Xpat Interview: Viktoria Kelemen
- 6 Nov 2006 11:00 AM
Viktoria become the president of Professional Women’s Association of Budapest in September 2006. She’s been a member of PWA since 2003 when she moved back to Budapest after 6.5 years living in the United States of America. She graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts and worked as a Marketing Manager in the real estate business.
Being away for so long and having the chance to become part of a totally different life & culture made her become a different person. Moving home was a big decision in Viktoria’s life, but also very exciting.
She joined GE Healthcare in Budaors as a Program Leader for Eastern Europe and Middle East Africe, then become a Project Manager in 2004. Become the president of Professional Women’s Association is challanging to everyone. Her main goal as a president this year is to make PWA a well-known association in the Hungarian community, to increase the membership benefits, and to offer more valuable and interesting events to women in Budapest. Each year the PWA Foundraising event is the main event of the Association. With this event PWA support disadvantages non-profit organizations in Hungary.
As her long term goal, she would like to work closely with other associations and become a joint partner to help and support professional women in Hungary. Belonging to an organization gives women the opportunity to meet many new people from different culture and with different background and interest. The Professional Women’s Asssociation of Budapest wild selected events offer all profesional women living in Hungary the opportunity to learn about themselves, improve or even change their life style support each other in professional development and career advancement.
1.Where did you grow up?
I was born in Budapest and grow up in different parts of the city.
2.What Hungarian traditions bring back fond memories of your childhood?
I was always so excited to visit my granparents in the village at Easter time. It was such a great time when our big family came together, ate ham & eggs and laughed over the silly hungarian easter traditions.
3.What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?
Definetly my family.
4.Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
The view from the Gellert-hegy, walk in the City Park and the Herois square, a stop at the Spa and a must-do visit to Hatar Csarda in Szentendre – come’n still close to Budapest.
5.What is your favorite Hungarian food?
No favorite, I love them all.
6.What is never missing from your kitchen?
Garlic.
7.What is your favorite place in Hungary?
Lillafured. I love the mountains.
8.What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Event Manager.
9.What’s a job you would definitely never want?
Politician.
10.Where did you spend your last vacation?
Boston, USA
11.Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Africa is next on my list.
12.What was your favorite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
George Michael (which still onging) and ET.
13.What can’t you resist?
Chocolate
14.Red wine or white?
Prefer the white, but like them both.
15.Kolbász or szalámi?
Love the typical hungarian “paraszt reggelit”, so I like both. But not regulary of course.
16.Book or movie?
Both when I have time.
17.Morning person or night person?
These days I would say morning.
18.Dog person or cat person?
Big doggy fan.
19.Buda side or Pest side?
Pest
20.What would you say is your personal motto?
Life is full of suprises. Never give up!
As her long term goal, she would like to work closely with other associations and become a joint partner to help and support professional women in Hungary. Belonging to an organization gives women the opportunity to meet many new people from different culture and with different background and interest. The Professional Women’s Asssociation of Budapest wild selected events offer all profesional women living in Hungary the opportunity to learn about themselves, improve or even change their life style support each other in professional development and career advancement.
1.Where did you grow up?
I was born in Budapest and grow up in different parts of the city.
2.What Hungarian traditions bring back fond memories of your childhood?
I was always so excited to visit my granparents in the village at Easter time. It was such a great time when our big family came together, ate ham & eggs and laughed over the silly hungarian easter traditions.
3.What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?
Definetly my family.
4.Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
The view from the Gellert-hegy, walk in the City Park and the Herois square, a stop at the Spa and a must-do visit to Hatar Csarda in Szentendre – come’n still close to Budapest.
5.What is your favorite Hungarian food?
No favorite, I love them all.
6.What is never missing from your kitchen?
Garlic.
7.What is your favorite place in Hungary?
Lillafured. I love the mountains.
8.What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Event Manager.
9.What’s a job you would definitely never want?
Politician.
10.Where did you spend your last vacation?
Boston, USA
11.Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Africa is next on my list.
12.What was your favorite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
George Michael (which still onging) and ET.
13.What can’t you resist?
Chocolate
14.Red wine or white?
Prefer the white, but like them both.
15.Kolbász or szalámi?
Love the typical hungarian “paraszt reggelit”, so I like both. But not regulary of course.
16.Book or movie?
Both when I have time.
17.Morning person or night person?
These days I would say morning.
18.Dog person or cat person?
Big doggy fan.
19.Buda side or Pest side?
Pest
20.What would you say is your personal motto?
Life is full of suprises. Never give up!