Among the most significant successes I would include our participation in the design works of the National Athletic Stadium, which is currently under construction, and the Museum of Transport - Zsolt Ballay, CEO of bim.GROUP Kft. told the magazine ‘Üzletem’.
One of Zsolt Ballay‘s biggest plans is to become a major market player in Europe. To achieve this, he wants to create a working environment and atmosphere in which his colleagues are happy to work. Professional challenges are important because they give staff a new perspective for their individual development. If you want to know who Zsolt learned the most from, you can read the answer in Üzletem’s 12 questions - 12 answers series, in interview no. 379.
- What do you consider the highlight of your career so far?
- From a professional point of view, I am most proud of the cooperation with renowned international design agencies and of entering the international market, where we cooperate on projects at home and, in some cases, abroad. Among the most notable successes, I would mention our participation in the design of the National Athletics Stadium, which is currently under construction, and the Museum of Transport, due to international cooperation.
- How far ahead are you planning?
- I have many plans and ideas for the future. I would like us to establish ourselves in the international markets and become a major player/competitor across Europe by diversifying our project portfolio, so I am planning for a long term that is not measurable in years at the moment.
- What is on your professional bucket list?
- More successful participation in projects abroad and recognition/awards in design competitions abroad are on this list. I would also like to see bim.GROUP achieve the highest international ISO certification for BIM technology, but my bucket list also includes building a team of design reviewers and technical auditors and winning tenders for this.
- Who have you learned the most from?
- I have learned a lot from many of my former senior colleagues, both professionally and personally, but I would like to highlight Csaba Kelemen, Head of the Design Sector, CEO of bim.GROUP, with whom I have been working together for 15 years and in the top management of the company for 4 years. This type of cooperation is still an ongoing, mutual learning experience for me.
- How do you motivate your colleagues?
- Firstly, by creating a working environment and atmosphere where my colleagues are happy to come to work every day, secondly, by providing them with professional challenges that give them a new perspective in line with their individual development, and last but not least, by giving them the opportunity to learn from each other.
- Which profession would you like to try your hand at?
- I would like to try my hand at event management, but I have always been interested also in the legal profession. I can see myself much more in the two areas mentioned above than, for example, in a business-oriented career.
- How do you build your business relationships?
- I regularly attend professional forums, conferences and exhibitions at home and abroad, both as a speaker and as a guest. Examples include BIM World Munich and the IDEA conference. These events provide an excellent opportunity to build international relationships. At the UK Steel Construction Day conference, for example, we made professional contacts with Hungarian colleagues working in London. This network of contacts provides an opportunity to launch joint projects and to find and bring back engineers currently working abroad. Our goal is to be a reliable company in the eyes of our current clients, so that they will recommend us to their partners in the future. Last but not least, we are looking for partners in the neighbouring countries, such as Serbia, Germany, Romania, Austria, and for those further away from Hungary, India.
- What do you avoid spending your time on?
- We are always looking for the new and the opportunities that current technology offers, so I try to avoid spending my time building systems that are no longer relevant to the present.
- What makes you upset?
- In particular, by talking out of turn and not being straightforward, by going into too much detail, and by unethical behaviour in business and professional terms.
- What kind of voluntary work would you do?
- I'm happy to do any manual work to improve the way of life in a community. Previously, for 8 years, I had been running camps for children aged 7-14 years old, in a volunteer capacity, where we formed a group of children and adults into a cohesive community in nomadic conditions.
- What do you happily spend money for?
- For innovation, buying new software and rewarding outstanding performance. The rebranding process of bim.GROUP started in 2021 and is still ongoing. We have recently launched our new website and I am proud of the quality of our image video, which is unique in the sector, so I dare say that branding and marketing activities are also part of this.
- What can relax you the most?
- Among the sports activities, I would highlight tennis. Music plays a very important role in my life, I am an omnivorous music collector and I sing in two choirs. These are all activities that help you relax and recharge after the daily drive.
