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Sometimes one phonecall is enough to change somebody 's life

September 28, 2009 - Hospodárske noviny

The road to success. Oszkár Világi originally wanted to seek freedom as a marine, but eventually decided for law and today he runs Slovakia 's largest refinery.

Originally, he wanted to become a marine for the desire to escape from the totalitary regime. But his road led in another direction and today he runs Slovakia's largest refinery. Chairman of the Board and CEO of Slovnaft Oszkár Világi accepted our invitation to a business breakfast at the Falkensteiner Hotel.

Talent and work

After the revolution, he was deciding our future as a member of the Czechoslovak Parliament, later worked as a solicitor and in various fields of business. Today, he is at home in the energy sector. As he says, through his three years' work in the chair of the CEO, many things have changed at Slovnaft. He admits that he does things different than his predecessors and he is more interested in results than processes. "There are people whom you give a euro and they bring back three. Then there are those who bring back a bill for fifty cents. I do want to belong into the first group," he says.

After his arrival to the refinery, deciding competencies of the local management have strenghtened – local decisions are made mostly locally and not in Budapest. It is natural, that people sometimes make mistakes. But it is important to take responsibility for their work and decisions. "Sometimes you shoot ten goals out of ten attempts. But four or five is still a good result."

He gets best with people who share his values. He admits, that those of his own he got from his grandmother and he has been building up his trade spirit since he was seventeen, when he was selling cauliflower on a market. As he says, talent helps, but is not enough from a long-term point of view. Important characteristics are working hard, tenacity, decisiveness and responsibility to others. "People should help each other. In my position, sometimes a single phonecall is enough to completely change someone's life," says Világi.

The Central European Foundation that Slovnaft has been cooperating with for instance bought the first quality violin and paid studies for a violin virtuoso Dalibor Karvay.

The Central European Oszkár Világi has spent his life in Dunajská Streda. A Slovak citizen whose mother tongue is Hungarian has a strong Central European feeling. And in a Central European dimension he also thinks about both business and common life. "No matter if I am in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland or Hungary, I feel equally at home everywhere," he explains. At work he spends at least ten hours a day plus a long journey on the jammed southeastern roads. And there is no time left for sports as golf. He rather dedicates his free time to family. He namely feels that having focused mostly on work, he lost many important events in the life of his 25-year old daughter and would not like to make the same mistake with his 12-year old son. Therefore, his most common way of relaxing is everyday excercising at the gym that they built up at home or watching movies. "I can watch three movies a day, when I have the time. I like historical films very much, while watching them I really do not think about work. If I could choose a period of history, I would certainly want to live in renaissance. Machiavelli inspires me in many ways," says Világi.

Today, he is glad he had not chosen the career of a marine. "On one hand, I felt a strong need of freedom, on the other hand my inner voice told me I should not get away from Slovakia," he says. He likes to fulfill his desires from youth during holidays at the sea in Croatia, which he finds beautiful. He knows how to enjoy even the beauties under the sea surface and he shares his passion ford diving with his daughter. "She got to see a shark and a turtle during her first dive. The instructor was joking she did not to have to dive anymore, recalls Világi.

Questionnaire

* Do you turn off the light when leaving the room?

Not always. But I am trying to change.

* How much do you spend on gasoline monthly?

Around 500 euros.

* How much time a day do you spend at work?

At least ten hours.

* Do you take your work home?

I do, but I only rarely also manage to finish it.

* What do you like most on your job?

I need space for creativity and moy job grants it.

* What do you like least on your job?

(laughing) It takes too much time.

Who is Oszkár Világi

JUDr. Oszkár Világi finished his studies at tha Faculty of Law of the Comenius University in Bratislava in 1985. In 1991 he reached the academic degree D.C.L. A year later he founded a successful law office Csekes, Világi, Drgonec & Partners. From 1990 through 1992 he was a member of the Parliament and vicechairman of the Czechoslovak Parliament. Throughout his professional carreer he was at many managing and supervisory positions of distinguished Slovak companies. From 2003 to 2005 he was a member of the Supervisory Board of Slovnaft, a.s. and from 2005 a member of the Board. Since May 1, 2006 he has become the CEO of Sovnaft and since April 18, 2009 he has been its ' chairman of the Board.