Zoltán Till: No career is built alone

Zoltán Till, Körber site: Pécs, Hungary

I was a young mechanical engineer, focused on designing machines and equipment.

Then my manager, Wilfried Martin, and my group leader, Tamás Gerberich, offered me something unexpected:

The opportunity to work in Hamburg.
Learn SAP.
Become a key user.

I understood what that would mean in the long run.
I would step away from classical engineering design.

And yet – something about it immediately felt right.

The opportunity to travel to Hamburg.
To learn from German colleagues.
To understand something completely new.

The decision came almost instantly, the moment the perspective was explained to me.

I spoke with my fiancée.
I had no doubts.
Only one clear feeling: This is what I want to do.

What I did not realize at the time:

After the first weeks of training, I knew what I was doing —
but not where it would ultimately lead.

My German colleague did not speak English.
I did not speak German.

I understood tasks, processes, and logic.
But I didn't yet understand the bigger picture.

Only later did I grasp what we were truly building:

A major transformation project.
The introduction of a system that would fundamentally change our engineering work.

We created structures.
Bills of materials.
Relationships.
A database bringing order, transparency, and systematics.

I was able to contribute.
To coordinate.
To build.

Looking back, that was the real turning point.

My career path after that was anything but linear.

I learned SAP.
Returned for a time to mechanical engineering.
Became an SAP coordinator.
Moved into Order Management.
Later led an SAP group.
And today, I work as a specialist.

On average, I stayed around three to four years in each role.

Not because of restlessness —
but because I found my place through development.

Another defining element of my journey was engagement beyond my formal responsibilities.

For several years, I organized blood donation events.

Coordination.
Communication.
Motivating people.

We were recognized multiple times.

It was never about titles.
It was about impact.
Community.
Doing something meaningful.

I continue this commitment today through my voluntary work with the Red Cross —
formerly at regional level, now at state level.

Not because I have to.
But because I want to.

My most important realization after all these years:

We make our own decisions.
But the opportunity to decide often arises through other people.

Without Wilfried Martin, I would not be where I am today.

Without people who recognize potential, who believe in you, and open doors, careers unfold differently.

The mindset behind my decision back then can be summarized simply:

Change means opportunity.

Not every decision will be perfect.
But we learn.
And sometimes, only in hindsight do we understand how right a step truly was.

My advice to anyone facing a similar decision:

Trust your gut.

And if uncertainty remains – seek an outside perspective
It often brings clarity.
Because there is always a path.
Always a solution.

What matters most isn't making the perfect decision.
It's making one you can truly stand behind.