A renowned leadership expert from Budapest, Zoltan Buzady has dedicated his career to developing leaders and fostering cross-cultural connections. With over 25 years of experience, he combines positive psychology and innovative teaching methods to empower individuals and organizations in Kazakhstan and beyond.
Zoltan Buzady, Associate Professor, linkedin
About myself
I’m in the business of developing people, focusing on empowering team leaders, managers, and department heads to benefit themselves, their teams, and their organizations. This work contributes to the prosperity of entire nations, and for 25 years, I’ve been offering impactful skills and leadership development journeys — a truly rewarding vocation.
My approach leverages the "Being in Flow" mental state, a concept discovered and analyzed by my friend, the renowned Prof. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, founder of positive psychology.
I live in Budapest, a city I consider the most beautiful in the world, deeply connected to Kazakhstan through centuries of shared history. We often refer to Budapest as the "most western part of Kazakhstan" or your region as the "most eastern part of Hungary," reflecting this bond.
Currently, I’m deeply involved in leadership development projects across Kazakhstan — this is my 33rd visit. My expertise benefits businesses, universities, and even government and diplomatic circles.
About moving
As an International Educator, I am fascinated by the cultural richness of students from post-Soviet countries like the Caucasus and Central Asia. My journey to explore Kazakhstan began about 11 years ago during a conference in Almaty. Since then, I have become a regular visitor, working with local partners and conducting research on leadership styles in the Organization of Turkic States region.
At Corvinus University in Budapest, one of Central Europe’s best institutions, I teach doctoral programs, executive training, and MBA courses, with two PhD students focusing on this region. My work bridges academic research and practical training in leadership development.
During my first visit to Kazakhstan, I noticed the cultural diversity and the unique tension between East and West — a sentiment Hungary shares, given its 1100-year history in a similar position. Over the years, I’ve observed challenges in implementing long-term ideas into practice. Now, instead of engaging in symbolic agreements, I encourage concrete collaborations, focusing on specific leadership skills.
In Almaty, I began teaching at KBTU and AlmaU and supervised the country’s first PhD graduate in Business Administration. She is now an international expert on women’s leadership skills, contributing both in practice and research.
About activities
I work full-time at Corvinus University of Budapest, the leading business school in Central Europe. My courses, taught in English, focus on managing people, developing skills, and using gamification for creativity. I teach doctoral students, top business managers, and MBA candidates. My research in decision-making science is published in top global journals. Collaborating with Eurasian National University in Astana, I work on digital tools and study leadership styles in the Organization of Turkic States, including Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Hungary.
Our research predicts leadership strengths, opportunities, and challenges in business collaborations. This knowledge is crucial for businesses to succeed, and companies invest in our training to discover hidden skills, opportunities, and areas of improvement. Last year, we contributed to an international book on global leadership, published in London, where we included insights about Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan has made significant investments in human capital development, such as through NIS schools, Bolashak scholarships, and university reforms. However, businesses thrive when they also leverage social capital — professional networks and connections. I believe the new Central European connection, along with growing cooperation through the OTS and scholarship programs for Kazakhstanis in Hungary, will be key to future growth. I now have two doctoral students in Budapest focusing on this region.
My primary focus is on building psychological capital, which develops when individuals overcome challenges and achieve success. This form of capital fosters resilience, creativity, and sustained growth, far beyond the temporary satisfaction of financial rewards. I teach this concept through an innovative simulation game co-created with the renowned Flow Professor. This engaging tool helps participants experience decision-making dilemmas, see the outcomes of their choices, and refine their skills. It provides deep psychometric profiles and opportunities to improve 29 management and leadership skills. This approach builds individual happiness, enhances corporate performance, and drives long-term sustainability, making it highly valuable for businesses and organizations in Kazakhstan and beyond.
About Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan never ceases to surprise me, which is why I’ve returned over 33 times. Each visit brings something unusual or fascinating. My experiences range from working with state corporations and funds to entrepreneurial companies, universities, and regional administrations. Among the 12 million Hungarians, I consider myself one of the most knowledgeable about Kazakhstan’s business realities and organizational culture.
A small but delightful habit I’ve picked up is always carrying a piece of qurt in my pocket for a salty snack. It’s unknown in Hungary, so I get to enjoy it all by myself — a little reminder of Kazakhstan wherever I go.
One tradition that particularly fascinates me is Kokpar, the Central Asian horse game. From a leadership perspective, it embodies the concept of "flow" — a state of intense focus and joy during challenging tasks. Kokpar mirrors what great leaders experience: the drive to excel despite obstacles. I’ve even shared this insight at conferences, blending it with Kazakhstan’s rich artistic heritage using works from the Kasteev Museum.
Kazakhstani managers impress me with their Emotional Intelligence, a critical skill for understanding others in business. They also excel at engaging their teams, reflecting traditional tribal consensus-building. However, areas like prioritization, time management, and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset still need development. Many leaders grow risk-averse over time, which can limit innovation. Yet, these gaps present opportunities for growth and greater alignment with international standards.
About plans
Bringing positive psychology and improved leadership styles and skills, applied through our decision simulation game, remains my primary focus. I now have new training partners in Almaty and Astana. I am actively creating new content for podcasts and training materials, accessible through Facebook and Instagram channels. For example, a free audiobook and the principles of "flow" are universally applicable to everyone.
We are expanding to new regions, such as Uzbekistan, while continuing our collaboration with Ulttyq Ustaz and other esteemed universities. We are launching new programs for companies and academic institutions, including Zhas Galym supervisor work and a national research initiative with Eurasian National University in Astana focused on digitalization. There may also be future collaborations with AlmaU and KIMEP — working with those motivated to embrace hard work with joy!
Additionally, I will continue to publish research on leadership dynamics and styles within the Turkic Nation region in the near future.
