On April 16, SEED Executive School hosted its very first HR Connect – Demo Day, welcoming HR professionals to experience what makes SEED’s leadership journeys unique. The event offered a direct look into how SEED programs are built and why this approach resonates with leaders across the region. At the event we showcased our unique do-how approach, from the way sessions are structured to the interaction between faculty and participants, and the balance between plenary discussions and small-group conversations.

The day began with a warm welcome from our host, László Aczél, Managing Faculty at SEED, followed by opening remarks from Dr. László Eszes, CEO and Academic Director, who shared SEED’s vision and commitment to leadership development across the region. György Leitner, Faculty Member, presented SEED’s renewed Program Portfolio, reflecting the school’s commitment to supporting leaders at every stage of their development.

Exploring Leadership Motivation and Influence

The learning experience was brought to life through two sample plenary sessions, showcasing the practical and reflective nature of SEED’s leadership journeys. Dr. Anita Csoma, Managing Faculty, led the first session titled “Why should people follow you?”, a key element of the Business Leadership Program. She introduced the core structure of the program, which is built around three essential steps: leading yourself, leading your people, and leading your business.

The first step focuses on self-awareness and personal development — understanding how leaders can continuously develop themselves to be ready and worthy of being followed. This includes clarifying personal values, identifying one’s own aspirations as a leader, and defining how to collaborate effectively and make well-grounded decisions. The second step addresses how to inspire and work with others — how to develop people, build strong and cohesive teams, and foster motivation within the organization. Finally, the third step turns attention to the business dimension — how to create effective strategies, lead organizational structures, manage change, and build strong relationships with stakeholders and other leaders. Throughout the session, participants were encouraged to reflect on these dimensions and consider how their own leadership approach aligns with these key areas. As it always does in our programs, the plenary session was followed by a small group discussion on topics covered during the session.

Navigating Change with Adaptive Leadership

The second plenary session was held by Dr. László Eszes, focusing on the topic of “Adaptive Process” from the Leading Change Program. His session addressed one of today’s most pressing leadership challenges: how to navigate uncertainty and lead successful change initiatives within organizations. Rather than offering a static formula, the session emphasized the importance of creating a space where change can happen — empowering people to take ownership and actively contribute to transformation. Reflecting SEED’s learning approach, this session was also followed by small-group discussion, encouraging participants to engage with the content, exchange perspectives, and connect the insights to their own organizational context.

If you are an HR professional interested in our programs and would like to be part of our next event, please share your interest by filling out this short form.