As part of our further international growth, we at Horváth have expanded our management team with five new partners as of the new fiscal year: Maria Boldor, Matthias Emler, Saad Hamam, Vera Koltai, and Tobias Steinhauser. What motivated them to pursue this path? And what are they most looking forward to in their new roles? We asked them exactely these and two other questions.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE PARTNERSHIP! WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO PURSUE THIS PATH?
Thank you, it’s a huge honour! I joined Horváth almost 17 years ago, just after graduating in business and law, and was one of the first employees in the Bucharest office. Early on, I was motivated to dream big and put all my passion into the topics that matter to me: continuously developing my expertise in organizational and business transformation, achieving tangible results for my clients, and gaining their trust, gathering international experience across various business and cultural environments, developing my team, mentoring and empowering our exceptional pool of consultants. It’s a great satisfaction to help shape the success story of Horváth Romania as one of the leading management consultancies on the local and regional market with now more than 70 employees. And we are definitely not stopping here – I am motivated to reach new chapters of growth for our flagship company.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN YOUR NEW ROLE?
I’m excited to contribute to our strategic group initiatives with my international mindset, empathic leadership, and regional perspective. I believe in the business potential and development opportunities in the Romanian market and the CEE region, so I look forward to increasing the number of satisfied clients, who choose Horváth as their preferred consultancy for their transformation journeys. And last but not least, I want to inspire more and more women, as well as young talents to succeed in consulting.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE: WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO MOST IN YOUR FREE TIME?
I love spending quality time with my wonderful family and close friends. Being a dedicated mum to my two boys is my lifelong and most fulfilling role. We enjoy traveling, skiing, walking our dog in the park, watching movies and football matches. I’m passionate about attending live music concerts, U2 being my favourite band. Cocktail evenings and gossiping with my girlfriends is a guilty pleasure. Oh, and shopping as well.
WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW COLLEAGUES?
Be curious, courageous, discover your passions, set ambitious goals and work hard to achieve them. Don’t repeat the same mistake twice and always aim to improve yourself. Remember Walt Disney’s quote: “If you can dream it, you can do it.”
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE PARTNERSHIP! WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO PURSUE THIS PATH?
Thanks for the congratulations! Consulting is a dynamic and challenging profession. Being successful is about bringing together the best experts and collaborating as a strong team.
That´s exactly what I have here at Horváth. And that´s what motivates me every day to contribute to our market position as the trusted advisor to major global clients.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN YOUR NEW ROLE?
It has always been my passion to find and realize innovative solutions for our clients that add significant value. Leveraging AI and data-driven approaches is a key source of achieving competitive advantage for companies. I am eager to continue working with my team on advanced solutions that create value for our clients, especially in these times of challenging markets.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE: WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO MOST IN YOUR FREE TIME?
One of my favorite hobbies is DJing and producing music. I started when I was a teenager and I still enjoy mixing different genres and creating new sounds. Music brings people together and it is a great way to relax after a busy day at work. One thing I particularly enjoy as a DJ is playing at our annual Horváth Camp. It's just great to see all Horváths partying on the dance floor!
WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW COLLEAGUES?
Be curious and open-minded! Consulting is a dynamic and fast-paced environment where you can work on varied and challenging projects across different industries and functions. You will learn a lot from your clients and your colleagues. Share your ideas and look forward to working together on creative solutions. And don't forget to have fun and celebrate your achievements together!
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE PARTNERSHIP! WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO PURSUE THIS PATH?
I have always had and still have a vision to establish the Horváth brand as a recognized and leading one in the Middle East.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN YOUR NEW ROLE?
Having a voice within the partnership to support the region's interests within the Horváth ecosystem. My team is my priority, so apart from acquisition, the next year's Middle East strategy will focus on developing the team and retaining talent.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE: WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO MOST IN YOUR FREE TIME?
Definitely, spending time with family and friends and going on sailing trips.
WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW COLLEAGUES?
In any new role, it´s very important to ask for feedback. Regular feedback can help you to understand how you are performing and where you can improve. Secondly: Set clear goals for the upcoming period and communicate these clearly with your team.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE PARTNERSHIP! WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO PURSUE THIS PATH?
Ever since I joined Horváth, I've been inspired by the team's dedication and unique motivation. I'm simply passionate about what I do - especially in supporting our clients in complex transformations and to accompany them on their development path.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN YOUR NEW ROLE?
I'm particularly excited about further expanding collaboration on an international level and being part of Horváth's global growth journey.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE: WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO MOST IN YOUR FREE TIME?
I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends during my leisure time. Whether it's playing games, cycling with my two sons, or embarking on adventures with my friends, these moments truly recharge me.
WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW COLLEAGUES?
Take every opportunity to learn and grow. Proactively bring in new ideas and enjoy every moment of the unique Horváth culture.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE PARTNERSHIP! WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO PURSUE THIS PATH?
Looking back on the last years and what we have achieved in our R&D and Procurement practice is simply incredible. We have constantly grown our team, expanded our client base across all industries and, of course, became more and more international. Being part of an amazing team and of this success story is the best motivation I can imagine.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN YOUR NEW ROLE?
I’m looking forward to continuing this success story in R&D and Procurement. There are several big challenges ahead that we will be helping our clients to overcome. We also want to enter new markets. And above all, I want to ensure that we keep our unique team spirit.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE: WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO MOST IN YOUR FREE TIME?
Free time is family time, and we love being outdoors in nature and preferably close to the water, whether it’s the beautiful lakes in southern Germany, the Mediterranean Sea or the ocean.
WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW COLLEAGUES?
Be curious and take advantage of the opportunities that come your way. It’s up to you to choose the direction in which you want to develop. It’s an essential part of Horváth’s culture and DNA to give you freedom and support you in your personal development.
