An iEXPO Story – From Idea to Reality

A Leadership Training Built on the Mechanics of Memory

At the iEXPO, Zoltán presented a self-developed HR and leadership development innovation titled "Workplace Experience Design: Memory-Shaping Leadership". The core of the program is for leaders to more consciously shape the workplace experience through their daily communication, thereby directly impacting key issues such as well-being and retention.

"The goal of the program is for the leader to consciously shape workplace experiences through their everyday communication, thereby supporting employee well-being and retention."

The method is based on a very human experience: our decisions regarding our workplace are rarely guided by "objective weighing". Instead, they are driven by what sticks with us from the everyday - how we remember a difficult situation, a conflict, or a piece of recognition - and especially how those moments concluded.

"The experiences that take root in employees determine the story they tell themselves about their work, and ultimately, they make decisions based on this."

For Zoltán, it all started with a personal realization triggered by a book that eventually matured into a methodology.

"A few years ago, I came across Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman's book Thinking, Fast and Slow... Following this realization, I began thinking about how this could be applied to organizational development and leadership communication." he explained.

The goal was not to present an abstract model, but to build a training program that provides concrete, immediately usable communication tools for leaders.

Why iEXPO? Because That’s Where the Concept is Proven

Zoltán soon realized that the project could only create true value if it was tested in a professional and business environment. He treated the iEXPO not just as "an event," but as a testing ground: a space where research and real corporate operations meet.

"I wanted to test the idea in a professional setting and get feedback from researchers, HR professionals, and company executives. I was looking for a forum where research and the business world meet."

The point of entry was simple: a university newsletter - and the feeling that this was exactly the environment he was looking for.

Everything is Decided at the Booth: Poster, Pitch, Conversations

At the iEXPO, many different projects compete for attention, so alongside a "good idea," the presentation matters. Zoltán’s preparation followed a simple but effective logic: have a visual framework (poster) and a short, 2–3 minute story that quickly conveys the essence.

Then came the day most exhibitors remember: continuous conversations, diverse perspectives, quick reactions - and unexpected turns.

"On the day of the expo, it was an incredible flow experience to talk to many different people about my solution and answer their questions..."

At the end of the day, the momentum occurred that suddenly takes a project to the "next level": when someone is no longer just interested but specifically wants to work together.

"...at the end of the day, the moment when a company CEO asked me to implement the training program at their own company."

A Sentence That Took Development in a New Direction

One of the greatest strengths of iEXPO feedback is that it often comes from real-world problems, delivered briefly and authentically. One specific remark stood out to Zoltán.

”A corporate leader spoke about wanting the values represented by the company to appear in daily operations.”

This sentence was powerful because it provided a new focus: the method could not only shape experiences but also help ensure that corporate values are not just declarations, but actual organizational practices.

"This was such a defining realization that it gave a new direction to my work: how abstract values can be shaped into living organizational practices."

Next Level: Toward Market Entry with University Support

The story became even more exciting as the interest from iEXPO didn’t stop at conversations. Zoltán’s project caught the attention of several experts, leading to a collaboration with the PTE Department of Research Exploitation and Technology Transfer.

"It is a great validation for me that they see not only professional but also business potential in the project."

Zoltán thinks that this partnership provides more than just professional reinforcement; it offers infrastructure, a network, and expert background - plus legal and business development support for commercialization and intellectual property protection.

"The collaboration provides not only professional validation but also legal and business development support, for example, in the areas of intellectual property protection and exploitation."

The project is currently in the publication and testing phase; the goal is to build a structured, marketable service with a solid university background. From a corporate perspective, the "low cost – high impact" logic is particularly attractive, addressing strategic pain points like well-being, retention, burnout, and turnover.

Key Takeaways – For Students and Companies

For Students: The iEXPO is not merely a presentation; it is a gateway to decision-makers and professional dialogues that are otherwise difficult to access.

For Companies: The value lies in encountering ideas backed by research, fresh thinking, and developable solutions that can quickly move toward implementation.

Zoltán summarizes the experience perfectly:
"My participation in the iEXPO confirmed that I am on the right track... It is quite possible that I will later look back on the iEXPO as one of the most important milestones of my career".

Disclaimer: As the interview was originally conducted in Hungarian, there might be slight changes in the quotes.