Executive, Appearances

BBJ Top HR Business Executives | Interview with Éva Fehér, Managing Director of JobGroup

This interview was published in the Budapest Business Journal's Top HR Business Executives issue.

BACKGROUND INFO

Éva Fehér graduated from Budapest Business School’s international management and business faculty. Starting at a biotech manufacturer, she soon became head of commerce, leading domestic and international expansions and managing markets in Europe and North America.

She developed her career in HR by joining ISG Group (formerly Catro). At first, as a senior consultant, then head of executive search, Fehér gained a 360-degree understanding of HR services via international and in-house training. Creative in spirit and agile in working approach, she was a key figure in turning a small local branch into a recognized and respected brand.

Fehér joined the JobGroup Company in 2020 as managing director, finding a great team and a well-structured organization with enormous business potential. Using her leadership experience and armed with a coaching diploma, she still gets involved in the critical phases of executive search
projects, executive coaching and advisory services. She is a happy mother of two children and loves Scandinavian detective novels and Zumba dancing.

WHAT DREW YOU TO HR AS A CAREER?

Chance! Having specialized in biophysics and math at school, I was sure I’d pursue a career based on logic and numbers. Graduating as an economist and spending 13 years in commercial positions, I soon realized that success is essentially determined by people, their knowledge, motivation and interactions. 

Understanding human behaviors, and their impact on business results, have become my prime interests. A sudden opportunity at ISG-Catro led me down the path of HR, and I “feel at home” here. Working in HR for the past 16 years, I still don’t consider myself an HR person but more a business leader who recognizes the strategic role of the human factor. I respect that function hugely and seek to nurture and elevate it. I wish to contribute to the trend of enhancing HR approaches with a true business mindset that is valued and respected widely by companies.

OF WHICH PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD?

Producing results is my biggest drive and passion. I love to ignite the spark, add a twist, and get things moving. In my biotech era, I made a habit of talking to everyone I could, gathering perspectives from the C-suite, the production line, and the broader industry. This was fundamental to developing an innovative and unproven opportunity into the most profitable division of the company within four years. The result was fantastic: We became the exclusive CEE producers of a specific bio-pharma raw material line to the European and North American markets.

At JobGroup, I’m happy that I managed to integrate quickly and smoothly into this fantastic team of bright and experienced professionals during the chaotic and unstable times of COVID. Together, we have built new business divisions and elevated our executive search solutions into an independent brand, “Prime by JobGroup.” From a flat line, our efforts have driven double-digit growth in both profitability and turnover. Yet, my colleagues naming me “The Coolest Boss” feels like the biggest win.

IN AN EVER-TIGHTER LABOR MARKET THAT HAS ALL BUT FULL EMPLOYMENT, HOW DO YOU FIND NEW TALENT POOLS FOR YOUR CLIENTS?

“Finding the right talents for the right jobs” is the real and universal challenge of HR, I believe. The scenery is changing, new situations are emerging, the growth of digitalization is ubiquitous, and generations differ from one another more than ever. The foundation of JobGroup is a composite of 30 years of know-how, our network, tools, methodologies and, importantly, our consultants, all of which we maximize to identify new talent pools. To explore the new generations, we have a team forum to create new ways to find and leverage untapped talents. In recruitment, we use both digital and analog tools. We actively educate our clients via our website, social media, newsletters and business breakfasts. Candidate experience is essential; we think transparent and attentive communication is crucial in building long-lasting partnerships.

FINDING WORKFORCE ASIDE, WHAT ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES FACING HR IN HUNGARY?

The labor shortage is a massive issue, and the significance of human resources is underrated. There is a massive transformation, but the HR role is still not clearly defined: is it a supportive function or a strategic one? I believe there should be a change of paradigm in company cultures to recognize the importance of attracting and retaining talents at any level of the hierarchy. These focus points have a substantial effect on business results. I’m positive that the labor shortage today will redefine the HR of tomorrow. We need clear, transparent communication and open minds to ensure HR and business imperatives are aligned. With mutual respect and leveraging of the common ground, it will become increasingly efficient to take organizations to the next level. A strategic HR function creates a step-change and is essential for the challenges we face now.

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