham, Conor Bracken, Tamás Sajó, Ivan Tutka, and Dániel Bozsa.

Ten years ago, I left my 18-year carrier of international advertising and managing director to work for the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) to promote sustainable forest management and the FSC certification globally from Germany. A couple of years later, I moved back to Hungary and started to work as an interim marketing director and marketing consultant.

Currently, I’ve been focusing on three areas.

I spend a more considerable part of my time acting as a European Regional Director at  MGI
Worldwide. MGI Worldwide is a global network of independent accounting, auditing, and tax
advising firms. The real challenge in this position is to develop and run meetings and conferences
across Europe that go beyond simple networking events, that is recognized as creative and
thought-provoking.

My second most significant challenge is the launch of my new services in the area of Design
Thinking, Innovation Management, and Customer Experience Management.  I spent the past two
years in studying and gaining the practice of new tools and thinking.

What is your most important life lesson, since you became a freelancer?

Work in isolation makes you unhappy

What was most annoying about working at home?

I worked from home in the past. However, loneliness spoiled my delivery. Therefore I spend
a minimum of one day per week in a coworking place to sustain my performance and working spirit.

What is the fastest way to ruin a business?

Not testing our assumptions.

My name is Timi and I’m the Hungarian Country Manager of Prospecto Group, a tech company based in Sofia.

My office hobby: Asking coworkers for meal prep recipes. One day, I will have a KAPTÁR meal prep cookbook. 🙂 It also helps me stick to the habit of cooking.

Most important life lesson since I’m here?

Be open, talk to people, network and good things will come your way. Oh and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Chances are, others have been through the same thing and are able to help.

Strangest thing I’ve learned since I’m a coworker?

So you sit at a different desk every day. It’s a good thing because you get to talk to different people sitting next to you each time, but sometimes on your way back from lunch, you forget where you sit that particular day and look like a complete fool not knowing where to go. 😀

Why did I choose Kaptár?

Because it has all the benefits of a library as it provides a great place for individual work, but is also full of light and great people to talk to and be inspired by.

I’m a full-time PhD student at Eötvös Loránd University, my field of research in Russian literature.  Although I do love academic work, it can be a little lonely sometimes, that’s why in the past couple of years while attending university, I always tried to hold jobs where I got to experience new things, and where I could focus on concrete, practical tasks. I think that a coworking office is a great concept in itself, and I’ve only heard wonderful things about KAPTÁR, so I was very happy when the opportunity presented itself to apply for a job here. For me, it’s really important to be surrounded by motivated people who are passionate about what they are doing. KAPTÁR is full of such people, so I’m looking forward to becoming part of the community.

What is the best part of your job?

I really like working with people, feeling like I can contribute to their lives in some form, help them with their day-to-day tasks.

What excites you most about new challenges?

For me, it is psychologically important to feel like I’m heading somewhere and to always learn new things. Probably that’s why I’ve stayed at the university for so long: their professional progress has a well-defined and systematic framework. I do my best to consider every new challenge in my life not as an obstacle, but as a new opportunity to work towards personal growth.

What was most annoying about working at home?

Like many KAPTÁRians, I’ve also experienced that when I attempt to work or study at home, it takes much more time to get anything actually done than normally, since day-to-day household tasks can divert my attention. In turn, relaxing and recharging at home will also be less effective, since work and home-life have no separate space or time. I prefer it when everything has its own place.

I’ve worked for over 25 years in different areas of marketing, in a variety of constructions. I have already worked for a big multi-agency, a municipal cultural institution and I had my own company as well. I was an owner, a company manager, an employee, a freelancer and a volunteer. I have already tried Levi’s, the Zoo, Wizz Air, Prohibited Radio, BeOnTrips, Michelin, Eco Partner and much more.

And now there’s KAPTÁR, one of the most exciting and likeable topics in the domestic marketing scene. And of course inspiration, motivation, challenge, and so on, but more importantly, I can work with people I like to have a beer with.

What is the best part of your job?

The others. The implication of this profession is that you can meet a lot of very different people. And a significant part of them is not only good professionals but also quite normal.

What are you most proud of your life?

I wrote a classified ad for Vatera that was viewed by over 14,000 people and even the newspapers wrote about it.

What disturbed you most about working from home?

That work “flowed” into everything, dinner, rest, shower, leisure, family. But, before I was gonna win, I stopped it quickly.

