Noémi is a 50-year-old lawyer who lives and works in Tatabánya, although she was born in Esztergom. Her career choice was largely determined by her family background: her parents were also lawyers, so this direction seemed almost natural to her, even though as a child she would rather have been a florist. Eventually, she grew to love the law, graduated in Szeged, and then began her professional career in Budapest.
At the beginning of her career, she worked in a multinational environment at Telekom as a telecoms lawyer. This period was particularly important to her: she got to know international corporate culture, teamwork and complex thinking, which later defined her outlook. However, when she started a family, she made a conscious decision: she returned to Tatabánya to better balance work and private life.
She worked as a lawyer in Tatabánya, primarily for local authorities and transport companies. Later, she became the head of legal affairs for a regional road passenger transport company, and following organisational restructuring, she looked for a new direction. It was then that she decided to further her education: she studied tourism development at Corvinus University, with the aim of actively participating in the development of the city. Today, she works in the field of economic development, where she is able to utilise both her legal knowledge and her new perspective.
During her career, Noémi has not felt disadvantaged as a woman. She believes this is partly a matter of personality and partly of environment. She has always viewed herself as a team player and has not striven for top leadership positions. At the same time, she sees systemic differences: there are still fewer women in strategic and senior management roles, while their presence is more balanced at middle management level.
She considers work-life balance a challenge, but not exclusively a women's issue. In her view, it is just as difficult for men, albeit along different lines. She believes that today's world—through flexible working, home office and technological advancement—offers many more opportunities to create this balance. She also represents this in her own leadership approach: what matters is not when and where someone works, but that the task is completed well and on time.
It gives a nuanced picture of women's labour market opportunities. According to them, in certain areas – for example, in public administration, education or healthcare – the proportion of women is higher, while women are still underrepresented in strategic decision-making and senior management. They also consider corporate culture and international background to be important factors: companies coming from certain countries are more open to diverse leadership, while others are less flexible in this area.
For him, one of the most defining experiences was returning to university as an adult. The new knowledge he gained at Corvinus meant not only professional development, but also personal affirmation: he experienced the true meaning of lifelong learning and realised he was able to put his acquired knowledge into practice in real life.
Currently, the greatest joy and achievement in his personal life are the successes of his son, who, alongside his university studies, is already gaining professional experience and approaches his work with enthusiasm. For him, this is not only a source of pride but also validation: he feels that, as a parent, he has managed to pass on values that help his child succeed independently.
Noémi's motivation comes from her work for the community. She believes that Tatabánya can develop if professional considerations are put ahead of political interests and if the city's stakeholders are able to cooperate. She does not think in terms of big-city competition, but rather in making the city more livable for its residents.
In times of difficulty, adaptation and re-planning help, according to him. He consciously seeks solutions, develops multiple alternatives, and believes that consistent, fair work brings results in the long run.
Noémi's story shows that success is not necessarily measured by positions. Much rather in whether someone is able to create balance, adapt to changes, and in the meantime create value – not only for themselves, but also for their community.
The interview was conducted within the framework of the WIN Danube Region project.
