Ureczky Balázs

Profession Services is the recruitment-focused division of Profession.hu, the market-leading recruitment platform in Hungary. I lead a team of HR and online marketing professionals, working to deliver innovative recruitment marketing solutions for our clients. Our scope ranges from filling individual positions to managing multi-month employer branding campaigns. Our clients include both small businesses and globally operating companies.

What started as a hobby and side activity has grown into a highly sought-after profession for me. Thanks to continuous learning, attention to detail, and a strong online presence, I’ve become a trusted and in-demand Wedding MC for couples looking for authenticity, flow, and real connection on their big day. Being a Wedding MC is a unique leadership challenge. I enter a close-knit family environment where trust must be built in minutes. My goal is to create an atmosphere where guests naturally follow my guidance without pressure — while coordinating a brand-new team of vendors at every event. There’s no warm-up time; I step into a conductor’s role from the first moment. I’m responsible for the flow, the energy, the mood, and ultimately for ensuring that the couple experiences one of the most beautiful days of their lives. I document and share my work across social platforms — Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Linktree — through videos, insights, and behind-the-scenes moments.

I’ve been part of this U.S.-founded, Hungarian-owned escape room franchise since the very beginning. I initially served as the Project Manager for the Los Angeles and Miami locations, and later became a co-owner, contributing to the company’s strategic development and international expansion. One of my proudest achievements was successfully managing the launch of our first U.S. unit in Los Angeles in 2014. Despite having very limited infrastructure at the time, I oversaw all local operations, HR, and team-building efforts during a sudden and intense market entry. In Miami, I faced a similar challenge: building an entire unit in a completely unfamiliar city, taking it from the very first drywall installation to fully staffed and safely operating within just a few months. Later, I was responsible for introducing the company’s merchandising program and supporting European expansion across multiple cities simultaneously, including Stockholm, Marseille, and Nuremberg.

As an Operations Manager, I joined the company as the second-in-command to support the CEO and ensure alignment across all operational areas. The organization already had an established leadership structure — including Project, HR, Business Development, Marketing & Sales, and Finance leaders — so I needed to integrate quickly, build trust, and gain a clear understanding of the existing processes. I’m particularly proud of how we strengthened collaboration within the leadership team. I introduced a more digital, transparent way of working: we implemented a unified communication platform and made workflows and responsibilities more visible across departments. This significantly improved clarity, coordination, and overall efficiency. Beyond daily operations, I became deeply involved in refining marketing and sales processes, enhancing HR transparency, and improving business visibility into financial operations. My focus was to ensure that every department moved in the same direction, with shared goals and aligned execution — something that became a key driver of our progress.

Brands within the group: Paniq Room, Axe Throwing, Trash Art Museum I was responsible for overseeing the full operational structure across five locations in Budapest, managing a team of nearly 40 people. My role included designing and implementing a reliable system that allowed all units to operate safely and efficiently, seven days a week, with 14 hours of daily opening time. Beyond daily operations, I also drove business development: launching new services, improving customer experience, and continuously refining processes for higher efficiency and consistency. As part of the leadership team, I also managed the company’s entire communication strategy — including online presence, social platforms, and coordination with our advertising agency for all paid media activities.

My team-building company originated from the Paniq Room concept. We started with mobile escape room events, and over the years — by listening daily to the needs and challenges of corporate HR teams — we evolved into a provider of far more complex team development solutions. We moved beyond traditional, structured activities and designed experience-driven programs that not only entertained employees but also addressed real workplace challenges, strengthened collaboration, and improved engagement. Each event was built to create meaningful impact and measurable value for our clients. I’m particularly proud that we developed over 60 unique programs and delivered nearly 500 corporate events. During the COVID period, we were among the first to launch online team-building experiences. Although few believed in the concept at first (sometimes even we doubted it), it became one of our most successful years. My responsibilities included full company management and leading the creative development of programs — ensuring we delivered real, practical solutions for companies across Hungary.

Building on my passion for gastronomy and my leadership background, I took on the role of developing the Chess restaurant and its catering division. I joined at an ideal moment — right before the restaurant’s reopening after a major renovation — which allowed me to coordinate and shape the entire new concept from the ground up. My responsibilities covered multiple areas: managing a sub-brand within the catering business across both B2B and B2C channels, creating the breakfast concept for the affiliated five-star hotel, and collaborating with the head chef to develop the à la carte offering. Although I did not come from a traditional restaurant background, I had organized and overseen countless premium events across the city’s top venues, personally designing drink pairings, menus, guest experience flow, and reception concepts. These experiences proved invaluable when translating event-based knowledge into a restaurant environment. In addition to concept development, I also oversaw HR, marketing, and key operational processes.

I’ve always had a passion for gastronomy and social events, but I was never drawn to the stiff, white-tablecloth wine tastings where mediocre drinks were presented with exaggerated hype. I believed people wanted real experiences: quality beverages, authenticity, and a relaxed, engaging atmosphere. This vision led me to create the Instant Nights event series, which quickly gained momentum and introduced a fresh trend into Budapest’s nightlife. Our events became citywide successes, and it remains one of the projects I’m most proud of.

I was the co-owner of a Hungarian escape room franchise (PÁNiQ-SZOBA / PANIQ ROOM HUNGARY), where I oversaw all operational activities, leading a team of nearly 30 people. My role focused on scaling the business rapidly by developing HR processes, implementing operational systems, and ensuring smooth day-to-day execution. I was also responsible for all communication and marketing efforts. In the early phase, my goal was to introduce the escape room concept to the market; later, it shifted toward building a strong, recognizable brand. Under my leadership, our company became the market leader among more than 90 escape room businesses in Hungary. Additionally, I managed international franchise partnerships and led the development of the events division. These business units grew strong enough to become independent brands, resulting in the creation of Paniq Instant, Instant Teams, and the Paniq Room Franchise network. In 2016, Forbes recognized our achievements by naming me to the “30 Under 30” list in Hungary.

I worked as a Sales Manager at an out-of-home advertising company that blended vehicle advertising, street promotions, and guerrilla marketing. Our clients were exclusively large enterprises and international brands. Together with my team, I engaged daily with brand managers and marketing directors to understand their communication challenges and strategic needs. This role significantly deepened my marketing and brand management expertise, as I spent full workdays negotiating with and learning from highly experienced professionals behind global brands. The knowledge I gained here later became invaluable when managing and developing my own brands and projects.