The CEMS V4 Conference serves as a vital pillar for the regional network, strengthening ties between member schools, creating valuable opportunities for students and fostering a collaborative spirit among the next generation of global leaders. Hosted at Corvinus University Budapest’s Gellért Campus, the event welcomed more than 60 ambitious participants from across the globe. The conference challenged attendees to consider how businesses and individuals can adapt to the complexities of the modern environment and the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The professional program kicked off with a compelling keynote speech by Csaba Zsótér, CEMS Alumni and Senior Vice President at MOL, who provided a deep dive into the evolving energy landscape. This set the stage for a series of high-impact interactions with the corporate partners of the conference: MOL, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Procter & Gamble (P&G), Coca-Cola HBC, Mastercard, and Sanofi. A standout highlight was the "Rotational Dinner," where students engaged in intimate, small-group discussions with corporate representatives, bridging the gap between academic theory and industry reality. The following days intensified the learning curve with skill seminars and workshops on AI, case solving and personal branding, and concluded with "job speed dating" sessions that offered direct professional opportunities and corporate insights.
Since the CEMS V4 Conference was my first ever CEMS event, I got a glimpse of the truly international and great student community. It was a fantastic opportunity to get to know new friends, familiarise with some corporate partners as well as explore a completely new city.
Beyond the seminars and workshops, the conference emphasized the community culture and CEMSie spirit that defines the CEMS experience. From a boat dinner on the River Danube to a guided visit of the Hungarian Parliament, participants were immersed in the architectural beauty and cultural heritage of Budapest. This balance of professional rigor and social bonding ensured that the conference was not just a learning event, but a community-building milestone. Over three dynamic days, there was a strong collaboration between meaningful engagement with corporate partners alongside the equally important social dimension between students. What was truly incredible to see was the way in which constructive and meaningful conversations naturally took place between different participants naturally, as if they have known each other for years.
The V4 CEMS Conference was an inspiring three-day experience, combining valuable corporate insights with a truly international student atmosphere. New faces quickly turned into meaningful professional friendships for the future.
As the event concluded, the sense of collective excellence was palpable. Organizers and participants alike left the conference with strengthened perspectives and a renewed commitment to the CEMS network. It was truly both a new challenge, a valuable opportunity and a rewarding responsibility. The success of the event was a testament to the dedication of the CEMS Club Budapest and CEMS V4 Conference of 2026 Coordinators Team, who ensured a seamless experience from registration to the final farewell.
Here’s to paths crossing again somewhere around the world in the future.
Until then, may it be a CEMSational experience!
