What can a business leader learn at the end of the world?

This article is available for reading in Trade magazin 2025/2-3.

– Those who know you know that you travel a lot, visiting very special and extreme places. What motivates you to go on these trips?

Kornél Müller
managing director
Törley Sparkling Wine Cellar

– Curiosity and the desire to explore are a big part of my life. This is a driving force that motivates me as a businessman as much as it motivates me in my travels. The latter have taken me to many special places, such as the Antarctica, Siberia, Kyrgyzstan or Botswana.

– These experiences can have a big impact on one’s thinking and decision-making in everyday life. What can you take with you from your travels to the business life?

– Successful businesses are always open to new opportunities, development and innovation. The best opportunities are often not along pre-planned routes, but on untrodden paths. It is crucial for a company not only to think in terms of tried and tested strategies, but also to dare to explore new paths.

– As a manager what would you highlight from the experiences you have had on your travels?

– Routine can be dangerous and if I am too confident about something and don’t concentrate in critical situations, it can easily lead to serious problems. It is the same in business life: successful leaders are constantly alert to change and ready to adapt.

– Can you prepare for the unexpected, the extreme?

– You should always hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst. Being prepared is also crucial in the business world, because if you think ahead and prepare for as many scenarios as possible, you can respond to challenges much more effectively.

– What have you learned from the people living in harsh conditions?

–  I learned that being satisfied doesn’t depend on circumstances. They can find values that give them joy and stability in their harsh, minus-50-degree world. //