My name is Justin Butlion. I’m 35 years old and was born and raised in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Today I’m working as an analytics and business operations consultant for online-based companies. A year and a half ago I left Tel Aviv where I had been living for 3 years (I immigrated to Israel when I was 19) and became a minimalist and digital nomad. Since then I’ve travelled to 10 countries including Thailand, Colombia, Greece and Costa Rica. My passions include football (Chelsea FC), poker, learning new things, and of course data and analytics.

What is the best part of your job?

My job involves helping companies learn more about themselves so they can make better decisions. The best part of my job is helping a client find out something new which really helps them grow their business. There is a moment of realization that hits the client which is magical.

What is your most important life lesson, since you became an entrepreneur/freelancer?  

Since I became a freelancer I’ve learnt many things but the most important life lesson is the importance of self-discipline. When I became a freelancer I had all the freedom in the world but with that freedom comes a lot of distractions. I had to learn to put all those distractions at the back of my mind so I could focus on growing my business. It’s an ongoing challenge.

What are the biggest milestones in your life?

The three biggest milestones so far in my life are:

Finishing my military service in the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces)
Helping my mother retire
Becoming a digital nomad
 

Why did you choose KAPTÁR?

I heard about KAPTÁR from a popular digital nomad vlogger, Chris The Freelancer, who mentioned the coworking space in his Budapest review video. I did some quick checks online and realized that Kaptar was a great option. After visiting the space on my first day in Budapest I knew it was the place for me.

I’m location independent since 2015, having worked remotely from 20+ countries around the world. I work as a full-stack web developer, but the thing I love the most is writing fiction. That’s what I do whenever I have free time and don’t feel too lazy or anxious or tired or drunk or other funny things. I mostly write in Russian, as this is my native language (I’m from St Petersburg), but the English version is coming soon.

 
What is your most important life lesson, since you became an entrepreneur/freelancer?

Speak with actual customers and keep it simple, stupid.

 
What are you most proud of in your life?

That I didn’t settle down with my 5/8 job, bought a one-way ticket to Bali and created a video game there because I wanted to.

 
What is the best part of your job?

That I can work remotely from almost any part of the world. It’s such a game-changer. I’m so lucky to be alive now, not anytime before.

Why did you choose KAPTÁR?

I chose KAPTÁR because my location-independent US friend recommended it. I’m in Budapest for just 3 weeks. I came here because Nomadlist and my friends have recommended me this city and boy, I must say I’m not disappointed. The city is very livable and is definitely one of the best European cities I’ve been to so far.
 

You can see how I pollute the air on this map https://nomadlist.com/cbrwizard

I’m a human with a big smile, chef, traveller & a curious woman who wants to make every meal & ordinary moment sacred. As a business professional, I create structured operations and conscious organisations. As a mindful eating trainer, I teach mindfulness applied for food and eating to nourish body, mind and soul for individuals and groups, both in Berlin and Budapest.  

Why did you choose KAPTÁR?

I wished to be part of an international ecosystem in the heart of Budapest, where I can join a vivid and open community, as well as focus on work in an inspiring environment. KAPTÁR made these all happen. 

Most important life lesson, since you became a coworker?

The role of responsibility for my own time and energy. There is no one else, who tells me how much time should I work or spend in the office (if there is such a place). Once I am here, it’s my choice how do I manage my own resources. In the beginning, I used to get lost in kitchen talks or allow myself to arrive late or on the contrary, stay too late. There are a limited number of decisions, mental and emotional energy available for us in a single day. Today I am more mindful about where and to whom do I gift my attention, including myself in a form of quality me-time. Áron helped me to articulate this in the proper way when I just finished a few minutes of relaxation on a comfy KAPTÁR couch: “You treat yourself well!” At least I make an effort to do so.

What is the best part of your work?

Intimacy. While we practice mindful eating, we share food, experience and the present moment. When during a workshop or 1:1 session I see that someone is so deeply touched by the experience that a lifelong pattern dissolves – it’s precious. I can recognize the AHA-moment and the relief reflected in the eyes. I am grateful witnessing these liberating moments. 

Biggest milestones in your life?

Moves around the world: from Miskolc to the capital, Budapest. Then to Lisbon and to the US. Lately getting acquainted with Europe again. Camping in New-Zealand. Experiencing deep silence in the Himalayan ashram. The relationship with my husband. I do appreciate the seemingly little things too: sending out my first proposal as an entrepreneur or reaching the top on a negative wall in the boulder club. 

Email: zsanett.mindful@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zsanettczifrus/

Web: https://www.facebook.com/eteltollelekig/