The 7th HR Dream Day, organized by AmCham Hungary, brought together HR professionals and business leaders for a day of insight and exchange.
This year’s HR Dream Day, held on Tuesday, May 12, at Öbölház at Kopaszi-gát, brought together more than 100 participants and 19 experts and speakers for a full day of professional dialogue, shared experiences, and new connections.
The conference was opened by Írisz Lippai-Nagy, CEO of AmCham Hungary, who welcomed participants and highlighting the conference’s role as a biannual platform for discussing key trends in HR and the world of work. In her opening, Szilvia Bogdán, Chair of AmCham’s HR Committee and Chief People Officer at NEXON, underlined the importance of HR Dream Day as a forum for open dialogue, shared learning, and practical inspiration.
László Kiss, Astronomer at the Konkoly Observatory and Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, opened the program with a thought-provoking talk on a perhaps unexpected field that can help us better understand many of today’s complex challenges: astronomy. Through insights into the future of lunar research and the evolving space sector, he offered a broader perspective on innovation, long-term thinking, cooperation, and adaptability.
This was followed by a dynamic session co-organized by Itt és Most Társulat and Blue Colibri, who brought current HR and workplace challenges to life through an engaging, participatory theatre format. The session encouraged participants to reflect on real-life situations, share perspectives, and explore possible responses to the complex issues shaping today’s world of work.
The next panel was opened by Róbert Dobay, Managing Director of Menedzsmentor, who helped set the stage for the afternoon discussions. His remarks guided participants toward the next key themes of the day, shifting the focus to the practical implications of transformation for HR professionals and business leaders.
The panel continued with an expert talk by Jeremie Brecheisen, Managing Partner for International Markets at Gallup, delivered an expert talk on The Future of Leading Humans and Robots. Drawing on Gallup’s global workplace research and recent experiments with AI interviewers in Europe, he explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping the role of managers, teams, and organizations. His presentation offered valuable insights into how leaders can navigate a workplace where they are increasingly managing not only people, but also technology.
Following the coffee break, the conference continued with separate breakout sessions focusing on pay transparency, and AI at the workplace, respectively.
In the Purple room, the AI at the Workplace panel was introduced by an expert talk from Dóra Zengő, Technology Recruitment Team Lead at Simonyi and Tóth, and Dénes Simonyi, Transformation Partner at Simonyi and Tóth. Their presentation explored how AI is reshaping workplace transformation, from smarter recruitment and more efficient selection processes to the broader implications of responsible AI adoption. They also highlighted that as more data-driven tasks become automated, human judgment, transparency, and a human-centered approach become even more important in HR.
The session continued with a roundtable discussion on the appliaction of AI, featuring Andrea Ferenczi-Dintsér, Chief Knowledge & Strategic Relations Officer, Hammel & Hochreiter Business & Management Consulting, Miklós Koren, Professor, Central European University, and Nóra Óváry-Papp, Counsel, Baker McKenzie. Fanni Kadocsa, Managing Partner, Hybridge Consulting moderated the discussion.
The participants explored how AI is reshaping the labor market, with a particular focus on the future of entry-level and junior positions, the long-term talent pipeline, and the skills employees will need in an increasingly automated workplace. Speakers also discussed the ethical and diversity dimensions of AI adoption, including gender-related impacts, potential bias in AI systems, and the risk that existing inequalities may be reinforced. The conversation also touched on the role of HR in leading organizational transformation, the challenges of reskilling, and the differences between how large companies and SMEs can respond to AI-driven change.
In the Orange room, the Pay Transparency panel was introduced by an expert talk by presenters from Wolf Theiss: Barnabás Buzási, Head of Employment and Marietta Molnár, Senior Associate. Their session focused on the upcoming EU Pay Transparency Directive, its implications for employers in Hungary, and the steps companies should consider as they prepare for the new regulatory environment. They also highlighted how transparent and well-structured compliance can become not only a legal obligation, but also a competitive advantage for organizations.
In the following roundtable discussion, Szilvia Bogdán was joined on stage by Dávid Meretei, HR Director for Hungary and Asia Pacific at Howmet Aerospace, Tamás Fehér, Operations Director for South-East Europe at Manpower, and Bence Ságvári, sociologist and researcher at the HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences. The conversation explored pay transparency not only as a legal compliance task, but also as a cultural and leadership challenge that can influence trust, fairness, employee experience, and internal communication. Speakers discussed how companies can prepare for more open conversations around pay, how Hungarian workplace culture may respond to this shift, and how transparency can contribute to a more equitable and sustainable organizational culture.
Throughout the event, participants explored the changing role of HR and leadership in today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Inspiring keynote presentations and practical panel discussions offered fresh perspectives on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of work.
The program created space for meaningful conversations and honest exchanges among HR professionals and business leaders. It also provided an opportunity to connect, learn from one another, and reflect on how organizations can better support people and leadership in times of change.
We are grateful to our speakers, partners, and participants for contributing to such an engaging and valuable day.
Special thanks go to our supporters, whose generous sponsorship helped make the event a memorable and impactful experience: Baker McKenzie, Hammel & Hochreiter Business & Management Consulting Kft., Howmet Aerospace, Hybridge Consulting, Manpower, Menedzsmentor, NEXON Ltd., SnT Recruitment, and Wolf Theiss.
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