Family Meal: Employee Spotlight with Balàzs Szucs

Welcome to Family Meal, our new blog series where we shine a spotlight on one of our amazing Roomies. This month, we sat down with Balàzs Szucs, Client Onboarding Manager in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).

Tell us a little about your role and your team.

Bal: Hi, I’m Bal. I manage the EMEA onboarding team at SevenRooms. I joined in July 2020. On our team, there are two Implementation Managers who work closely with our key accounts and enterprise partners. In addition, we have five Onboarding Managers who oversee our SMB portfolio. We operate from four different cities, namely London, Bristol, Sheffield, and Dubai, and we are fluent in eight languages, including Arabic, English, Japanese, Slovakian, German, Romanian, Cantonese, and Hungarian. Our goal is to provide our clients with a tailored system configuration that best suits their needs.

What is your favorite part about being a 7Roomie?

Bal: I absolutely love my colleagues. They are the ones who are embracing the company culture, driving the product forward, and making the hospitality industry a better place. SevenRooms is a huge global multicultural family. We are not just your standard tech company. What makes us unique is that we come from all walks of life and bring different experiences to the table. We also have a pretty good product!

Can you share a story of a time that you put one (or more) of our Core Values into action within your role?

Bal: Transparency is critical to me, so that’s why Putting Everything on The Table is the core value that I put into action the most in my role. It’s important to be upfront and honest when sharing information, ideas, and issues, without holding back or hiding anything. People will appreciate your work and value your honest feedback. In addition, Putting Everything on The Table also means that I always strive to do my best and bring my A-game to every task.

What is one exciting project or initiative that you’re working on right now?

Bal: It’s crucial that we finish the year strong. Our onboarding team achieved record numbers in September and October, and we want to keep this momentum through the rest of the year. We have one last opportunity before the holiday season to help more restaurants and bars maximize their revenue using SevenRooms. Our teams are committed to helping our clients find the best strategy to achieve their goals while providing magical hospitality experiences for their guests.

How’d you get started in the hospitality industry?

Bal: I started my hospitality career as a commis while studying at a culinary college outside Budapest. One day, my friend told me that our favorite club was looking for a bartender. Although I didn’t know much about mixing drinks back then, I really wanted to work there. So, I applied and went for an interview. Based on my work experience in a prestigious local hotel, they offered me the job. I had just two days to revise the drink list and learn about the ingredients and glassware. Needless to say, my first night was a disaster, but somehow I still managed to keep the job. Over the years, I have completed a few bartender courses and worked part-time jobs behind the bar on weekends in London. I just love the energy and beautiful chaos of a Saturday night shift.

What 3 career lessons have you learned thus far?

Bal: I’ve learned so many lessons, but if I have to narrow it down to just three, here’s what they are:

Be who you are and never pretend to be someone else. When you are true to yourself, people are more likely to trust you and believe in your intentions. This helps you build meaningful relationships both inside and outside of the workplace.

Always have goals. Having goals helps you prioritize tasks, make decisions, and to be more effective. Aim high, and don’t get distracted. My favorite quote is by Walt Disney, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If something doesn’t make sense to you, speak up and ask for more clarity. There are no stupid questions and by asking the right question you can drive or initiate a much better result.

What one thing are you most proud of from your time at SevenRooms?

Bal: When I first joined SevenRooms in 2020, we had around five employees based in London. Nearly four years later, the EMEA team has over 50 employees across multiple cities. I love seeing our team grow and I take a lot of pride in building the team, sharing knowledge and contributing to our company culture.

What is a non-work activity or hobby that you do? How did you get into it?

Bal: I have always had an active lifestyle and enjoyed playing various sports. Recently, I began playing Padel, which is a popular sport in Dubai, both recreationally and competitively. Since I have a background in competitive table tennis, I’m hoping to start competing in Padel as well. Besides sports, I also enjoy hiking and spending time in nature. With the cooler weather, I am excited to explore the not-so-tall mountains of the Emirates.

Describe for us your favorite dining experience or memory.

Bal: It’s gotta be Bentley’s Oyster Bar in London. Their Royal Shellfish Platter is absolutely amazing. The Cornish Dressed Crab is to die for, or just grab a couple of oysters by the bar with a glass of champagne, amazing. Or you can come to my grandma’s kitchen. She will cook you Hungarian dumplings with some eggs and serve it with some pickled cucumber. Then you will know what the great Hungarian comfort food is.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Interested in working with Bal and our other Roomies? Check out our open roles here.

Share this Post